Review by Booklist Review
Wide-eyed and worried, Birdie can't sleep on the night before her first day of school. Is the food really awful? Is her teacher half werewolf? But the next day turns out much better than expected. Her beautiful classroom has a place for everything, including a special place for Birdie's coat. She enjoys the lessons, songs, and storytime. The food is delicious. And kind Mr. Bobbins is clearly not a werewolf. That night in bed, smiling, bright-eyed Birdie can't wait for the next school day to begin. The text handles Birdie's specific rumor-based fears and general start-of-school anxiety with a gentle touch, turning them around when reality exceeds her expectations. The illustrations, jaunty collages created with watercolors and colored pencils, portray settings, characters, and emotions with finesse. While acknowledging children's first-day jitters, this picture book offers a vibrant, cheerful view of school. Fans of the Birdie series will want to join her on this rite-of-passage journey.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Rim's stylish heroine returns in a fourth picture book, and her concerns go beyond playing dress-up or picking the perfect coif: "she wondered deep down if she was really ready for school." Birdie's fears prove short-lived, and she immediately recognizes how much school has to offer, from story time to recess and learning about letters, numbers, and countries, including the fact that "Italy looks just like one of Mommy's boots." (Rim even gives the nation a Louboutin-worthy streak of red on its "sole.") Watching Birdie shift from nervousness to excitement about school should be encouraging for readers in the same shoes. Ages 3-6. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-In this fourth story about Birdie, the beautiful and sweet fashionista is apprehensive about her first day of school. She is filled with questions: What should she take? What will she wear? Is her teacher really a werewolf? The child's lithe and fashionable mother comforts her daughter's fears as they near the school, and Birdie soon discovers to her delight that her classroom is "beautiful" and well-organized, that the food is "delicious," and that she enjoys learning and playing with her friends. When she returns home, Birdie can't wait to share all the details of her special day with her mother and her little white dog, Monster: "She felt glad Mr. Bobbins was her teacher. She felt smart from all the things she learned. She felt proud of what she had done during the day." Rim's charming illustrations are done in watercolor and collage. As usual, the details of the characters' clothing perfectly capture their personalities. There is a sweetness and gentleness to this story that children will appreciate, particularly the portrayal of school as a nurturing and enlightening place. VERDICT This a story to be shared with any child who worries about this sometimes-daunting new experience.-Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, Hillsborough, CA (c) Copyright 2015. 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
In fashion-forward Birdie's latest mixed-media outing, she's anxious about her first day of school, with help from the rumor mill ("I hear your teacher, Mr. Bobbins, is half...werewolf!"). The narrative features exposition-heavy dialogue ("I should be excited for my first day of school, but I'm scared") and no conflict: Birdie loves school. It's style over substance, sure, but A-plus style. (c) Copyright 2016. 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
Birdie is back, and this time she is nervous about her first day of school. So nervous, in fact, that she can't sleep, which is illustrated to hysterical effect in three overhead views of a tossing-and-turning Birdie in bed with her peacefully slumbering dog, Monster. She shares her worries with Monster in the morningwhat it will be like, what should she bring, what should she wearbut he's no help. But Mommy's locket helps her remember that she and Monster are always there for her. And Birdie's first day is greatfilled with all the school standards: cubbies, desks, a nice, bearded teacher, stories, songs, a yummy lunch, recess, and art. And at the end of the day, not only does Birdie proudly share everything about her day, but she has trouble sleeping again, this time due to excitement about her second day. Rim's nicely textured watercolor, colored pencil, and collage illustrations portray Birdie and her multiracial classmates' transformations from nervous to happy as the day progresses, white backgrounds keeping the focus on the kids. Birdie is a delightful guide for those new to school, and parents may want to take a page from her mom's book and have a locket handy. (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
