FICTION

Ally-saurus & the First Day of School

by Richard TORREY
illus. by Richard Torrey. 32p. Sterling. 2015. Tr $14.95. ISBN 9781454911791.
COPY ISBN
PreS-Gr 2—It's the first day of school, and Ally—or Ally-saurus as she likes to be called—wonders if there will be "other dinosaurs" in her grade? She is one of many spirited children in her class, and while Ally is obsessed with dinosaurs, each child has his or her own passion. During recess, Ally is faced with dragons, pirates, astronauts, lions, and, of course, know-it-all princesses. In the end, the school librarian is credited with expanding Ally's imagination. Torrey has captured the concerns that come with the first day of school. Beautiful black-and-white drawings highlight each child's imagination with color. Imparting the lesson that everyone has their own personality and can still be themselves and make friends, this story is worth the read. However, it may be a little long for the intended audience.
VERDICT This book can easily be used in classrooms in September to relieve the anxiety that children might feel at the beginning of the school year.
Reviewed by Betsy Davison, Cortland Free Library, NY
During Ally's (a.k.a. Ally-saurus) first foray into school, she inserts her dinosaur obsession into every moment ("This is how dinosaurs eat!") with varying amounts of success. As the day goes on, Ally learns that fellow classmates (pirate, princess, lion, Walter, etc.) have some pretty cool interests, too. Readers will root for Ally and her passions, wherever they lead. Subtle pastel details enhance the simple line drawings.
, Aug 01, 2015

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