The Beast in Ms. Rooney's Room

The Kids of the Polk Street School #1

by Patricia Reilly Giff, Blanche Sims (Illustrator)

It's September again.What does it mean for Richard "Beast" Best to be left back? It means being teased by his old friends while he's stuck facing the same old teacher in the same old classroom. He even has to take a special reading class with "babies" like Emily Arrow and Matthew Jackson. And just like last year, he can't help getting into trouble.But with the help of Mrs. Paris, the reading teacher, Beast starts to enjoy reading and just might find a way to help the second grade win the school banner for best class.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, School, 2nd Grade

84 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Patricia Reilly Giff was the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

LFL find. Surprisingly touching. Richard probably would have turned into a bully or something in another author's hands, but Giff shows us that even nice kids, kids with functional families, can have trouble with schoolwork... and more importantly, can be open to getting help from the specialist teacher and from classmates. Includes, in passing in context, a few good tips.

Recommended to any struggling reader grades 1-3, or to families who want to teach empathy.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book with the Scholastic Best Books for Second Grade set they had for 2014-2015. My intention was to be buying some books for reading groups and for gifts at the end of the year. All I want to do with the set of these is give them to the parents of my low second graders. Beast's personality and character changes throughout the story is fabulous. There aren't too many books for these little ones that have much change. From being a low reader with low self-esteem and too much anger for a kid to becoming confident and self-accepting. It has a great message for those kids that need a little extra time to catch on and the right person to help them. I'm very happy to have gotten this book and am excited to share it with the kids that it will connect with the most.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love-love-love this series. The characters are not perfect (at times, they act in ways that would cause Internet mayhem today), but I just love the homey, realistic atmosphere, whether they're fudging a candy corn contest or screaming endlessly about looseleaf. I didn't enjoy school all that much--the Polk Street kids remind me of things I did enjoy. And things I'm glad to be rid of, like Miller The Killer!
Desperately seeking a rubber unicorn that could pass for Emily Arrow's!! <3

[Alex · Rating 1 out of 5]

So tired of children's books with the mean/nasty older sister and the younger brother who doesn't quite measure up to everyone's expectations, from the dated "Polk Street School Kids" series to the more modernized (and equally vapid) "Ready Freddy" series--there are so many subtle statements being made about gender and disabilities here that it's not even funny. The fact that there are no repercussions for the obnoxious sister (Holly) also sends a bad message to kids: it's perfectly ok to make fun of someone for getting things wrong, making mistakes, struggling with reading, etc.

Then there's the textbook clueless parents (unseen in this book) who, completely unaware that they've raised the kind of daughter willing to tease her younger brother in front of her friend, ask her to tutor him in spelling, where she proceeds to yell at him and humiliate him further. Picture it if the gender roles were reversed: would we be ok with a book series where the older brother taunts and humiliates his younger sister for not being very good at math? Really?

I will not be reading this series to my class.

[Tiffany Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Beast in Ms. Rooney’s Room
Plot: Richard Beast got held back and is now a student in Ms. Rooney’s second grade class. At first he thinks his new classmates are babies. But he makes friend’s and bonds with them when he gets sent to a special reading class. It’s there they team up and decide to try to win the blue banner for best class.

My Thoughts: When I first saw these books on Open Library, I thought they looked familiar. When I started to read this, I realized I had some of these books in my collection (at home). Richard didn’t win any points with me at first. He’s a bit of a jerk to the other kids. In the beginning he sticks pencils up his nose like elephant tusks. So not only is he a jerk he’s a juvenile one. Maybe at the end he got a little better when he accepted the rest of the kids but I could take of leave this character. I realize this is a kid’s book, but the other characters were just kind of MEH. There was a smelly kid who wet the bed and a outspoken girl named Emily Arrow. She’s courageous, but nothing really made me care about any of the characters or this plot of being the best students and winning the banner. I guess because I don’t remember anything like this in my elementary school. What did give me a fond memory was when they went to the theatre as this was something, I remember we did do in elementary school

Rating: 5

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Beast in Ms. Rooney's Room isn't about a beast at all but a student who has been held back because he is struggling with reading. His name is Richard Best, but he goes by Beast. Richard is embarrassed that he is in class with "babies" and that he still has his baby teeth and he can't read. He begins to learn how to read and spell and tries to win his class the blue banner which means they are the best class in school.

I thought this book had the potential to be good, to teach children that we all learn at our own pace. However, the focus of the book seemed to be more about Richard's character who has a really sour attitude. For a kid of 6 or 7, he is quite angry and judgmental. On the first day of school he sits next to a girl whose legs "look like Popsicle sticks" and behind a boy who had "stick out ears and a wet-the-bed smell." I thought the descriptions of the other characters which were coming from Richard set a poor example for children readers.

The book also strays from Richard learning how to read to the class winning the blue banner which was indirectly related. Other characters are also mean throughout, like his older sister Holly and his former classmate, Drake. I gave this book 2 stars because it was lacking a good lesson and message in my opinion.

[Philip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this series as a kid, and Liz and I are reading it outloud again now. It's been great both times.

I have this on my young-adult shelf, but that'd be for really young young adults as it has a reading level of 2.1... Maybe I should make a children's shelf.

Synopsis? Richard "Beast" Best is going through the second grade a second time, and though he's trying to make the most out of it, he can't help thinking that the rest of the kids are a bunch of babies and he should be up with his old class.

Favorite line: "'We were talking yeserday,' Emily Arrow said to Ms. Rooney. 'Beast and me. We were talking about winning the banner.'
'Good for you,' Ms. Rooney said. She turned her head for a moment and smiled. Then she went back to writing the new spelling words on the blackboard."

