Kindergarten Luck

PreS-Gr 1—A gray day fills with sunshine after a young boy finds a lucky penny. When apple-cheeked Theodore sees the shiny face of Abraham Lincoln on the stairs, he can't believe his good luck. Tucking the penny into his pocket, he sets off for school with a new bounce in his step. Suddenly the clouds have rolled away, and the day is filled with a host of small joys: hitting the tetherball over and over without missing, being chosen as line leader, checking out a new book from the school library, and even answering a math problem correctly in class. Young audiences will easily relate to Theodore's happiness over these little victories, though the message that Theodore is essentially making his own luck, or rather finding it in the world around him, is subtle and may take some adult guidance to tease out of the narrative. Generous white space and Godbout's soft-edged colored pencil illustrations complement the gentle tone of Borden's text. For children new to school or those who struggle with anxiety, Theodore's lucky day may provide a quiet reminder of the good moments school has to offer. Other audiences may wish for something a little more out of the ordinary to happen.