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RAPPY GOES TO SCHOOL

Name: RAPPY GOES TO SCHOOL
Author: Dan Gutman
ISBN: 978-0-06-229181-3

From the Rappy the Raptor series

by Dan Gutman ; illustrated by Tim Bowers ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

Fans of rap and dinos will enjoy this; others may want something with more story

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Following series opener Rappy the Raptor (2015), Gutman and Bowers team up again to bring readers another chapter in Rappy’s life story: the first day of school.

The rapping dino is definitely nervous on the first day—about school supplies, about making friends, about whether the teacher will be kind or not. But despite nervousness (and the huge and terrifying-looking—in Rappy’s eyes—teacher), the rapping dino manages to use that talent to distract both a bully, Chris, and his victim, Aidan. But rapping won’t help Rappy to spell, and that’s the first lesson of the day. But luckily, Aidan comes to the rescue with some whispered letters, and suddenly Rappy can spell some words. It’s the start of a new friendship for them both. And Chris? Mrs. H. “said we shouldn’t make fun of others, / and if we did she’d tell our mothers. / Being a bully isn’t cool, / so she made Chris stay after school!” Gutman’s slight tale is quite similar to the first—right down to the very similar refrains—and the resolution is too pat to be believable. Still, it’s fun for a read-aloud (practice the rhythms first), and the bullying message goes down easily. Bowers’ digital dinos are full of personality, and readers will enjoy seeing the friendship between Rappy and Aidan develop.

Fans of rap and dinos will enjoy this; others may want something with more story . (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: June 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-229181-3

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S DINOSAURS & PREHISTORIC CREATURES | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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by Dan Gutman ; illustrated by Kelley McMorris

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by Dan Gutman ; illustrated by Allison Steinfeld

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by Dan Gutman ; illustrated by Allison Steinfeld

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HELLO THERE, SUNSHINE

by Tabitha Brown ; illustrated by Olivia Duchess ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 11, 2025

Being kind and helpful lights up the day from within in this inspiring and idyllic slice-of-life tale.

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Actor, social media star, and entrepreneur Brown pens a joyful paean to positive thinking in her children’s debut.

Brown-skinned Tab rides a strawberry-themed bike, accompanied by a curly-haired black dog, Grady. Tab’s dazzling smile and wide eyes signal the upbeat theme echoed in the text, celebrating the sun’s warmth, which “fills everyone up with joy.” But Tab’s mood shifts, as it’s a “cloudy and gray” June day. Alert readers will spot the dog’s smiling countenance and note glimpses of sunny yellow butterflies and flowers. Mama’s reassurance that there’s “always a chance” for sunshine also underscores the optimism. Tab and Grady bike through suburban streets “to find the sun.” Along the way, the two stop to assist a neighbor building a birdhouse, loft a kite for friends Frankie and Fonte, and lend a hand to others, all while still having fun. Mama steers Tab toward an eventual understanding of the real source of joy: Though the sun didn’t appear, “I brightened everyone’s day!” The illustrations subtly underscore the message of this radiant story as touches of gold lighten the palette, which ends with sunny brilliance. Most characters read Black, though Tab’s community includes people who vary in skin tone, body type, and ability.

Being kind and helpful lights up the day from within in this inspiring and idyllic slice-of-life tale. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: March 11, 2025

ISBN: 9780063342262

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: today

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2025

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)