School Library Journal Review
| PreS-Gr 2-In this colorful picture book, Anya wakes up for her first day of first grade "only to discover that overnight she had grown a tiger tail." She imagines all the possible disasters that could ensue once she gets to school, although her parents reassure her that the tail suits her and that it is perfectly normal to be nervous about a change in one's appearance. However, after her every attempt to miss school is thwarted, Anya meets bunny-eared Ben on her way in and finds that the tail isn't such a big deal. After all, it does go well with her wild hair, she reflects. The digital cartoon artwork is appropriately silly and exaggerated without being over-the-top. Although it is easy to imagine this work entertaining readers, it is harder to imagine it resonating with them, despite its near-universal theme. Any connection between the tail and real-world counterparts is tenuous at best, and the origin of the tail is never explained. VERDICT With so many other engaging back-to-school books available, this one merits no more than a passing glance. An additional purchase, at best.-Anna Stover, Poughkeepsie Day School, NY © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
