Book Cover Photo Source: Greenwillow Books for Children, http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060823351/What_a_Day_It_Was_at_School/index.aspx, accessed October 11, 2008.Bibliography
Prelutsky, Jack. 2006. WHAT A DAY IT WAS AT SCHOOL! Ill. By Doug Cushman. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060823356
Plot Summary
In this book of poetry, Jack Prelutsky takes us through some of the funny situations that occur in Elementary School. The main character in the stories is a chubby overall-clad cat that has written the 17 poems in journal form. While telling his mom about his day, he takes us through some of the trials and tribulations of elementary school including not completing homework assignments, music class, and field trips. Students will relate to all of these situations and will be laughing at loud as they hear them.
Critical Analysis
Doug Cushman’s humorous illustrations set the stage for this book even before the title page has been introduced. We see an exhausted kitten coming in from school dragging his backpack behind him and then a very animated scene where his mother is asking about his day to which he replies, “It’s all in my journal.”
The combination of journal style writing coupled with Jack Prelutsky’s signature humor makes for a winning combination in this children’s book of poetry. The poems are varied in subject matter ranging from very heavy backpacks to food fights in the cafeteria, all of which elementary school aged children will easily relate to. In “I Made a Noise this Morning” we hear about the embarrassment of passing gas in class with a little pride mixed in; “Though I’m sorry that I made it,/from the bottom of my heart,/In a way, my brief eruption/was a little work of art.”
Cushman’s paintings, done in watercolor are a perfect match for the lively text. His characters, which include a cat, rabbit, and several varieties of rodents, have wonderful facial expressions that cheerfully complete each poem. In “I Know How to Add,” which deals with the problems associated with math, “I cannot seem to do fractions at all-/I’ve tried and I’ve tried and I’ve tried./Will I ever solve twelve-elevenths times nine?” we see a lion as the math teacher who bears a striking resemblance to Albert Einstein and wears a shirt that says “E=mc2”. The last poem in the book, which deals with writing a poem for class, “My poem must have a meter,/and it also has to rhyme./It’s due tomorrow morning…./How I wish I had more time!” may be an inspiration for students to start writing poems of their own school experiences.
Review Excerpt(s)
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: “The school-age set will recognize the oft-discussed topics: food fights, field trips and the embarrassing passing of gas during class, among others. The author metes out doses of humor over the course of the 17 poems. In "I Wish I'd Studied Harrder," the laughs lie in the intentional misspellings ("I tried to spell Cunneddykit,/ But really I just gessed.../ If I had stoodied harder/ Then I mite have passed this test").”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “In addition to being a popular choice for poetry-loving young readers, this school-themed collection is certain to make continual rounds among early elementary teachers for use in the classroom.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Reluctant readers and poetry lovers alike will find plenty to laugh at and identify with here, and there is never an awkward line or a sour note-although in one poem, there is a rather unfortunate smell.”
Connections
After reading this book of poetry have the students make up their own poems about something that has happened to them at school or at home. This would also be a great way to introduce journal writing. Have your students start a journal and encourage them to write part of it in poetry form.
Other books of poetry by Jack Prelutsky:
MY DOG MAY BE A GENIUS ISBN 0066238625
IT’S HALLOWEEN ISBN 068814733X
PIZZA, PIGS AND POETRY ISBN 0061434485THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK ISBN 0688022715
Prelutsky, Jack. 2006. WHAT A DAY IT WAS AT SCHOOL! Ill. By Doug Cushman. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 0060823356
Plot Summary
In this book of poetry, Jack Prelutsky takes us through some of the funny situations that occur in Elementary School. The main character in the stories is a chubby overall-clad cat that has written the 17 poems in journal form. While telling his mom about his day, he takes us through some of the trials and tribulations of elementary school including not completing homework assignments, music class, and field trips. Students will relate to all of these situations and will be laughing at loud as they hear them.
Critical Analysis
Doug Cushman’s humorous illustrations set the stage for this book even before the title page has been introduced. We see an exhausted kitten coming in from school dragging his backpack behind him and then a very animated scene where his mother is asking about his day to which he replies, “It’s all in my journal.”
The combination of journal style writing coupled with Jack Prelutsky’s signature humor makes for a winning combination in this children’s book of poetry. The poems are varied in subject matter ranging from very heavy backpacks to food fights in the cafeteria, all of which elementary school aged children will easily relate to. In “I Made a Noise this Morning” we hear about the embarrassment of passing gas in class with a little pride mixed in; “Though I’m sorry that I made it,/from the bottom of my heart,/In a way, my brief eruption/was a little work of art.”
Cushman’s paintings, done in watercolor are a perfect match for the lively text. His characters, which include a cat, rabbit, and several varieties of rodents, have wonderful facial expressions that cheerfully complete each poem. In “I Know How to Add,” which deals with the problems associated with math, “I cannot seem to do fractions at all-/I’ve tried and I’ve tried and I’ve tried./Will I ever solve twelve-elevenths times nine?” we see a lion as the math teacher who bears a striking resemblance to Albert Einstein and wears a shirt that says “E=mc2”. The last poem in the book, which deals with writing a poem for class, “My poem must have a meter,/and it also has to rhyme./It’s due tomorrow morning…./How I wish I had more time!” may be an inspiration for students to start writing poems of their own school experiences.
Review Excerpt(s)
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY review: “The school-age set will recognize the oft-discussed topics: food fights, field trips and the embarrassing passing of gas during class, among others. The author metes out doses of humor over the course of the 17 poems. In "I Wish I'd Studied Harrder," the laughs lie in the intentional misspellings ("I tried to spell Cunneddykit,/ But really I just gessed.../ If I had stoodied harder/ Then I mite have passed this test").”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “In addition to being a popular choice for poetry-loving young readers, this school-themed collection is certain to make continual rounds among early elementary teachers for use in the classroom.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Reluctant readers and poetry lovers alike will find plenty to laugh at and identify with here, and there is never an awkward line or a sour note-although in one poem, there is a rather unfortunate smell.”
Connections
After reading this book of poetry have the students make up their own poems about something that has happened to them at school or at home. This would also be a great way to introduce journal writing. Have your students start a journal and encourage them to write part of it in poetry form.
Other books of poetry by Jack Prelutsky:
MY DOG MAY BE A GENIUS ISBN 0066238625
IT’S HALLOWEEN ISBN 068814733X
PIZZA, PIGS AND POETRY ISBN 0061434485THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK ISBN 0688022715
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