May 11, 2020
Endearing from the get-go, this warm, funny early chapter book introduces Brooklynite Harry Bergen-Murphy on the eve of school’s opening day, as he laments the “too-short haircut” that will make him “the eariest kid in first grade, probably.” Also on his list of worries are strict teachers, rules, learning to read, mean kids, “scary classroom guinea pigs”—and making friends. His gently firm teacher helps the intermittently impulsive boy over some of these hurdles, building his confidence, squelching his penchant for whispering during class, and supporting his mission to discover what he can become an “expert” at. Harry’s intuitive mother coaches him about using his words to counter disappointment and anger, and his caring sister comforts him when he feels let down by friends—and slyly cures his fear of guinea pigs. In brief clips of Harry’s first 100 days, Jenkins (Toys Meet Snow) spotlights Harry’s adjustment to school, insightfully and entertainingly revealing his burgeoning self-reliance, tightening grasp on the meaning of friendship and family, and appreciation of the value of empathy and acceptance. Expressive color cartoons art by Oswald (The Bad Seed) amplify Harry’s earnestness and likability. Ages 5–8. Author’s agent: Elizabeth Kaplan, Elizabeth Kaplan Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Agency.
June 1, 2020
K-Gr 3-Six-year-old Harry Bergen-Murphy is endearing, earnest, and anxious. He lives in Brooklyn with his single mother and attends the public school just a few blocks away with his older sister, Charlotte. Harry is about to start first grade and he's worried about mean kids, teachers who yell, and scary guinea pigs. Short chapters perfectly portray the first 100 days of his first grade year with all its glorious ups and downs, from where to sit at lunch to tackling the tricky silent "e" to what 100 items he will share on the hundredth day of school. Jenkins depicts first grade dialogue and dynamics with honesty and affection. The full-color, cartoonish art depicts a variety of classroom and neighborhood scenes that reflect the diversity of the characters. VERDICT This appealing chapter book is a terrific addition to any 100-day narrative collection. It is perfectly tailored for a read-aloud and is bound to be a favorite.-Brenda Kahn, Tenakill M.S., Closter, NJ
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Starred review from May 1, 2020
Grades 1-3 *Starred Review* A first-grader goes from bundle of nerves on the first day of school to, by the hundredth, a confident young learner with a fund of well-earned knowledge and social skills. Parceling out the story into 19 chapters equally suitable for sessions of reading aloud or for solo readers ready for chapter books, Jenkins tracks her young Brooklynite's course a day at a time. Through short sentences of natural-sounding dialogue and present-tense reflections, Harry faces challenges ranging from tricky relationships with his tablemates to a fear of guinea pigs. Along with the occasional splash of puke or spill of water, the class goes through a round of nondenominational holiday celebrations and guided discussions of why Columbus Day and Thanksgiving aren't celebrated by everyone, along with interchanges on topics ranging from diverse family customs to the reduce, reuse, recycle mantra. All of this is infused with the author's characteristic, multileveled tongue-in-cheek humor and even some satiric tweaks?there's a mock race for class president between one puppet who promises to help with schoolwork and another who only says, Cupcakes every day. Yum yum yum. (Guess the winner.) Jenkins also distinguishes actual pedagogy from her own inventions in appreciative closing notes. The provided samples of Oswald's color illustrations depict a diverse mix of bright-eyed human figures in full page, realistically drawn settings, along with frequent vignettes and spot art.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)
Starred review from July 1, 2021
Harry Bergen-Murphy is worried about a lot of things on the night before starting first grade -- getting lost, mean kids, and "scary classroom guinea pigs," among others. Fortunately, he has a deft teacher in Ms. Peek-Schnitzel, who assigns him the task of sharpening pencils as the other children arrive -- the activity and knowing that "he is the special person who gets to do the pencils" ease his worries. Jenkins structures the book using the first hundred days of school; by day four, Harry, now the confident one, can distract his friend Mason when he's upset. The entire book is solidly grounded in the slice-of-life details of first grade, with the wall of sight words and "sparkly words," the science unit on apples, and activities like making family circle charts (instead of family trees). Jenkins shows everything through Harry's perspective, as when he names the other children at his table: "Wyatt, a boy with a loud voice. Abigail from kindergarten, who looks down at her hands a lot. Kimani, a girl who prints very neatly. And Diamond, a girl with a big laugh." Harry is believably imperfect in a Ramona-like way, as he squabbles with other kids, gets mad at his teacher, and gradually begins to better understand people and their feelings. Though long for an early chapter book, the book's large print, plentiful white space, short sentences with simple words, and very engaging characters will make new readers want to tackle it. Oswald's lively color pictures sprinkled throughout the book also add to its accessibility and show a diverse group of kids. It's funny, authentic, and insightful, with an appended author's note providing details about some of the many children's book references Jenkins has worked in. Susan Dove Lempke
