When It's the Last Day of School

by Maribeth Boelts, Hanako Wakiyama (Illustrator)

A boy tells all the ways he will be on his best behavior on the last day of school.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Fiction, Childrens, Summer, Realistic Fiction, Humor

32 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2004

About the author

Maribeth Boelts is a former teacher who has written 40 books for children. She lives in Iowa and enjoys all things nature and family.

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was searching for a read-aloud to read to my students for our last virtual class meeting before the end of the school year and this one was pretty funny but I decided against it for a couple of reasons. The first is that I felt like it was highlighting some end-of-year traditions (as well as some everyday routines) that my students were missing out on because we had to spend the last ten weeks of school doing virtual learning. The second reason is that James (the main character) spends a lot of the book going over all the ways he has typically misbehaved the entire school year as he promises himself that he won't do those things on the last day of school. Frankly, I don't feel like students need anymore ideas for misbehavior (they come up with plenty on their own).

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweetly relatable tale about James, as he tries to hold it together for the entire last day of school. He tries very hard to be good. For example:

I'll tear open my straw
and not blow the wrapper off at Tony,
or smash my milk carton,
or show Tiffany Primrose
how I can burp and talk at the same time.

This book is good all the way through... to the adorable ending.

FIVE STARS and thanks to author Maribeth Boelts and artist Hanako Wakiyama-san.

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book! It's all about how to act at school, but ALSO about how exciting the impending summer can be. It's great to show that balance between loving both school AND breaks from school.

[Emily Goodin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course many kids would love this book, but I wouldn't put it out until there are a few weeks left of school! It talks about the last day of school and the excitement of summer! Kids could get very discouraged if this book was put out in the winter! This could spark converstaion about what each student is doing over summer break!

[Rachel Feather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last day of school, every child is filled with excitement for the beginning of summer. There is a little sadness at leaving all their friends and teacher, but that is covered up by the months of freedom. This book shows this excitement for summer. Students relate to all children look forward to. Such a good read!

[Cheryl Kays · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a great book to read on the last day of school. It is a humorous story about a boy and his quest to receive the last golden sticker of the year but he finds many bumps along the way. He can barely contain his excitement about summer break and this proves to be a problem. Students will be able to relate to this excitement and will enjoy this read as well as the illustrations.

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

James is super excited for the last day of school and he is going to be on his best manners, earn a sticker, clean his desk, pay attention, hug his teacher, and eventually explode! The retro-like illustrations represent school in a boring manner; but overall a decent fun book.

[Rebecca Mullins · Rating 3 out of 5]

The child in the book goes through a whole list of things that he will do on the last day of school. He is so excited! This book is great for reading towards the last week of school. It's a good way to keep the children excited and learning. I would read this to 1-3 grade.

[Melanie Martel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be a great end of the year read aloud to the class. The boy is so excited about summer and does a great job working with inferences. The book does a good job with the pictures and lets the readers visual what he wants to do over the summer.

[Vanessa Holzknecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a perfect representation of the way young kids think and talk. He is jumping from one subject to the next, ideas are everywhere, and very excited about everything. Very imaginative and funny too. I found this enjoyable but hard to read aloud and totally follow but that's more me.

[Jordan Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel this book can really start a discussion about the students and their summer plans! I would wait until the last day to read this. Even j can relate to this story, every year in grade school I was so excited for the last day of the year! It was like Christmas in May!

[Erin Banet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cute! I love the way he is going to try to do everything right in the last day of school!

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be great to read at the end of the school year. It is about a child who wants to do everything right on the last day of school!

[Ashley Greenfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story for the end of year!! I think it will keep kids wondering what will happen next, and what he won't do on the last day of school! Good detail, I would recommend it.

[Glenn Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book that is perfect for the last day of school. This is a perfect tale of a student trying his best to be on his best behavior even more than normal to work at a goal.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute children's book with fun and accurate details about a topic not often written about in books.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A boy thinks ahead to the last day of school and describes how perfectly he'll behave on that day. We get a list of all the things he WON'T do...a silly list of misbehaviors.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little boy who is obviously in trouble a lot during the school year decides that on this last day of school, he is finally going to be a good boy.

[Chelsea Kimmey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be a great way to end to the school year with one last book and talk about their plans for the summer.

[Rida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book!

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not necessarily relevant to preschool (as the "common" school routines and structures mentioned don't apply to all schools) but sweet.

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

megan summer reading 2016, children's book, picture book, last day of school, prek, kindergarten, first grade

[Civillm1hawkmail.Newpaltz.Edu]

Awards: n/a

Grade Level K-2nd

Summary: A boy talks about all the things he plans to do on the last day of school.

Review: This book has illustrations that guide the reader. It also shows children what they should be doing every day of school or what they might expect.

Uses.
1. On the first day of school, plan an activity where students share what they expect. Then read the book and see what matched up and what didn't.
2. Talk about classroom behavior that the class wants to foster during the school year.