Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Hood and Lundquist reprise the conceit behind Mission: New Baby (2015) as they bring a secret agent sensibility to the "hunt for intelligence" (aka going to school). In numbered steps, Hood walks readers through the mission, which includes "#3. Meet intelligence officer" (that would be the teacher) and "#10. Report rogue agent" (a rabbit that has escaped its cage). Hood revels in these and numerous other puns throughout. "Watch out!" It's a sting operation!" shouts one boy, as the spies-in-training "conduct fieldwork" by observing bugs outside (including a very active beehive). During recess, twins are "double agents" and a "high-level meeting" is held atop the playground's climbing dome, all captured with warm humor in Lundquist's watercolor-and-pencil illustrations. Ages 3-7. Author's agent: Brenda Bowen, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Students are treated like special agents in this tongue-in-cheek training manual for returning to spy school. The vocabulary is rich, catering to budding espionage aficionados. But Lundquist's soft, friendly sketches balance out the intrigue by depicting normal school routines. Student agents "suit up" when getting ready for school and arrive and meet their "Intelligence Officer," a bespectacled yet youthful man. They "build diplomatic relations" when making friends and practice "decoding information" while sounding out words. When the whirlwind of recapturing a suspiciously furry rogue agent is over, they return home for their final reports. VERDICT Humorous details, diverse agents, and a full day's worth of elementary school fieldwork make this an excellent choice for students on the first day of school.-Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH © Copyright 2016. 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
A numbered command on every page gives readers straight-faced instructions for a "mission," while corresponding illustrations show an everyday school-related activity. The agents "gather for debriefing" (sit in a circle), "practice decoding" (reading), "raid supplies" (eat lunch), and lastly "issue a final report" (share their day with family at dinnertime). Pair this appealing first-day-of-school book with genre favorites such as Ganz-Schmitt's Planet Kindergarten. (c) Copyright 2017. 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.