(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
July 1, 2021
Harry Bergen-Murphy is worried about a lot of things on the night before starting first grade -- getting lost, mean kids, and "scary classroom guinea pigs," among others. Fortunately, he has a deft teacher in Ms. Peek-Schnitzel, who assigns him the task of sharpening pencils as the other children arrive -- the activity and knowing that "he is the special person who gets to do the pencils" ease his worries. Jenkins structures the book using the first hundred days of school; by day four, Harry, now the confident one, can distract his friend Mason when he's upset. The entire book is solidly grounded in the slice-of-life details of first grade, with the wall of sight words and "sparkly words," the science unit on apples, and activities like making family circle charts (instead of family trees). Jenkins shows everything through Harry's perspective, as when he names the other children at his table: "Wyatt, a boy with a loud voice. Abigail from kindergarten, who looks down at her hands a lot. Kimani, a girl who prints very neatly. And Diamond, a girl with a big laugh." Harry is believably imperfect in a Ramona-like way, as he squabbles with other kids, gets mad at his teacher, and gradually begins to better understand people and their feelings. Though long for an early chapter book, the book's large print, plentiful white space, short sentences with simple words, and very engaging characters will make new readers want to tackle it. Oswald's lively color pictures sprinkled throughout the book also add to its accessibility and show a diverse group of kids. It's funny, authentic, and insightful, with an appended author's note providing details about some of the many children's book references Jenkins has worked in. Susan Dove Lempke
(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Starred review from April 1, 2020
The first 100 days of school are a really big deal. Harry Bergen-Murphy, age 5, is starting first grade but doesn't feel ready. As described in "Day 1" (chapters contain multiple days, each labeled), Mommy and Charlotte, Harry's older sister, help him face "big-kid school" on his first day. Details of the subsequent 99 days are incorporated, journal-style, into the novel's 19 chapters and narrated in third person, present tense, providing a nice sense of immediacy. As the days proceed, Harry makes friends (and becomes a great one himself); figures out silent "E" and aces sight words; creates pompom monsters; articulates uncomfortable emotions; overcomes a fear of guinea pigs; devises an ingenious way to bring 100 items to the 100th-day celebration; and much more. Abetted by loving family, kind teachers, and close friends, Harry blossoms into one terrific kid. Readers will love joining him on this realistic, comical, heartwarming journey. Frequent references to puke and boogers enhance the humor in this captivating tale, written with keen awareness for the way kids speak, think, and behave. Oswald's full-color illustrations depict Harry and family as white; Harry's best friend has brown skin. Other adults and classmates appear with diverse skin tones, hair styles, and hair colors. A female crossing guard wears a hijab; some characters wear glasses. A celebration of the first 100 days starring a boy brimming with personality. (author's note) (Fiction. 5-8)
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July 1, 2021
Harry Bergen-Murphy is worried about a lot of things on the night before starting first grade -- getting lost, mean kids, and "scary classroom guinea pigs," among others. Fortunately, he has a deft teacher in Ms. Peek-Schnitzel, who assigns him the task of sharpening pencils as the other children arrive -- the activity and knowing that "he is the special person who gets to do the pencils" ease his worries. Jenkins structures the book using the first hundred days of school; by day four, Harry, now the confident one, can distract his friend Mason when he's upset. The entire book is solidly grounded in the slice-of-life details of first grade, with the wall of sight words and "sparkly words," the science unit on apples, and activities like making family circle charts (instead of family trees). Jenkins shows everything through Harry's perspective, as when he names the other children at his table: "Wyatt, a boy with a loud voice. Abigail from kindergarten, who looks down at her hands a lot. Kimani, a girl who prints very neatly. And Diamond, a girl with a big laugh." Harry is believably imperfect in a Ramona-like way, as he squabbles with other kids, gets mad at his teacher, and gradually begins to better understand people and their feelings. Though long for an early chapter book, the book's large print, plentiful white space, short sentences with simple words, and very engaging characters will make new readers want to tackle it. Oswald's lively color pictures sprinkled throughout the book also add to its accessibility and show a diverse group of kids. It's funny, authentic, and insightful, with an appended author's note providing details about some of the many children's book references Jenkins has worked in.
(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)