________________ CM . . . . Volume XX Number 14. . . .December 6, 2013

cover

A Day at School.

Séverine Cordier. Illustrated by Cynthia Lacroix. Translated by Sarah Quinn.
Toronto, ON: Owlkids, 2013.
48 pp., hardcover, $16.95.
ISBN 978-1-926973-95-1.

Subject Headings:
Vocabulary-Juvenile literature.
Word recognition-Juvenile literature.

Preschool-kindergarten / Ages 2-5.

Review by Jennifer Baetz.

**** /4

   

excerpt:

Big kids go to school and little kids go to day care.

 

This charming book is a follow-up to Cordier and Lacroix’s previous publications, including the award-winning Picture My Day and companion book, A Day at the Farm. Readers who enjoyed these titles will be delighted to pick up A Day at School to continue exploring and learning with the three siblings featured in each story.

internal art     The family is winding down their summer holidays and preparing for the upcoming school year, embarking on the back-to-school tasks all children are familiar with, such as getting a haircut and buying new shoes. The children, ranging in age from about two to five years, are also faced with challenging social situations, including saying goodbye to mom and dad in the morning and making new friends. The story allows readers to explore their own anxieties and excitement about similarities in their own lives through minimal text and clear, yet highly expressive, illustrations.

     Text in the story ranges from single word labels, as seen in picture dictionaries, to short sentences and statements, providing young readers with excellent prompts for personal storytelling and the opportunity to play with vocabulary through word recognition. The text does not tell the full story, however, allowing readers to fully explore the colourful illustrations for more depth and personal reflection. There is a great amount of detail in each illustration, and this book lends itself well to repeat readings without risking monotony (and perhaps the occasional game of “I Spy.”) The true beauty of this book is the high level of participation the reader engages in to create a unique story with each consecutive reading. Readers will delight in being able to place themselves in the context of the book and feel like they are the fourth sibling in the family.

     A Day at School is bound to be a go-to for children who are experiencing the highs and lows of a new routine, and it would be an excellent addition to a personal, school, or public library.

Highly Recommended.

Jennifer Baetz is a Music Selector at a public library in Saskatoon, SK.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 

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