School's in session

Gr 1--3--This early reader is an excellent peek at the lives of schoolchildren across the globe. The book opens with a glossary and a note stating that what follows are "just some examples of what school is like for kids around the world," a good way to ensure that no culture is depicted as a monolith. Three short chapters cover everything from how kids in various locations get to school to which ones have the shortest school day. Dennis strikes an appealing tone, with her text navigating a delicate line between informative and gently amusing. No matter how unusual the fact being shared--for example, children in Michigan's Upper Peninsula riding snowmobiles to school--there is always a sense of respect. Illustrations are detailed, realistic, and friendly, with lots of bright colors and open space. Given the subject matter, children of many backgrounds are presented. This is on the longer side for an early reader, and breaking it into small chapters gives it an approachable structure. A section at the end prompts readers to imagine and draw their ideal school. This fun exercise takes children beyond the pages of the book and is also a great way to touch upon some early literacy practices. VERDICT A respectful, nicely paced early reader, and a natural fit for elementary school libraries.--Kate Newcombe

Differences and similarities among schools around the world. Readers will glean intriguing facts about how students get to school and learn, study, play, and even eat lunch in schools in America and various global locations in this briskly paced early reader in three chapters. First up is the chapter describing how pupils travel. Some go by buses or subways, as in New York City; other transport options include snowmobile (Mackinac Island, Michigan), cable car (Caracas, Venezuela), or zipline (Colombia). Some kids walk miles (Nigeria), while motorcycle rickshaws transport pupils in some areas of Thailand. Readers will learn that in some towns in India, students receive instruction on train platforms or in buses and that some students learn on riverboats in flood-prone regions of Bangladesh. Young readers will be especially interested in the "Schoolwork and Play" chapter, which provides information about the length of school days, what school lunches are like, and how much homework is assigned. Readers won't envy some South Korean high schoolers, who attend class for more than 14 hours daily, but they might wish they lived in Finland, where school days last five hours and students receive 75 minutes of daily recess and less than three hours of homework each week, or in France, where pupils get two-hour daily lunch breaks, with meals consisting of mouthwatering, multicourse cuisine. These interesting tidbits and more are delivered via short sentences written in a breezy, conversational tone and will help young readers understand that they're connected to kids everywhere. Colorful, lively illustrations feature children and adults with a broad range of skin tones. A glossary opens the book, which includes a world map. A nice entree to the school year. (create your own school!)(Early reader. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.