Now that school is in full swing, I wanted to give you a heads-up about a
new picture book you'll want to share and enjoy with your primary grade
students.
You're Wearing That to School!?! by Lynn Plourde, illustrated by Sue
Corneilison is a delightful tale of two friends, Penelope, a hippo, and
Tiny, a mouse. While Tiny has been in school for a year already, Penelope
is planning for her first year and looking forward to what she will wear,
what she will eat for lunch, and what she will share at show-and-tell. She
is a unique and exuberant character with a personal flair that is clearly
over-the-top.
Tiny, a rigid conformist, worries that his friend will
attract too much attention with her extravagant clothing choices and showy
picnic lunch and advises Penelope on the necessity of plainness,
ordinariness, and just-like-everyone-else-ness. Penelope appears to be glad
for the help in advance of school, but when the first day rolls around, she
can't refrain from the opportunity to be her lively self in clothing, food,
and sharing, and it is Tiny who learns a lesson about individuality..
Cornelison's art is as zesty and colorful as Penelope herself as she plays
with size and perspective. Plourde's text offers listeners chances to join
in on the refrain, making it a perfect read aloud.
Great discussions about being oneself and fitting in will ensue using
Plourde's book as a springboard.
32 pages Ages 4-8 978-1423155102
Best,
Toni
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Recommended by: Toni Buzzeo, MA, MLIS, Librarian, Maine USA
tonibuzzeo@tonibuzzeo.com>
*New York Times* Best Selling Author
