What a Day It Was at School! [Hardcover]

Jack Prelutsky (Author), Doug Cushman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Homework
(oh, dear!),
music,
a field trip
(hooray!),
science,
spelling
(gasp!),
gym,
a noisy mistake
(oops!).

And
friends,
books,
recess,
a food fight,
math,
the infirmary,
a visit,
history,
art,
show-and-tell . . .

What a funny, outrageous,
exciting, incredible, silly,
extraordinary day it was at school!

Are you ready to read all about it?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Cushman has interpreted Prelutsky's school-aged protagonist as a cat. The feline's journal contains 17 poems about everyday joys and predicaments: the ups and (mostly) downs of completing homework and assignments, overloaded backpacks, the sweet sounds of music class, invigorating author visits, gym partners, and cafeteria food fights. Lively and fun, with perfect meter and an abundance of interesting word choices, these poems beg to be read aloud. And they will be. Cushman has created an appealing school environment with a variety of colorful cartoon animal characters that are happily compatible with Prelutsky's silly and energetic verse. Of particular fun is the math teacher, a lion who bears more than a vague resemblance to a famous mathematician in his E=mC² sweatshirt. In addition to being a popular choice for poetry-loving young readers, this school-themed collection is certain to make continual rounds among early elementary teachers for use in the classroom.–Carol L. MacKay, Forestburg School Library, Alberta, Canada
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. Prelutsky brings his sly, slapstick verse to the classroom in this picture-book collection of school poems. Some of the selections are pure fantasy, such as the poem about a science experiment gone "totally berserk." Other, more realistic poems capture a young student's worries (homework, gym class) and earnest excitement. There are gleeful selections sure to provoke instantaneous giggles: "I Made a Noise This Morning," about farting in class, ends with the speaker's sheepish pride in his "little work of art." Prelutsky plays for more laughs by leaving gaps between the words, and the bouncy rhythms in the rhyming couplets extend the playful mood. Kids will see themselves in Cushman's bright cartoon illustrations featuring a young cat in overalls and other animal elementary students, and the active scenes extend the jokes and images in the words. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (July 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060823356
• ISBN-13: 978-0060823351
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #877,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jack Prelutsky has filled more than fifty books of verse with his inventive wordplay, including the national bestsellers The Wizard, Scranimals, and The New Kid on the Block. He is also the author of Be Glad Your Nose is on your Face, a collection of his most celebrated verses. He was named the nation's first Children's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. Jack Prelutsky lives in Washington State.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prelutsky does it again!, November 9, 2006

By 

R. Waller "ole teach" (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What a Day It Was at School! (Hardcover)

Another great collection of poetry from Jack Prelutsky! I am using these to help teach different types of poetry and using the 6+1 Traits when writing. I teach fifth graders and they loved the poems.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our new favorite, January 26, 2008

By 

A. Turner (Vermont, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: What a Day It Was at School! (Hardcover)

My daughter received this book as a gift for her 6th birthday, and in the 4 weeks since then, we have read it almost daily. Every time, she seems to find the poems every bit as funny as she did the first time we read it. There aren't many books that I can say I haven't gotten tired of reading to her, but this is one of the few. It's become our new favorite read-aloud book, and I definitely plan to look for more by Jack Prelutsky.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Poems!, January 9, 2007

By 

J. Anderson (Peoria, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What a Day It Was at School! (Hardcover)

My 6 year-old loves the poems in this book. He especially enjoys "I Made A Noise This Morning". The poems include much that could happen in a typical school day. We are Prelutsky fans.