Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: school

  • First Day

    First Day

    The first day of school can be an uneasy time for students. Even though they are looking forward to their journey, the unknown poses a concern. This story describes the morning before school, and the first day, for Salma, Khalil, Stephen, Jun, Penny and Alex, and Alex’s Mum, who is also beginning studies. Salma makes a sandwich for herself as her Mum has three other babies. Khalil ties his shoelaces, he is so proud of this ability, and Penny jumps and jiggles around all the time.

     After well-meaning advice from older siblings (“Don’t throw up on the carpet, and don’t wet your pants”), the children all make their way to the school room. As each child’s personality is revealed, their preference for activity is observed. Khalil and Jun race for the lego table, while “Penny tosses her bag in the air…then dive bombs onto a bean bag.” Here we see the skill and patience of the Junior Primary teacher as she caters to all the children’s needs.

     In the morning, the children draw a picture of their family, and all the kids want to see Salma’s picture of the three fat babies. Following that, the teacher has a singing lesson which the children join in heartily.  Many activities are discovered, and when Stephen dresses as a magician and wishes for a friend, he meets Salma and Alex. The day progresses and lunch time sees Penny chasing all the boys around the yard. Not at all worn out, Penny excels at the next lesson which is dance. Ms Manoli has captured her attention and interest and respect. The story continues after a rest, and it’s time to go home.

     Margaret Wild has a wonderful ability to share a story, while addressing many issues. These begin at the start of the story and children will pick up the unease of Stephen, whose sister gave him the dire warning. The teacher noticed his many trips to the toilet, and said it was OK if he had an accident. This reassurance is all the way through the book. Alex was worried about her Mum being lonely at the University, and older than other students. Alex’s dog came to school and she sent him to find Mum. He proved to be a lovely ice breaker for Mum with the other students. Each child shows their individual traits, and each child is catered for.

     Kim Gamble’s illustrations are once again a perfect match for the story. They are gentle and sensitive, yet reveal the outward zoom of Penny to the relief of Jun, when he finds out Ms Manoli will teach him maths. Together, this combination of author and illustrator, make a story come to life. Many a beginning student will find comfort and solace here.

  • First Day at Skeleton School

    First Day at Skeleton School

    Everyone, including skeletons must go to school, but for skeletons, as they love the dark rather than the light, they have a very special school to go to, hidden deep within a dark forest. Like human children they get very excited when it is their first day at school and rattle, fly and float about, beginning to discover what they can learn, especially if they go into a secret passage.

    There is a huge amount of very silly fun, as you join in with the skeletons as they go about enjoying their first day at school with Wendy Witch showing off, pussycat falling of the broom and lunchtime having a heap of treats such as snake sausages, beetle burgers and pizza!

    In fact they are having so much fun they don’t get a lot of learning done, but when it becomes daylight they must all go home, because it is time for the little humans to go to school and have so very much fun. Probably not as much fun as the skeletons, though!

    Written in a totally jingly jangly way, every little human and baby monster getting ready to start school, will have a great laugh and a lot of fun as they find out just what does go on at skeleton school.

    The pages are bright and filled with many, many little things to be discovered which will encourage good conversation about school, and why it is really not so scary after all.

    Perfect for the little ones just beginning school or perhaps starting at preschool, as it deals with a subject matter many little people find very daunting, in a zany, funny and enjoyable manner.

  • Kid Normal

    Kid Normal

    It only took a few words from Murph’s mum to change his life forever! Moving to a new suburb, they were trying to find a school for Murph to attend. His mum said at the last meeting they had at a school, “He is really flying”, which somehow did not seem to help at that school, but seemed to at this one as instantly, the Principal showed a keen degree of interest and, prepared for another rebuttal, Murph and his mum were welcomed into this new school community. They did wonder why!

     From the beginning, Murph was sure there was something very different about this school, this class and these students. It wasn’t until he was asked to, “Show us your cape,” that he really began to sense that something was very different. Many of the students had unusual talents, and many of the classes he attended were quite different to what he had experienced in other schools.

     Murph’s mum was a nurse, and she was having trouble finding a job as she was a casual worker, she could be put off at any time so Murph and his family had moved house often. Because of this and the increasing revelations being uncovered at his new school, he began to figure out that he was surrounded by trainee super heroes, and fitting in was pretty hard. Luckily he found some friends who helped him escape from the teasing and nickname of “Kid Normal,” and tried his best to fit into school life.

     Unfortunately, there was an evil genius, who decided that the entire school community would make a wonderful army if subjected to his total domination. There began some forceful deeds by the evil one, and some of the past super heroes, (who were now teachers), were struggling.

     This story is one of great imagination, and written with the aim of captivating children’s imagination. The author has used a great deal of humour in language, situations and illustrations, to captivate readers. The story includes many topical issues, such as teasing, bullying and problems with single- parent families, as well as imaginary wars between good and evil. This is just the ticket for a child with an interest in Science and one who loves humour, as well as the imaginative reader.

  • Aidan Abet, Teacher’s Pet

    Aidan Abet, Teacher’s Pet

    This is a delightful sixty seven page novel, written on anti-glare yellow paper, with a large text, well-spaced, and frequently broken up with illustrations. It is very well suited for emerging readers who enjoy a laugh at the story, and a pause to examine the pictures. The simple sketches add to the story with extra details, and are worth perusing. This is a school story, and has twelve short chapters.

     The plot focuses on a boy who wishes to do the right thing. He is labeled Teacher’s Pet, as he is rewarded for his helpfulness by the teacher. This of course attracts the attention of the school bullies who tease him mercilessly. The bullying becomes a huge issue for Aidan, and he feels that there is no way out of his dilemma.

     One day the teacher brings some animals to school, and asks for a volunteer to help look after them. Aidan is the first to raise his hand, and so the job of feeding and cleaning up falls to him. Before long he notices some strange behaviors in the animals, it’s almost as if they were human.

     As the animals find it easier to communicate, Aidan realizes that his teacher isn’t the sweet person he thought she was, and his discovery puts him in terrible danger. When confronted by the teacher, Aidan is quick enough to save himself, and come up with a deal to rid himself of the two bullies who have made his life a misery.

     This is a most enjoyable story to read, or read out loud. It has no solution to facing bullies, but may give enjoyment to those in a similar situation, and lead to a little creative fantasizing. This is an excellent step along the way for emerging readers.