BIBSY CROSS AND THE BAD APPLE

Trouble with an insensitive teacher threatens an enthusiastic 8-year-old’s love of school in this series starter.

Third grade looks rocky for Bibsy Cross. For the first time, she and her best friend, Natia, aren’t in the same class. And Bibsy’s new teacher, Mrs. Stumper, seems to sigh with irritation every time Bibsy raises her hand. Granted, Bibsy has a tendency to “go on” just “a stone too far,” as her teacher puts it. But Bibsy has a such a font of interesting information and a yen to share it! Mrs. Stumper indicates her displeasure by moving the paper apple bearing Bibsy’s name to the bottom of the bulletin board. The teacher grows increasingly exasperated until the dreadful Wednesday when the apple isn’t just plucked, but hole-punched. On Friday, Bibsy will have to take her apple home to be signed by her parents. Garton’s prose is marked by whimsy, enchanting turns of phrase, and an intuitive understanding of how children perceive the world. Bibsy’s empathy (she worries for a classmate whose apple is often grounded) and her willingness to make the best of a bad situation (or to turn “sours” sweet, in Bibsy’s words) make her a winsome protagonist. Gracefully composed, two-color illustrations and line breaks make for even faster page-turning. Bibsy and Mrs. Stumper appear light-skinned in the art; Natia presents Black.

Pitch-perfect writing, a charming protagonist, and relatable conflict—what more could readers ask for?