Review by Booklist Review
Cole sets his latest rhymed romp at an elementary school populated by animals that quickly slides to the edge of catastrophe when the principal (a no-nonsense hen) goes missing. Hardly have the busses discharged their troves of backpack-toting "cargo" than crises pile up--from hallway bullying and fashion emergencies ("And one kid named Trey / wore his undies the wrong way") to an incipient fire drill and the simultaneous arrivals of the school board, a state dietician, a computer tech, heating inspectors, and a group of parents. Just an ordinary school morning, in other words. Happily, the faculty and staff, reflecting their absent leader's can-do confidence, ably step in to pick up the slack until, at last, she steps off the school bus, a "teensy bit late" due to car trouble, and salutes her beaming charges. What's the upshot? "When a school gets along, / it's a place of community, / working so beautifully, together in unity."
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Cole paints a portrait of an elementary school in distress when Principal Tate, the white hen in charge, runs late one morning. With visitors ranging from a state dietitian to disgruntled animalian parents lining up for appointments, the school seems like it may erupt into chaos, until the staff steps up to the plate. The rhyming text, while uneven in meter, is nonetheless lively ("And a new kid threw up.../ (It was her first day.)/ And one kid named Trey/ wore his undies wrong way"), with abundant tongue-in-cheek humor. Fine-lined ink illustrations, sweetened by gentle watercolor washes, depict the school with an expressive population of varying abilities, sizes, and species. While the conclusion feels a bit preachy, this amusing picture book gamely lauds school staff and the hurdles they must regularly overcome. Ages 4--8. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--It's seemingly a normal school day at Hardy Elementary School--a variety of animal students are arriving and everything is "all systems go!" Except that at quarter to eight, Ms. Dee notices that the blinds in Principal Tate's office are down. She must be running late! The stakes rise to the point of hilarity as more characters in need of Principal Tate arrive at the school. What will Hardy Elementary do without its fearless leader? It is then that the staff members come to the rescue, sorting out problems and working together to get things running smoothly. This book starts right on the title page, which some might miss on a first reading. For the most part, the rhyming verse works to make the story playful, but at times it feels forced and the rhymes don't quite connect. Cole refers to the students as "cargo" on the opening page, which might make some readers balk. However, the ultimate message of a community working together toward a common goal resonates. The ink-and-watercolor illustrations are simple, bright, and colorful and add quite a bit of humor to some of the more bizarre elements of the story. VERDICT Though not a book for kids hoping to learn what school is like, libraries with larger collections are sure to find some happy readers.--Katie Patterson, Aloha Community Library, OR
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Review by Horn Book Review
In this entertaining and cheery school story, readers are introduced to Principal Tate, a large white hen. A singsong-y rhyming text describes her positive traits -- "Hardy School was first-rate / because Tate was so great" -- from encouraging the students' efforts to overseeing fire drills to running meetings. But today, Principal Tate's uncharacteristic tardiness leads to temporary mayhem. Her absence is felt in a series of small incidents: hallway scuffles and name-calling break out; a new kid throws up; and various parents and school officials are impatiently lined up, waiting outside Principal Tate's office. As the school teeters on the brink of chaos, the Hardy crew springs into action. From the custodian who cleans up the mess to the art teacher who distracts the parents with a pottery project, everyone contributes, and order is restored. Soon thereafter, bus driver Mr. Morales truly saves the day: he "pulled up with no fuss...and with Tate on his bus!" Turns out car trouble was the culprit. Cole's watercolor and ink illustrations abound with expressive animals, comical situations, and familiar school settings. A lively and lighthearted tale, and a paean to community. Emmie Stuart September/October 2021 p.62(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
What will happen to Hardy Elementary school when reliable Principal Tate runs late? Principal Tate, a large white hen, holds everything together at school, cheering the students and making sure things run smoothly. But this morning, as the buses pull up and the school day starts, Principal Tate is missing. (Readers saw her under the hood of her car at the side of the road after the title page.) All sorts of small animals enter the school for their day, and problems enter with them: Someone is being teased; someone else is throwing up. There are visitors and parents waiting for Principal Tate; there's a fire drill planned, and here comes the school board for their meeting! Before things descend into chaos, the staff and students spring into action, solving problems by sharing art, song, books, and food and by making phone calls. By the time the hero--bus driver Mr. Morales (a brown terrier)--shows up with Principal Tate, the school has proven that "it's a place of community, / working so beautifully, together in unity." The rhyming text feels a bit forced, and while the pileup of urgent situations is both a bit arbitrary and over-the-top, it builds momentum and suspense to keep the pages turning. The artwork is busy with few contrasting colors, requiring some extra focus to identify the all-animal characters mentioned in the text. Emotions and relationships are visualized and engaging. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A sweet message for school communities. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
