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Summary
Summary
It is the end of a busy day at school, and one at a time, all of the toddlers have been picked up--all except one, that is. Now the last child sits alone with his teacher, growing more and more anxious as he watches the door, waiting and wondering . . . "Will my somebody special ever come for me, too?"
Any child who has felt worried at the end of a busy day will be comforted by this cozy story, lovingly illustrated by Ashley Wolff.
Author Notes
Sarah weeks was born March 18, 1955 in Ann Arbor Michigan. She received her BA from Hampshire College and her MFA from New York University. Sarah is the author of numerous best-selling children's books including Glamourpuss, Woof!: A Love Story, Sophie Peterman Tells the Truth, If I Were a Lion, the hilarious Mrs. McNosh series, and many more.
Sarah's book, So B. It, made the New York Times bestseller list in 2015.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (6)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-An engaging rhyming story. The colorful double-page spreads show a cheerful preschool environment full of energetic animal youngsters. While many of the illustrations showcase opportunities for creative play and one highlights the joy of sharing books, the focus of this story comes at day's end. It opens, "Our busy day is almost through. Somebody special is coming for you." As children are picked up one by one (by a parent of the same species), they are identified by a physical trait (a cute nose, soft hair, a soft pink tummy). For example, a fox parent says, "Whose hair is as soft as the morning mist?" and the little one responds, "Mine is. Mine is. Mine!" Human kids will definitely chime in as the animals respond to their parents' calls. They'll also relate to the apprehensive little dog that is left till last. Discouraged and worried, he's especially pleased to be picked up and reassured by his tardy but loving mom. Wolff's engaging illustrations, done in bright colors and plenty of patterns, add punch to the simple but appealing text. They effectively convey the personalities and interests of their unnamed characters while giving young listeners lots to look at as the story unfolds. This pleasant tale with its reassuring message and attractive art will be just right for young children who aren't quite ready for Joseph Slate's "Miss Bindergarten" stories (Dutton).-Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
With its skillful interplay of text and art, this story taps into one of the verities of preschool, the anxiety of being the last one picked up. "Our busy day is almost through./ Somebody special is coming for you./ Somebody special will open the door,/ and you'll be the one they're looking for," writes Weeks (the Mrs. McNosh books). One by one, doting and punctual anthropomorphized animal parents come through the classroom door to take their offspring home. The last one left is a puppy, who, having watched many of the departures, now looks unmistakably woebegone. Then, in a spread that will resonate as much with parents as with children, Wolff moves the action from the warmly lit interior to the darkened outdoors, where a frantic canine mother rushes from the bus stop toward school. "Who's feeling a little bit worried are you?" reads the text. With this scene, Wolff makes the line about worrying refer to both parent and child, and plumbs the emotional nuances of the situation while retaining the same amiable and detailed visual style of the popular Miss Bindergarten books. The artist doesn't overplay the puppy's fears he grows increasingly wide-eyed and anxious, but doesn't cry or panic. Children, accordingly, can identify with the puppy's struggle to be brave yet share his tail-wagging relief when his "somebody special" envelops him with a big hug. Ages 2-5. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
Little Bear School, which could be a preschool or daycare center, is full of animal children waiting to be picked up. As each parent arrives, the text presents a question and provides the child's answer (e.g., Whose feet have / perfect little toes? / Mine do. / Mine do. / Mine!). Although the rhyming text is somewhat flat, the colorful art fills the spreads with the tireless activity of toddlers. From HORN BOOK Fall 2002, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A sensitive tale exploring the turbulent mix of emotions, both the trepidation and happy reunion experienced by youngsters at pick-up time. Simple verses take readers through the end-of-day rituals the children have at a school or daycare facility. One by one, parents arrive, reciting a riddle just for their own child, to which the youngsters respond with enthusiasm (as will the audience). Various physical attributes lovingly described by the parents include big round eyes (the raccoon), a cute nose (the otter), silken hair (the fox), soft tummies, perfect toes, etc. "Whose cheeks just beg to be nibbled and kissed? Mine do. Mine do. Mine!" The repetition of this scenario with each child reassures readers even as Weeks (Oh My Gosh, Mrs. McNosh!, below, etc.) gently acknowledges the incipient anxiety of the last one remaining. The eventual arrival of the tardy parent results in obvious relief, reaffirming the reader's sense of security. The deeply hued illustrations are a rich blend of watercolors, chalk pastels, and pencil drawings. They depict a nursery school full of adorable critters ranging from a chubby-cheeked chipmunk to a prickly porcupine in familiar, fun activities, such as painting and dress-up, while conveying the increasing unease of the puppy that will be the last to leave. Sympathetic and soothing, this tale is just right for taming the worries of small fry when they are away from home. (Picture book. 2-6)
Booklist Review
PreS.^-Gr. 2. Weeks deals with a familiar experience for many children in an ultimately reassuring animal tale. One by one, six animal children are picked up from nursery school. Puppy becomes increasingly anxious as everyone leaves, and eventually he's the only youngster remaining. Then his Somebody Special arrives at the classroom door, breathless from having hurried off the bus. The large-type, simple text uses a question to set the scene for each arrival ("Whose nose is the cutest you'll ever see?"), followed by the repeated response "Mine is, mine is, mine." It's the details and the facial expressions in the vividly colored, mixed-media illustrations that really tell the story, though. They extend off the double-page spreads, conveying the warmth and security of the classroom as they put youngsters right inside school with the characters. Kids will want repeated readings so they can identify the activities and the animals. --Julie Cummins
Library Journal Review
With its skillful interplay of text and art, this story taps into one of the verities of preschool, the anxiety of being the last one picked up. "Our busy day is almost through./ Somebody special is coming for you./ Somebody special will open the door,/ and you'll be the one they're looking for," writes Weeks (the Mrs. McNosh books). One by one, doting and punctual anthropomorphized animal parents come through the classroom door to take their offspring home. The last one left is a puppy, who, having watched many of the departures, now looks unmistakably woebegone. Then, in a spread that will resonate as much with parents as with children, Wolff moves the action from the warmly lit interior to the darkened outdoors, where a frantic canine mother rushes from the bus stop toward school. "Who's feeling a little bit worried are you?" reads the text. With this scene, Wolff makes the line about worrying refer to both parent and child, and plumbs the emotional nuances of the situation while retaining the same amiable and detailed visual style of the popular Miss Bindergarten books. The artist doesn't overplay the puppy's fears he grows increasingly wide-eyed and anxious, but doesn't cry or panic. Children, accordingly, can identify with the puppy's struggle to be brave yet share his tail-wagging relief when his "somebody special" envelops him with a big hug. Ages 2-5. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
