When Miss Tuck becomes stuck in the jungle gym, the children in her kindergarten class take full advantage of the situation. Spike races around on a tricycle; water, glue, and paint end up everywhere; and the classroom oven is pushed down the slide. Things get worse when Kip is tripped, hurting his lip; Lilly sits on Milly and Tilly; and Tim pinches Kim, provoking tears. Suddenly, the kids realize that they need their teacher; with everyone pitching in, they rescue her, and all is forgiven. Heap's bright, cartoon-style artwork captures the anarchic fervor of the five-year-olds, who manage, when required, to work together. The text is simple enough to attract emergent readers, who will be helped along by the pictures and the rhyme scheme. Great for a rousing opening-day story hour. Weisman, Kay
Review
From School Library Journal
When their teacher gets stuck in an indoor jungle gym, a group of rambunctious kindergartners takes over the room and chaos ensues. The story is told in singsong rhyme: "Naughty Gemma locked the door./'Grown-ups aren't allowed anymore!' 'Do what you like,' cried Silly Spike,/speeding around on a little blue trike." A little boy named Clever Clive decides to push the oven down the slide. Things go downhill from there, and the children finally realize that they do need their teacher. Banding together at her instruction, they pull her arm to free her from the contraption. ...The cheery acrylic illustrations capture the playfulness of the children.... --School Library Journal
From Publisher's Weekly
What happens when kindergarteners are left to their own devices in the classroom? In Hamilton's rowdy story, the answer is something akin to mutiny. Miss Tuck, a teacher unfortunate enough to get stuck in the class jungle gym, watches in dismay as her pupils turn the room upside down in glee. ...The vibrant hues of Heap's animated acrylics offer a cheery note, despite the somewhat unsettling message that youngsters don't come to the aid of someone in trouble but instead ignore pleas for help. And though the children work together in the end to free their teacher, this kiddie Lord of the Flies scenario may tickle tots' subversive sides, but will do little to assuage those who are nervous about starting preschool. --Publishers Weekly
