From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2–Silly Mrs. Millie delights her kindergarteners with such humorous phrases as Don't forget your lunch bunny, don't cut in the lion, and hang up your goats, which they rush to correct. Cox's simplistic wordplay successfully sets the stage for Mathieu's vibrant, full-spread illustrations. When gorilla cheese sandwiches are offered, Mathieu's energetic drawing shows a disconcerted primate stuck between two sticky slices of bread. Moreover, the artist's lively and imaginative cartoons aid in understanding the sometimes slightly forced text. When Mrs. Millie wants the class to come in after recess, she yells, It's time to chameleon, and the students are portrayed running alongside lizards, with each one cleverly reflecting the clothing of the nearest child. The repetitiveness and frequent rhyming of Mrs. Millie's obvious substitutions make this story an appealing read-aloud. –Erin Senig, Bronxville Public Library, NY
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PreS-K. Cox, who teaches kindergarten, keeps kids on their toes in this book of wordplay that will have even the most literal-minded youngster giggling and feeling quite superior. Mrs. Millie is definitely silly. "Good morning, children. Please hang up your goats," she says, receiving a chorus of "Don't be silly, Mrs. Millie!" Several equally screwball scenarios ensue, each greeted with similarly joyful chiding. Cox occasionally goes a bit too far ("It's time to chameleon," Mrs. Millie yells when recess is over). However, the class always seems to know what Mrs. Millie means and loudly clarifies it for the rest of us. The rainbow-bright, color-saturated art offers no surprises, picking right up from the wordplay. But it's hard to resist pictures like the one of five perturbed goats hanging by their antlers in the coat closet, or the beaming faces of Mrs. Millie's students, amused and amazed by their teacher's goofy mistakes. Who's ready for "parrot sticks and quackers"? Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
About the Author
Author Judy Cox teaches kindergarten in a small town in Oregon. Like Mrs. Millie, she likes to tease her kindergators. She has written a number of picture books, including Mrs. Millie Goes to Philly! , Pick a Pumpkin, Mrs. Millie! , and The Mystery of the Burmese Bandicoot. She lives in Ontario, Oregon.
Illustrator Joe Mathieu is the illustrator of many popular picture books, including We're Going on a Lion Hunt, Mrs. Millie Goes to Philly!, and Pick a Pumpkin, Mrs. Millie!. He lives in Hudson, Massachusetts.
