From: Diane Peterson <dspeters>
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2004 12:19:17 -0500

I just love Alison McGhee's books about kids who are worried about going to school, because of all the horror stories they have heard from their older siblings and friends (wow, can I remember some from my own childhood). Countdown to Kindergarten portrays a girl who is frantic about learning to tie her shoes, because she has heard that you absolutely cannot go to school if you can't tie your shoes. I just read through McGhee's new book, Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth, in which the same girl has heard that her second grade teacher is really an alien who preys on the baby teeth in order to survive. I'm a little uneasy with the teacher (who is not an alien, by the way) giving candy as a treat to her students whenever they lose a tooth; but I suppose a lesson on dental health would be pretty dull and stereotypical. Both books are illustrated by Harry Bliss, and his hilarious illustrations are a perfect match to the story. I just love the illustration near the end of Mrs. Watson, showing all the children on the bus to go home--one is on a cell phone, one is being really loud and obnoxious, and the girl seated next to him is slyly unrolling a length of duct tape. Great fun.
Received on Thu 23 Sep 2004 12:19:17 PM CDT