Ms. Bitsy Bat's Kindergarten - Hardcover

Edwards, Pamela Duncan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786806699 ISBN 13: 9780786806690

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2005

Synopsis

Boy genius Hubert Horatio Bartle Bobton-Trent-H for short- is the answer to his rich parents' prayers. He is their dear companion, their fiercest board game adversary, and their frequent guest at parties. But this prodigy's parents don't share his knack at accounting-and they can't imagine ever running out of money. Will Hubert be able to save the Bobton-Trent's fabulous estate - or might they be just as happy without it, after all? With exuberant collage illustrations and a hilarious text, award-winning author and illustrator Lauren Child has created an irreverent story about the true value of money and the dividends of happiness.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

The collaborators behind Some Smug Slug join forces to deliver this light look at how several animals' anxieties get stirred up when a new teacher begins on the second day of kindergarten. Mr. Fox has to stay home to care for his newborn kits, so competent Ms. Bitsy Bat takes over. She greets and quickly discerns the concerns of her wide-eyed, backpack-wearing pupils. Included in the cast of classroom characters is food-loving Groundhog, worried about his snacks ("Mr. Fox gave us chocolate-chip cookies... I bet this new teacher will give us yucky carrot sticks") and brainy Possum ("I bet this new teacher won't even know how smart I am"). The wise and patient Ms. Bat smoothes out the hurdles, recognizing the needs of each of her charges. While the humor of the typecast pupils' reactions may be lost on youngest readers, there is plenty to enjoy in the cheery, sympathetically rendered illustrations, from the animals' animated expressions to the slapstick frenzy when a mischievous bee bursts onto the scene. A somewhat staged ending wraps up the reassuring story. Parents and students alike can only hope for a teacher as perceptive and flexible as Ms. Bitsy Bat. Ages 4-7. (Sept.)
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From Booklist:

PreS-K. In this new offering from longtime collaborators Edwards and Cole, anxieties erupt among new kindergarteners after they arrive at school on day two to find that yesterday's friendly teacher, Mr. Fox, won't be returning. What if his replacement is grouchy and inattentive? Pinch-hitter Ms. Bitsy Bat deftly puts them at ease, sensitively arranging desks, assigning classroom duties, and even handling a scary incident with a wayward bee. Although the reason for Mr. Fox's sudden departure (his wife "had five babies") seems unrealistic given most teachers anticipating such a major event would plan a leave well in advance, Duncan's uncomplicated narration will be welcome by families and teachers preparing children for upcoming changes in routine. Cole's watercolors underscore the story's message of school as a safe, cheerful place filled with brightly colored decorations and fun school supplies, and the animal characters' expressions clearly articulate the shift from trepidation to cozy security. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0786806699
• ISBN 13: 9780786806690
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Cole Henry