Joe and Sparky Go to School

Giraffe Joe and best friend Sparky the turtle, who live at Safari Land, take an unexpected field trip to a school when they accidentally board a departing school bus full of "noisy short people." Teacher Miss Hootie has had her own accident, involving her glasses, and thinks the giraffe is one of her students (and that the turtle on his head is a hat). In the classroom, Joe is also confused, eating instead of counting the peas he's given and painting Sparky blue when told to paint something he loves. Joe really wants one of the stars given out to good students, but even though he Solves problems, Tries his best, is Always kind, and would Raise his hand if he had one, Joe just cannot earn the longed-for reward. Full-color cartoon watercolor illustrations add levity to the text, especially in the third chapter, "The Magic Pond." It's here that Joe and Sparky discover the toilet and make scarves out of toilet paper, with hilarious results. Written in four accessible chapters, this book is perfect for the newly independent reader and makes a fine bridge from Amelia Bedelia to Ramona. Limited but lively vocabulary, a large font, and carefully placed illustrations -- all in a humorous, high-interest package -- will make this a hit. robin l. smith