Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Martha is getting ready for her first day of school. Her little bunny brothers are sad to be left behind, so she sets them up with a Happy Bunny Club, a kind of den filled with toys, cushions, etc. And she has to decide which of her favorite things to put in her backpack. The bright collage illustrations include lots of fonts, doodles, and pictures to support the text. Unfortunately, some of the language doesn't match a child's voice: "While I'm at school having fun, I know my bunny brothers are...waiting.waiting...until-'I'm back!' They go crazy with joy to see me." Although the book's title indicates a school story, all of the action takes place at home, with no scenes at school. An additional purchase for larger collections.-Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Ft. Thomas, KY (c) Copyright 2013. 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
It's almost bunny Martha's first day of school, and she's trying to help her younger brothers prepare for her absence. Padding the plot are Martha's illustrated lists, some off topic (e.g., her plans for "when I'm huge"). Martha's voice isn't convincingly childlike, and readers wondering how she likes school will be disappointed. The cartoony art has vigor but no depth. (c) Copyright 2014. 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.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
With an enthusiasm that virtually oozes off the pages and infects readers, Martha tells readers all about herself and her preparations for her first day of school. While many going-to-school books are about jitters or routines or school supplies, this one is in a class by itself, focusing on Martha's close relationship with the younger brothers she'll be leaving at home and on all her favorite things. Martha's exuberance for her possessions can be likened to Lilly with her purple plastic purse or Olivia and all her outfits. The morning of Martha's first day of school is a busy one as she tries to balance her brothers' need for guidance (and reassurance) with packing her backpack, a hysterical pursuit that has Martha stuffing in everything but the kitchen sink before her mother helps her pare it down. The book ends on just the right note: A school-loving Martha returns home to join her beloved brothers in their Happy Bunny Club, which she helped them set up that morning. Vulliamy keeps the energy high in her cartoon illustrations, which brim with color and combine labeled vignettes (almost like rebuses) with sometimes-overbusy spot illustrations. The artwork is nicely accented with collaged items, one slight misstep being the sign that Martha pens, with too-perfect spelling and penmanship, for the new club. Still, Martha's excitement is infectious, and younger siblings should feel it as well as newly minted students. (Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
