FICTION

When You Just Have to Roar!

by Rachel ROBERTSON
When You Just Have to Roar! illus. by Priscilla Prentice. 32p. Redleaf Lane. 2015. Tr $15.95. ISBN 9781605543628.
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PreS-K—In Ms. Mya's classroom, it is "just one of those days." The students are enthusiastically jumping on chairs, "making a monstrous mess," and roaring like lions "for no reason at all." Using her "I need your attention right now" voice, Ms. Mya calmly reins in the energy and calls a special morning meeting on the carpet. A discussion about behavior expectations ensues, with plenty of child-friendly explanations, positive phrasing, and modeling. Prentice's cheerful illustrations show the children practicing their indoor walking skills, using kind words, and employing indoor voices. The last line on the list of expectations is "Roar like a lion when there's simply no other way to say it."
VERDICT Useful for school readiness conversations.
Reviewed by Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
The kids in Ms. Mya's classroom are having "one of those days," so the teacher decides it's time to set some expectations for the group. She sets expectations for herself, as well: mainly, that she will support her students. The next day goes much better. This purposeful, message-y character-education story is accompanied by unpolished but cheerful illustrations.
 , Sep 01, 2015

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