Tool School

by Joan Holub, James Dean (Illustrator)

"Meet five little tools who love to learn, with big ideas and energy to burn!" Get ready young builders to twist and turn with laughter!Join a hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, saw, and pair of pliers on their first day of school. Together, they make puzzles and play games, but when it's time to build something it's suddenly every tool for itself. Working alone, each tool soon realizes that to make something great all need to cooperate!Young children will love the irresistible bold artwork and fun rhyming text as they learn that a little teamwork can make a big difference. Tool School introduces some of the most basic household tools, and cool tips explain how to successfully use them with the help of a grown-up!

Genres: Picture Books, School, Construction, Childrens, Fiction, Juvenile, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

Published July 25, 2017

About the author

NY Times bestselling children's book author:
GODDESS GIRLS series + HEROES IN TRAINING series (w Suzanne Williams); THIS LITTLE TRAILBLAZER a Girl Power Primer; ZERO THE HERO; I AM THE SHARK. Lucky to be doing what I love!

Reviews

[Donalyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didactic and obvious.

[Brenda Kahn]

Didn't love this one. Didactic and clunky.

[Helen Nicester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute with a good 'cooperation/teamwork' message.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 1 out of 5]

Holub, Joan Tool School, illustrated by James Dean. PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic, 2017. $17.

Five little tools are off to school to improve their building skills. The biggest lesson of the day is all about cooperation!

You would think that with big names like Holub and Dean (Pete the Cat) involved that this would be a no-brainer home run. Uh, think again. Pictue book or not, this book needed a few more pages to spread out the text-heavy narration and several of the rhymes were just clunky and would sound really weird if read out loud. Dean’s illustrations and unnecessarily messy, which works great on Pete, but not on these tools. Then there’s the typeface and spacing on the words – I couldn’t find anything telling me the typeface, but it was as bland as could be. Hmmm – too bad.

NOT RECOMMENDED. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I like the premise for this story--five tools go to school--the text and illustrations seemed a bit bland and didn't engage me. At school, the tools all learn how to work with each other after trying--and failing--to work by themselves. While that's clearly a good message, it isn't always applicable when it comes to tools since sometimes all that is needed is a screwdriver or a measuring tape. I did appreciate the Cool Tool Tips and the cautionary notes about tool use in the back matter. Ultimately, though, the book's heavy didactic nature and the oh, so predictable message and story line left me disinterested. I wish more had happened in the story or the images had been more visually enticing. Still, perhaps youngsters interested in an introduction to tools might enjoy this one.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interest Level: K-3; Reading Level: 1.8

Where do tools go to learn how to work? Why Tool School, of course! These tools love to go to school. They play games, they sing songs, but what happens when they try to give their skills a try? Are they successful on their own or do they need to learn what the word "cooperation" means? Kids will love this rhyming verse and the precious illustrations.


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[Katherine Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about 5 tools who goto school for the first time. They make friends and have fun. They all learn great lessons like teamwork teamwork, sharing, and being kind. This book is super neat. I love that it took it to a level of life lessons — I didn’t expect that. I would read this to a preschool or kindergarten class or have on the shelf for the kids who just like tools. It would also be a good book for the beginning of the year so they can see how fun school will be.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even the tools go to school to learn how to do their jobs better and be reminded that co-operation is the best way to accomplish something. Each tool discovers that the other tools have a skill that helps them make a really great project. I really wanted to learn at least one of those "fun rhymes about famous tools and songs to remember safety rules". Guess that didn't make the final cut, but it would have been fun added at the end of the book

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Meet five little tools who love to learn, with big ideas and energy to burn!"

Characters in this cutely educational storybook are

* A screwdriver
* A hammer
* A tape measure
* A pair of pliers
* And a saw

Besides teaching what these different tools can do, this book can also be read as a clever introduction to First Day of School.

FIVE STARS for this clever book: both entertaining and practical, highly eductional.

[Jana Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Held the attention of my four-year-old son, but REALLY got the attention of our six year old girl. We love that she is now talking about tools and wanting a tool belt and coming up with things she needs to fix around the condo.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of tools and building will enjoy this story about several tools who go to school together and learn all about cooperation. Illustrated in the style of Pete the Cat, readers familiar with those books will enjoy this one for the same visual appeal.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Five tool friends are on their way to school. There they learn many new skills. The most important skill is how to work together to solve a problem.

Clumsy rhymes make this back-to-school book a difficult read aloud. Children will easily recognize the art of James Dean, artist of Pete the Cat.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that I’d probably not buy a personal copy of.
The pictures are by the creator or Pete the Cat so they are vibrant and fun. I suppose it does teach young children the names for various tools but the story its self is not very profound.

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids who like tools and building things will enjoy this book.

From advanced reader copy.

[Jacki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seems like it should be a natural winner based on the creators, but it's way too long, and the art and text are both uninspired.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! What a great book for young kids for back to school!!

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit wordy for the younger set, but I think avid picture book readers will enjoy the lessons learned and recognized the art work of James Dean.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun book trying to do some needed prek stuff. Rhymes are uneven. still it was fun.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the tools were doing the wrong job, until they all started cooperating and working together. The last page has helpful tips on how to use the specific tools highlighted in the book.

[Wilma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. it's the story of 5 little tools going to school and how they learn to work as a team to build something. it's told in rhyme with some really cute pictures.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This definitely has an audience at our school, and they'll recognize the Pete-the-Cat-ness of the illustrations immediately!

A little message heavy, but fun!

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A toolset learn to cooperate and together create a toolbox. The illustrations are reminiscent of those of Pete the Cat, but the style seems to fit animals better than tools.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five tools go to school for the day and learn to work together. cute but length is one on one or preschool

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tools tell about what they do. They go to school. Each tries on his own to do the job but can't do it alone. When they cooperate they are able to build something together.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

adorable introduction to lots of different tools & starting school. The tools learn about cooperation and that they work better as a team than alone! They build something better together.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teaches children about common tools that they will see/use in the future. This book also deals with how to work well as a team and collaborate with others to get a job done.

[Diana C. Kobylak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative book for children depicting the functions of 5 tools and the cooperation of each one to get a job done.

[WorldsOkayestNanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just liked how it was tooling stuff and doing stuff. I wouldn’t recommend other people read it because it might not be fun for them. (R, age 5)

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this would be a fun way to teach the kids about tools but the rhymes were stilted and awkward. 1.5 stars

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute rhyming book about going to school, but the main characters are all tools. Kids who love tools, construction projects and school will love this one!