On the Last Day of School

February 1, 2025
Preschool-Grade 3 For kids who love school and even those who don't, the last day of each school year is both a goal and a time of celebration. In a series of rhymed couplets, Rudd leads children through a typical "last day," from the sounds of alarm clocks in the morning to the students' farewell parade through the cafeteria, competitive field games at recess, and goodbye waves from the school bus. While the rhythm falters occasionally in the upbeat text, Rudd, a high-school teacher, succeeds in communicating the often-overlooked affection that teachers feel for their students, along with their high hopes for the children's future accomplishments as individuals. In the eye-catching illustrations, Morley juxtaposes deep, rich colors to create vibrant scenes featuring different kids within a diverse group of classmates. Throughout this picture book, the illustrations capture the children's activities during the day, the range of feelings they evoke, and the students' underlying sense of excitement as the school year draws to a close. A fine read-aloud choice when the occasion arises.

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January 15, 2025
School's (almost) out for summer! There's no shortage of books designed to help prepare youngsters for their first day of school, but far fewer celebrate the end of the year. Here we see the bustle and buzz of a day both ordinary and extraordinary as a classroom of children get ready for summer break. Though the youngsters follow familiar routines--awakening with the ringing of an alarm clock, eating breakfast, boarding the bus--they're greeted by balloons and a banner at school. Readers are invited to reminisce about the past year: "You remember how nervous / and excited you felt. / Now you have a whole year of learning under your belt." While the rhyme scheme is uneven, the images and words work well together to present a joyfully realistic representation of the cheerful chaos of early-elementary education. Particularly effective are the illustrations that juxtapose the normalcy of a school day with the transience of the end of the school year: "The bulletin boards are emptied. / The art's taken down," but the students still have work to do! Kids who haven't yet experienced the last day of school will appreciate a glimpse at what they might expect, while more seasoned children will enjoy looking back on hugs and field days past. Morley's soft-hued illustrations depict a loving, diverse community. An upbeat tribute to the culmination of a busy school year.(Picture book. 3-7)

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