On My Way to School

by Sarah Maizes, Michael Paraskevas (Illustrations)

Getting ready for school is the perfect time to procrastinate! Whether she's an elephant at a waterhole, leader of an expedition to Mount Everest, or a star posing for paparazzi, Livi's imagination takes her on exciting adventures on her way to school. With stalling techniques as creative as this, it's a wonder she ever makes it to school at all! Sarah Maizes and Michael Paraskevas create another funny, fresh book for every parent who wants to foster creativity in their family's everyday routines.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Back To School, Adventure, Humor, Storytime

40 pages, Library Binding

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

Sarah Maizes is a published author, freelance writer, comedian, and founder of MommyLITEonline.com, a parenting humor website.

She is a regular contributor to TODAYMoms.com, HuffingtonPost.com, and CBS/LosAngeles.com’s “Best of LA.” and her work has been featured in Los Angeles Magazine, on Today.com, MSNBC.com, DailyCandyKids.com and , and Eonline.com's "Fashion Police."

She has also written for More.com, DivineCaroline.com, JDate.com, HybridMom.com, ParentsConnect.com, Momtourage.com, TheWellMom.com and Autisable.com – a website for parents dealing with Autism.

Sarah has appeared on The Today Show, KTLA, CNN Headline News with Brad Pomerance, NPR's "What Would Rob Do?,"ABC News Now’s “Moms Get Real with Ju Ju Chang,” and is a regular contributor to NPR’s “Tell Me More with Michel Martin.”

Sarah lives in Los Angeles with her 12 year old daughter and 9 year old boy/girl twins and two ridiculously fat guinea pigs.

Reviews

[Gayla Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great children's book. This author has a great imagination.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read featuring Livi, a highly imaginative young girl who thinks of ways to avoid getting ready for the day, and heading for school. She's a snail, a pirate, a chef, an elephant, a Sherpa, a kangaroo, a wild west woman, a lemur, a movie star, a queen, and a teacher all before she even gets to school.

[Nikky Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Ike the way this book makes mornings sounds so simple get up eat breaky brush teeth pick up bag. I like the many descriptive words used. I feel it’s for kids that have been to school. Not so great for mine who have not started yet.

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids and parents will connect to this story about an imaginative girl who avoids going to school.

[Windy Kahler · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are a favorite in our house. Fun, quirky, and adorable rhyming books.

[Katie Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable! Great imagination!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute book. I like the author's presentation of imagination and creativity in the plot of the book. The illustrations are also really nice.

[Kris Dersch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the easiest read aloud as you're doing the parent voice from off page but a cute book about a kid delaying going to school that many will relate to.

[Shannon Bradbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute book about a little girl named Livi who has a brilliant imagination. Fun to read about all of the people she pretended to be. We really loved this book!!!!

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=5489

I love how Maizes’s books promote imagination! I think imagination is such a wonderful part of childhood, and her books show the crazy, fun, exciting things you can do with your imagination. In this book, our narrator goes on quite an adventure on her way to school.

I went between a 3 and 4 but only because of the random ending. Overall it is a great book about imagination.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livi does not want to go to school today. She thinks she's learned enough. But her mother insists she get out of bed and ready for school. So Livi pretends to be all sorts of creatures to complete tasks. For example, she becomes a pirate digging for booty while looking for her underpants; an elephant to get her sister out of the bathroom, a movie star as she get off the bus at school.

Hilarious tale of a young child's imagination. Great for storytime!

[Jeff Corrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character, Livi, like many young children has quite a vivid imagination, and a little flare for the dramatic as she drudges through the motions of pulling herself together for school in the morning. The books illustrations by Michael Paraskevas are colorful, whimsy, and will be quite entertaining for a young roughly 3-5 year old. ~The Librarian Uncle

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livi’s imagination makes this book an entertaining read. Speech bubbles represent an unseen caregiver’s directions. Cartoon digital illustrations feature large and expressive characters, and even the choices of font styles help set the book’s tone. Young children who are getting ready to start school or who have recently started attending will find this book to be amusing.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this book for my kids. I thought that it did a great job of encouraging them to use their imagination, just like the little girl in the story. The illustrations were colorful and friendly. I also loved the familiarity of the mom's responses. It was funny to hear...myself on the pages. There was definitely a positive message in this story. Loved it!

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a FUN read aloud! Follow Livi through her day, as she imagines herself as a snail, pirate, chef, and much more, as she uses her fantastic imagination to participate in all of her daily routines!

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book about the first day of school jitters, but this one little Livi is using her imagination to depict various scenarios that shows "that she knows a lot of stuff". Her mother keeps bringing her back to reality though!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story of a girl with a great imagination. Use this as a read aloud to inspire your students to go beyond stories about their favorite TV, movie, or video-game character and to really use their imagination. Useful as a writing model or jumping off point.

[pati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livi's livid imagination returns on the way to school. My fav is the oozy snail getting out of bed! She has a fabulous imagination and can turn any trip into a trek!

[Afriendlylibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imaginative Adventurous Fun

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story emphasizes that imagination is key, but I'm not sure I like how it does it. The illustrations didn't wow me, either.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books like these that encourage children to think creatively and look at situations differently. The illustrations are great too!

[Monica Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, good for all those reluctant students who want a giggle.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm not a huge fan of this series...

[Melina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about mixing imagination and the simple act of going to school. The style reminded me a bit of the 'My Name is Not . . . ' books, but it wasn't done as well as those books are.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will always welcome a chance to see the lighter side of school morning routines. :|

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read about imagination! I read this for Preschool story time.