Marco Goes to School

Marco, the little red bird in a world of big humans, is bored with life at home. Because he is a bird of rambunctious confidence, he is enthusiastic when he hears about the concept of school. At first he thinks it is something to eat, which gives New Yorker cartoonist Chast a chance to play with one of her favorite things -- food labels. Skool Stix, Skool Flakes, Skools in Heavy Syrup. On discovering the truth about school, Marco is at first delighted, thinking school will answer all his questions, such as "Do trees think?" But the lesson of the day, "Monday Tuesday Chewday Chumday Humday Doo-Dah-Day," soon lulls him into a daydream and he decides that he must get to the moon. His plan, involving a block tower and the joyful assistance of his new classmates, doesn’t quite work out, but Marco is unsquelched. This loopy approach to the theme of first day at school seems likely to comfort by amusement and by the reassuring prospect of Miss Peachtree, the kindly teacher that we see only from the knees down, in glimpses of lovely flowered bell-bottoms. sarah ellis