Alpaca goes back-a to school

PreS-K--Starting a new school or going back to school after a long break can be scary for little ones. Alpaca is getting ready to start the school year, and Mama helps Alpaca get off on the right foot with shoes tied and a snack-a to pack-a. Singing songs, doing art, and making friends are all part of a successful first day, and even small struggles like a paint spill don't ruin Alpaca's day. Bardham-Quallen's inventive rhyming pattern of adding "a" to anything with the "ack" sound at the end keeps the alpaca rhyming going from beginning to end, resulting in a bouncy read-aloud for little ones. Colorful graphic art represents the dynamic environment of an early childhood classroom and will get kids excited to go "back-a" to school. VERDICT Recommended for school and public libraries: going back to school is an event that most children will encounter at one point or another.--Kristen Todd-Wurm

It's "back-a" to school time for Alpaca, who gets out of bed, grabs a "snack-a," and hops on the bus. At school, "Miss Yak-a" leads circle time and art class, and Alpaca enjoys the playground's train "track-a." The bouncy couplets and invented "alpaca" rhymes (displayed in bold font) are well-matched by the energetic digital art showing Alpaca and friends enjoying the day. This is a good read-aloud choice for young readers transitioning to a new school year. (c) Copyright 2025. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

"It'sback-ato school time." An unseen narrator reminds Alpaca to "pack-aasnack-a." Then Alpaca and Mom walk to the bus stop and wait. (Mom will be fine while Alpaca's at school, the narrator reassures readers.) At school, the sounds of footsteps going "click-clack-a" reverberate through the hallways; PrincipalQuack-awelcomes everyone. Alpaca's a bit worried--will the teacher, Miss Yak-a, be stern? No, indeed! Alpaca and the others locate their cubbies and hang their coats on a "rack-a." The rest of the day is eventful, with circle time, playtime, and art class; Alpaca drops a "stack-a" paint jars, but it's OK! "MissYak-ahas more." After a full day of playing, singing, learning the school rules, and working together with new friends, Alpaca heads home to enjoy dinner with Mom, take a bath, and listen to a story before hitting the "sack-a." This cheery story is a humorous vocabulary developer, with numerousack-a words playfully running throughout the narrative; kids will be quick to shout out their own riffs on the wordalpaca. The soothing tale will resonate with those starting school for the first time or returning to classrooms for another year of learning. A blend of hand-created and digital techniques, the illustrations are cheery, and the all-animal cast is anthropomorphized with quirky details, such as the snazzy red high-tops Alpaca and Miss Yak-a sport. Kids will "crack-a" up over this jolly school story.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.