  | I will never get a star on Mrs. Benson's blackboard Author: Mann, Jennifer K. | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
Rose's teacher gives stars for correct answers and neatness but Rose can't do any of those things right. Will she ever get a star from Mrs. Benson?
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 3.10 Points: .5 Quiz: 175565 |
Common Core Standards
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 1.RL Key Ideas & Details
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 1.RL Craft & Structure
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 1.RL Integration of Knowledge & Ideas
Grade 1 → Reading → RL Reading Literature → 1.RL Range of Reading & Level of Text Complexity
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (06/01/15)
School Library Journal (08/01/15)
Booklist (05/15/15)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (+) (00/10/15)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 05/15/2015 Rose isn’t very good at math. She doesn’t read aloud with her BIG voice. She isn’t tidy, and her desk is never spic-and-span. For all these reasons, Rose never gets a star next to her name on Mrs. Benson’s blackboard. But when Mr. Sullivan comes to class to share his paintings and talk about life as an artist, Rose is struck. She discovers an untapped vein of artistic inspiration, albeit a messy one, and finds her calling—and her star. Mann’s exuberant, childlike illustrations (a mix of ink, gouache, and digital collage) present recognizable situations and emotions with accessible sweetness. The story is a familiar one, and while Mrs. Benson is something of a type, complete with cat’s-eye glasses and a bun, she is a consistent one; even after Rose’s redemption, she must still scrub her desk, and herself, to meet her teacher’s approval. This warm, generous outing will appeal to children both with and without a polished sense of self. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 08/01/2015 PreS-Gr 1—Will Rose ever earn a star on her teacher's blackboard? Mrs. Benson only seems to hand them out for achievements like spelling correctly, being neat, and raising one's hand to answer correctly. Rose, on the other hand, is a daydreamer who is more talented at wielding a paintbrush than at completing math problems and cleaning messy desks. It seems as if Rose will forever be starless until the surprising moment that Mrs. Benson congratulates her on a noteworthy artistic achievement: the best and biggest card for visiting artist Mr. Sullivan. Fortunately, she has just enough time afterward to draw her own star…and a special one for Mrs. Benson. Mann's stylized cartoons feature Mrs. Benson with thin, spindly legs and the kids with round misshapen heads. They perfectly suit the book's overall theme, which emphasizes the ultimate rewards for following one's own path as Rose does at the story's end. Any child with a special talent should appreciate Rose's struggles and enjoy the triumphant moment when she is rewarded for her efforts, both for an artistic masterpiece, and for finally cleaning up. For a similar story by this author/illustrator about an odd girl who is appreciated for her differences by an unlikely new friend, try Two Speckled Eggs, a worthy book about school friendships and acceptance. VERDICT A unique addition to school-themed picture book collections.—Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
