Review by Booklist Review
Ages 4^-6. On the first day of kindergarten, Amanda and Jeremiah use techniques they have learned at home for getting their way: grabbing, kicking, and screaming. In the midst of each brawl, their twinkle-toed teacher levitates before them in a cloud of flowers, butterflies, and doves, saying, "In kindergarten we share." Each gentle chiding leaves the children momentarily bemused, but they take her message to heart and share--their clothes. When the teacher spots the switched outfits, she loses her cool, then loses consciousness, while Jeremiah and Amanda share a high five before their delighted classmates. Not the best choice to pull out when a teacher asks for a book to help civilize the classroom but a fine choice for amusing children, who will find the book's familiar setting, impeccable logic, and deadpan humor irresistible. Watercolor washes brighten the cartoon-style drawings. From the opening scene showing two small children about to enter a large school to the chaotic pictures of their fights to the triumphant ending showing two pint-size heroes who have conquered the system on their first day, the artwork exaggerates, illuminates, and entertains. --Carolyn Phelan
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Munsch and Martchenko (previously paired for The Paper Bag Princess and Alligator Baby) offer a snippet of a story about two squabbling kindergartners who have trouble sharing. When Amanda won't give Jeremiah the book she's looking at, he announces he will "yell and scream"; when he makes good on his threat, she stuffs the book in his mouth. When Jeremiah later refuses to surrender his building blocks to Amanda, she kicks over the elaborate Eiffel TowerÄlike structure he has constructed. Martchenko's watercolors serve up exaggerated images that sometimes mimic an animated cartoon. The teacher, for example, is pictured surrounded by doves, flowers and butterflies as she flaps her arms and repeatedly gushes, "In kindergarten we share. We share everything." The kid-geared slapstick will invite snickers, but beyond those few giggles, this is forgettable fare. Ages 3-6. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1 "In kindergarten we share. We share everything" gushes a smiling teacher surrounded by birds, flowers, confetti, and lofty ideals. Amanda and Jeremiah are new to this sharing idea and don't much care for it. Jeremiah tries yelling to get a book from Amanda while she tries kicking him to get some blocks; neither attempt works. After each unsuccessful encounter, the teacher coos "we share everything." When the two children get smattered with paint during another struggle, they are again told to share. They decide to trade clothes, and Jeremiah is quite pleased with Amanda's pink shirt and pants. But when teacher notices, she yells "Who said you could share your clothes?" The whole class enthusiastically responds, "We share EVERYTHING!" as they joyously join in the clothes swap. Not many kindergarten teachers would be as flustered as this poor soul, particularly by a boy wearing pink. Pinky of James Howe's "Pinky and Rex" series (S & S) wears it proudly. Munsch and Martchenko are as wonderfully irreverent as ever, poking fun at school rules, teachers, and the literal minds of the young. Readers will be amused and have much to discover amidst the madcap watercolor cartoon illustrations. Dressing, undressing, and sharing are ever-popular topics with this age group. All but the timid or easily offended will want to share this story aloud. Jody McCoy, The Bush School, Seattle, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This one-joke book will no doubt have kids laughing at how far the boy and girl main characters take their Pollyanna of a kindergarten teacher's reminder to share everything. The boisterous, cartoony illustrations close with a happy class full of clothes swappers, the result of which is a few more beskirted, pink-wearing boys than usual. From HORN BOOK Spring 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
