sngick's review against another edition
5.0
Such a cute story combined with the illustrations make it a beautiful, sweet book to share with students.
jshettel's review against another edition
4.0
Told in a series of poems written as short letters, this book is a great find for all those brave substitutes out there! Stick this book in your school bag and read it aloud when you meet a new group of skeptical K-3 students.
backonthealex's review against another edition
4.0
Having been both a classroom teacher and a substitute teacher, I found this epistolary picture book just delightful. When a young girl discovers that her teacher, Mrs. Giordano, is out for the day and there is a substitute named Miss Pelly instead, she is completely thrown off course, documenting it all in letters written to the sub. And it seems Miss Pelly can't get anything right, from mispronouncing unfamiliar names, to cancelling a library visit, to putting off cleaning the class turtle''s tank until Mrs Giordano returns, to not recognizing our letter writer as the week's line leader, and to almost bringing her to tears at lunch over a sandwich swap. But after lunch, there's an extra story time. Miss Pelly reads some poems to the class and WOW! maybe our letter writer likes poetry and maybe Miss Pelly isn't so bad after all. The letters our narrator writes are full of emotion ranging from surprise to misgiving to critical to embarrassment. But these negatives all turn around in the afternoon, thanks to Miss Pelly's funny poems. The watercolor and gouache illustrations add needed humor to the situation, while cleverly catching the narrators changing emotions and perceptions of Miss Pelly throughout the school day. Although this is a book dealing with substitute teachers, it is also a good lesson in developing flexibility and accepting change and people's differences. I would recommend this be part of every elementary school classroom library since subs are a basic fact of school life.
teganbeese's review against another edition
4.0
A great book that helps children learn about change, even it is for just one day with a substitute teacher. The illustrations are really cute. VCFA faculty.
wordnerd153's review against another edition
4.0
Perfect story for teachers to share with students the day before they have a substitute.
nikimarion's review against another edition
3.0
Teacher-bait!
An epistolary picturebook about the frustrations caused by a substitute teacher as documented by one disgruntled student, who soon discovers that this substitute has more to offer than might first appear.
An epistolary picturebook about the frustrations caused by a substitute teacher as documented by one disgruntled student, who soon discovers that this substitute has more to offer than might first appear.
mandarchy's review against another edition
4.0
Everything goes wrong when there is a substitute and some kids get really stressed out. This book might be a great icebreaker if you are a substitute teacher or if you are a teacher and want a book to ease your children't minds while you are away. It could lead into some creative writing (poetry even). Maybe the students should write the sub plans... Now that would be interesting.
tashrow's review
4.0
When Mrs.Giordano has to stay home sick, a substitute comes to run the classroom. Unfortunately though, all of her changes are really disruptive for the very young students in the class. So one of the students writes a series of poems to Miss Pelly, the substitute. Miss Pelly doesn’t know how to pronounce their names, doesn’t collect the homework that is due. The class doesn’t visit the library on their scheduled day, the turtle tank isn’t cleaned, and turns at being line leader are disrupted. Miss Pelly even laughs too often, but she does share a great book of poems with the class and it might just be alright if Mrs. Giordano takes another day off to get well.
The authors capture the confusion at having routines disrupted by a substitute teacher. Through the vehicle of short poems, this picture book is approachable and gives voice to a child’s frustration at things being changed and grappling with being flexible and understanding. The illustrations have a childlike whimsy to them, with noble turtles, red-glasses wearing crocodiles, and a substitute who looks kind even when the child is unsure.
A winner for classrooms preparing for substitutes or other big changes. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
The authors capture the confusion at having routines disrupted by a substitute teacher. Through the vehicle of short poems, this picture book is approachable and gives voice to a child’s frustration at things being changed and grappling with being flexible and understanding. The illustrations have a childlike whimsy to them, with noble turtles, red-glasses wearing crocodiles, and a substitute who looks kind even when the child is unsure.
A winner for classrooms preparing for substitutes or other big changes. Appropriate for ages 5-8.
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