Eddie Gets Ready For School

by David Milgrim, David Milgrim (Illustrator)

Overview

Fall in love with Eddie as he gets ready for school!

Now that Eddie can get ready all by himself, his morning routine is anything but ordinary!

[ ] wake up (with a megaphone)
[ ] get dressed (up in a costume)
[ ] pack a snack (a watermelon's perfect)
[ ] find something for show-and-tell (No, not the TV!)
[ ] run like mad to catch bus!

With understated humor and uproarious illustrations, David Milgrim's first checklist book gets you to school on time, and in a great mood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545273299
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	07/01/2011
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

David Milgrim is the author/illustrator of several books, including My Dog, Buddy and Cows Can't Fly, an IRA/CBC Children's Choice Award winner. He lives in Northampton, MA with his family. Visit his website at www.davidmilgrim.com.

Editorial Reviews

In this humorous book designed as a checklist, Eddie has his own priorities when it comes to getting ready for school—for example, watching cartoons while chugging root beer—but his mother isn't always on the same page. Big, bold cartoons make their lighthearted tug-of-war the center of attention, as grinning Eddie sheepishly responds to the amended checklist ("Turn off TV this instant" and "Pour out root beer"). Eddie finally makes it in one piece to the bus, though he's got a watermelon for his lunch and underwear in hand. Readers accustomed to chasing the bus with one shoe on will relate. Ages 4–7. (July)

Publishers Weekly

PreS-Gr 1—From first to final page, Eddie's every move and achievement is checked off his list as he starts a new day. "Wake up!"—check, "Have a healthy breakfast"—check, "Feed Mr. Chips [the dog]"—check. Eddie moves with independence and confidence to do what he must do to get ready, while readers note that he really just follows his own agenda: "Drink root beer"—check, or as his mother watches—"pour out root beer"—check. This early riser is proud of his ability to get his own breakfast and get dressed, and the sheer joy in his active and imaginative world shines through in his gleeful facial expressions. Bright graphic images with a lack of background detail strengthen a humorous text, presented in a succession of marked checklist items on each page. Readers should not neglect the bits of checklists found on the endpapers ("don't dilly…don't dally" or "put on Dad's shoes…talk like Dad")—they are worth a look. This is an energetic romp with high appeal.—Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

School Library Journal

With lots of silliness, Milgrim's young protagonist is excited about getting himself ready for school. The story is told in a series of checklists which also range from the practical to impractical. Even the dog and the fish have signs saying feed me on the opening page. First it is wake up time and then off for a healthy breakfast. Never mind the mess that is left behind. Washing up would not be complete without a divers mask and getting dressed does not look like it will be much of a success. This young boy even has time to watch TV and drink root beer, but Mom quickly puts a stop to that. The lists continue as our boy gets dressed for real, packs a snack, looks for something for show and tell, and eventually races to the school bus carry something that looks a lot like a pair of underpants, but surely that can not be. The end papers are covered with even more list of things to do and it is all a bit tongue in cheek. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

That age-old struggle of getting kids off to school in the morning goes to new extremes in this howler from Milgrim.

Written entirely in the form of a checklist, this is the morning routine of one overly enthusiastic and fiercely independent little boy. The wake-up call he gives his parents is by megaphone, their limbs and pillows flying under the assault. Next he tackles breakfast and feeding the dog, both of which are accomplished with an entire box of cereal. His next three tasks—get dressed (cape, no shirt, pajama bottoms, helmet made of underwear), watch cartoons and drink root beer—are amended by his hands-on-hips mother: "Turn off TV this instant / Pour out root beer / Really get dressed." And those are not the only things she vetoes—the cat cannot go to show-and-tell...nor can the dog, the fish, the bird or the television. Throughout it all, though, the irrepressible Eddie keeps his delightful smile and his winning attitude. As he waves from the bus, his final item is checked off: "Give myself 3 cheers! I did it!" Milgrim's hysterical illustrations tell the bulk of the story. The bright colors and simple outlines and backgrounds make the humorous details stand out all the more.

Parents who have been there and kids who are still struggling with independence will find it hard not to root for Eddie. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews