Review by Kirkus Book Review
Everything goes wrong on the Wildwood Elementary field trip. This picture book features one not-so-wild kid and a school bus full of some pretty wild creatures: George the gorilla, Charlie the crocodile, and Mr. Grizzly, a bear, as the teacher. Mr. Grizzly takes the class into the woods, where the narrator, a light-skinned, bespectacled child, winds up covered in poison ivy, getting pooped on by a bird, and running from a mountain lion. In the end, the anti-nature kiddo manages to find some joy in the great outdoors and delightfully quips, "S'mores are my favorite part of the food chain." Scharnhorst's story--a follow-up to My School Stinks! (2021)--is effectively told through diary entries, which gives readers a sense of the narrator's gripes and inner monologue. Ultimately finding the silver lining in the situation is a classic moral for a good reason. Patton's illustrations include fine line detail, like Patricia the porcupine's individual quills, the snail's tiny tie, and the intricacies of the map. The narrator's expressions and body language--conveying everything from misery to pride--complement the text. The look of the notebook paper backing the text combined with the illustrations sometimes makes for pages that appear busy. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A relatable tale that will bolster the spirits of readers dreading their own field trips. (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
