|
Kirkus Reviews Gilbert and his friends return
to delight their fans in this look at their last day of school. The normal classroom routine is
replaced by cleaning desks, reminiscing about the year and practicing the poems and songs they
will recite for their parents that afternoon. Recess is spent speculating as to who will win
which awards, Gilbert is especially worried about this, as he cannot think of anything that
he is better at than his classmates. But all works out in the end, and a little ice cream
after the final school bell cheers up all the students. And looking out the window, Gilbert
is heartened to learn that even Mrs. Byrd loves summer vacationÑshe bicycles past the shop
wearing Gilbert's gift. DeGroat perfectly portrays the essence of the last day of school,
from the strange surroundings of a classroom stripped of all decorations, to the mixed
emotions of students and teachers alike. Her classic illustrations capture body language
and facial expressions to a T. A wonderful celebration of the end of a school year,
ideal for preparing kindergartners.
ALA Booklist In this ninth installment in the popular Gilbert and Friends series,
opossum Gilbert and his classmates (assorted animals in children's clothing) look
forward to graduating from first grade. Gilbert is anxious about the award ceremony
- he wonders if he has a talent worthy of recognition. Eventhough Lewis, the class
funny man, informs him that everyone gets an award, Gilbert isn't convinced. The
Gilbert saves the day during a tense moment at the ceremony, which proves that
he is, indeed, deserving of the award he eventually receives. Although this
entry may not be as tension-filled as some of the other titles in the series,
the bright, cheery watercolor illustration, with their sizeable cast of lovable,
expressive characters, will draw youngsters into Gilbert's comfortable
small-town suburban environment. Gilbert's fans will look forward to more
first-grade adventures with the opossum, or perhaps, follow a more mature
Gilbert as he and his friends continue their escapades in second grade.
School Library Journal It's the last day of first grade, and Gilbert,
a winsome opossum, is filled with conflicting emotions. He's excited about
summer vacation, but he's going to miss his teacher, Mrs. Byrd. What's more,
he's not sure he will receive an award because he's not sure what he's best at.
At time passes in a flurry of last day activities (cleaning out desks, etc.),
Gilbert works through his feelings and bids farewell to first grade. He does,
of course, receive an award, and the school year ends on a positive note.
The color cartoon illustrations are filled with detail and charm. This
picture book effectively captures both the excitement and sadness that
many children feel at the end of the school year, and it makes for
a good discussion starter.
|
