Synopses & Reviews
The first grade narrator of this book has been lots of things: Hungry. Four years old. Crazy bored. Soaking wet. Pretty regular kid . . . until he makes a mistake so big that heandrsquo;s sure he will never be able to go back to Lakeview Elementary School. All readers, even those not in first grade, will find the narratorandrsquo;s feelings familiar, and discover that even though embarrassing things happen, theyandrsquo;re usually not as bad as they seem. And sometimes theyandrsquo;re even funny!
Review
* andquot;Vernickandrsquo;s tousled-haired hero may feel miserable, but he has the self-awareness, timing, and raconteurship of a master monologist; readers will be won over from his intriguing opening line (andldquo;Iandrsquo;ve been lots of thingsandrdquo;) and quickly assured that this, too, shall pass.andquot;
andmdash;Publishers Weekly, starred review
andquot;Cordelland#39;s ink-and-watercolor illustrations masterfully portray the first-person narratorand#39;s every emotion: chagrin, nervousness, embarrassment, sadness, anger. A sure conversation-starter about empathy.andquot;
andmdash;Kirkus
andquot;With cartoonish, frenetic lines and messy blobs of color, the childish feel of Cordelland#39;s illustrations make Vernickand#39;s message clear: school life and friendship can be confusing...Many readers will recognize themselves in these pages.andquot;
andmdash;Booklist
andquot;Vernickand#39;s tightly wound age-appropriately self-absorbed narrator is hugely relatable, but readers will also get that heand#39;s overdoing it...a riot as well as an analgesic.andquot;
andmdash;Horn Book Magazine
andquot;This winning picture book will be popular for its entertainment value, as well as for its potential to introduce ideas about empathy.andquot;
andmdash;School Library Journal
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Synopsis
A humorous picture book about a first grader who makes a mistake so hugely humiliating (and hilarious) that he can't possibly go back to elementary school.