Monsters at School

PreS-K–A colorful array of silly monsters spends a cheerful day at school in this rhyming picture book. Moments in a typical school day are described in short, simple phrases. Included are a few opportunities for vocabulary-building: a teacher looking “stern” and a student “trying not to smirk.” Full-bleed illustrations show the monsters learning, playing, making messes, cleaning up, and even dashing for the restroom with gritted teeth. Children will pore over the small details and moments of visual humor in each action-packed spread. The final page shows a doglike creature with one eye and a green tongue and asks, “Can you find Dog Monster in every scene?” which will have children asking for a second reading so they can participate in the Where’s Waldo–style search. Each page is a stand-alone snapshot of a moment in the school day; when put together they will not give children a clear picture of what to expect in a classroom setting. Those seeking titles to ease first-day anxiety will be better served by other books in this crowded genre, but this is a fun choice for those who are already familiar with a school environment.