From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 1-Celebrating this milestone has become popular in the last few years, and Rockwell turns her attention to this event. On the first day of school, Jessica's teacher gives her a penny to drop in the jar on her desk. A different student brings in a coin each day to add to it. Counting by 10 is reinforced whenever the jar reaches a number divisible by 10, since the student bringing in the penny that day also gets to bring in a special collection of items celebrating that number. Rockwell's realistically rendered illustrations are drenched in color, creating a warm and inviting classroom and familial spaces. The book ends with the children seated at circle time, their teacher holding up a newspaper with the headline "Hurricane Hannah Hits" and a comment that all the local schools are sending their jars of 100 pennies to a town damaged by the storm. While the story will be well received in primary classrooms and by parents looking to reinforce the math concepts, the sudden introduction of the hurricane at the end of the book is a bit jarring. That quibble aside, this title can hold its own against Margery Cuyler's 100th Day Worries (S & S, 2000) and Joseph Slate's Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the 100th Day of Kindergarten (Dutton, 1998).
Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NYCopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
About the Author
In Her Own Words...
I don't remember learning to read; it seems as though I've always known how. In the same way, I don't know when I first began to draw and paint. I've always loved books and have always known I wanted to be an artist. So making picture books for children was my natural calling. I still remember how the world looked to me when I was very young, so communicating with children just starting off on what I hope will be a lifetime love of books feels right.
Many of the books I write I illustrate myself, but I've also been lucky to have collaborated with other illustrators who bring their own special gifts and vision to the words I write.
One of these is my daughter, Lizzy Rockwell. She has collaborated with me on a series of books about a group of children learning about the world, and telling the reader about themselves, in the sort of charmed and happy classroom all children should have. Two of the titles are just right for the fall back-to-school seasonHalloween Day and Thanksgiving Day.
Paul Meisel has illustrated Morgan Plays Soccer, published in August 2001. This is the first of a series of books about what it means to be a "good sport". Sports are a big part of childhood. Even those who aren't good at them must learn the rules of the game. As Morgan Brownbear finds out, it isn't easy although if you have good friends who are also good sports it helps.
I've never met a child who wasn't intrigued by insects. Steve Jenkins' illustrations for Bugs Are Insects, Let'S Read And Find Out (May 2001) show why children like my youngest grandson, Christian, are taken with the beauty and variety they see in the insect world.
I believe that once a book is published it belongs to its readers. So now I'm busy working on ideas for new books. I love doing this, for I'm always refreshed by starting this kind of adventure carrying an idea all the way turning it into a book for others to read and enjoy.
