WOW! SCHOOL!

Having conquered New York City and the rest of the United States (Wow! City! 2004; Wow! America! 2006), the ebullient Izzy is back to take on kindergarten—and wow! From “Wow! Classroom!” and “Wow! Art!” to “Wow! Science!” and “Wow! Friends!,” she meets every new experience with her characteristic verve. Her reddish-blonde curls stand out in each spread, allowing readers to spot her instantly against the almost impossibly busy backgrounds. Each oversized frame is packed with detail, perfectly evoking today’s multi-station kindergarten classroom. The book’s orientation varies periodically, requiring the occasional 90-degree turn for proper viewing, an exercise that mimics brilliantly the many shifts in a kindergartner’s day. “Wow! Teacher!” is one of these, presenting a larger-than-life figure who can’t be contained within the frame; “Wow! Lunch!” is another, a bird’s-eye view of a cafeteria table revealing a smorgasbord of luncheon possibilities. This is perhaps the apotheosis of Neubecker’s disarmingly childlike treatments of a youngster’s first encounters with the world—Izzy’s embrace of school is 100 percent genuine, 100 percent kid. As a celebration of that nearly universal experience, the first day of school, it is nothing other than perfect. (Picture book. 3-6)