... Just enough acknowledgement, and she still stayed focused on her task. Boy, teaching Elem. would be hard.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in The Kids of the Polk Street School series by Patricia Reilly Giff. We've only read a couple of books in this series and with our youngest daughter's time in second grade rapidly coming to a close, I doubt we'll get to finish this series.

Still, this was an entertaining story and we enjoyed reading it together. It really captures the troubled emotions of a child who is held back to repeat a grade and the interactions of children in early elementary school.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars -- Richard Best is a typical kid. Embarrassed by his lack of reading skill and being a 'left-back' (a student who repeats a grade), he is resentful of his return to second grade and the 'babies' who are in his class. He makes others miserable because he is miserable. But then he makes two connections: one with Emily Arrow, a girl in his class, and the other with Mrs. Paris, the new reading teacher. These two lead to others like Matthew & Wayne and Kevin & Ms. Rooney. Richard grows up a lot in this story and in realistic ways. I look forward to reading more of The Kids of the Polk Street School series.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as moving as Sunny Side Up, but these books are seriously great little-kid books. They're strangely subtle, very calming, yet very, very easy to read. I'm just so impressed having re-read these as adults. Bad behavior is generally addressed, yet the reader isn't handed everything on a platter. Yet it's far from complex. It's a difficult dance! This one is all about Beast after he got held back -- it's about him trying to figure out what that means for himself and how he fits in to his new class.

[Mr. Noah · Rating 1 out of 5]

OK, so this is a "juvenile book" (I learned that the hard way), but I am going to review it as I see it. This book follows "the beast" in school and he is just acting grossly to everyone. The story is bland and dull and the characters are bland and predictable ( I predicted EVERY SINGLE THING!). I barely finished the book because of its endless blandness and juvenile entertainment. This book seems fit for a preschooler that feels like wasting their time and putting their brain in a blender and pressing "liquify".

[Jodi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought there would be some type of animal or bug as the "beast" in Ms. Rooney's room. However, it was just a nickname for one of the kids in the class, who wasn't even a beast. I wasn't really impressed with this book, like I thought I would. I think this book needs a different name. I was 3/4 of the way through the book and still didn't even hear the word beast until towards the end of the book.

[Mariah Roze · Rating 3 out of 5]

This school year means being teased by his old friends while he's stuck facing the same old teacher in the same old classroom, because he was held back. He even has to take a special reading class. And he is still constantly getting into trouble. Will Beast ever like school? Will things turn around for him? Find out by reading this book!

This is actually a really good book to read with my students that are in special education. They seem to enjoy it!

[Siri Ahern]

I read this bc the cover made me think that I was the beast (you know like Grover being the monster at the end of the book) and then I was hopeful it was a picture book. However, it was not a picture book. The best thing to come out of this though is the fully serious reviews from adults that in some cases bring up interesting and important critiques, and the review calling this children’s book “juvenile” 😂

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy-to-read children's book that I read to my boys at bedtime in a week's time. The beast referred to in the title is really a boy named Richard Best, so it's not scary in the least. I liked that the protagonist was a boy who was held back a grade because of his lack of reading skills. It's always nice to have an underdog to root for.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes readers through the eyes of a boy who has failed a grade. There is minimum pictures, but the book is still great for young readers-such as second grade. This is also the first of many books, so if your students like this one, there are more for them to enjoy.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice book about a little boy who was held back in 2nd grade. Richard is embarrassed that he's repeating a grade, he has a tough time staying out of trouble, and he's a struggling reader. Kids will be able to relate to his issues and may feel encouraged as he becomes a better reader.

[Katiem · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my son last night when he was unable to sleep, which was fun as I read this series when I was little. He enjoyed it, got some laughs and paid attention to the end. I'm excited to read more of the series with him.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beast has to repeat a grade, learn to be friends with his new younger classmates, and get a handle on reading. It's a very sweet little story.

[Liz Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will be a good place to start over with my fourth graders, who are very reluctant readers. Probably use it to find text evidence of character traits of Richard.

[Yellincenter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't miss any of the books in this wonderful series for developing readers! They'll be hooked on these fun chapter books.

[Rebecca McCright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story with a great perspective on what a child feels like when he doesn't get to pass to the next grade. I love how the author allows the character to redeem himself! Fun story!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and honest and just as real as remembered it to be. Hoping to get my 3rd grader hooked on this series.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, I’ve read The Beast in Ms. Rooney’s Room (The Kids of the Polk Street School #1) more than once, and I must say, I find it a great read, as well as highly amazing, too.

For one thing, the main character Richard “Beast” Best sure is neat, as well as relatable to those who have trouble when it comes to reading, writing or sometimes both in school.

If I had to pick a favorite part (or parts) in this book, I would definitely choose these ones for sure:

Richard threw the planes in the wastebasket. Slowly he walked back to the gym. He wondered what everyone would think when they saw him without a bandage. Without any raisins.
He wondered what everyone would say when they heard he had been reported.
His class had just lost the banner for the week.
And it was all his fault.

Richard was right. The second grade didn’t win the banner. The next day Mr. Mancina told them over the loudspeaker that Mrs. Kettle’s class had won.
For a couple of days Richard didn’t tell everyone it was his fault.
On Thursday, just before spelling, he told Emily.
For a minute Emily looked as if she were going to get mad. But then she raised her shoulders in the air. “Don’t worry,” she said. “We’ll get it next time.” (p. 62-63)

There was a noise. The loudspeaker.
Emily looked at him and covered her eyes. “It’s Mr. Mancina,” she said. “Cross your fingers. Cross your toes.”
Richard crossed his fingers. So did everyone else.
“I have good news,” said Mr. Mancina.
He said that every time he announced the winner.
Richard looked at Matthew. Matthew grinned at him. “I hope it’s us,” he said.
“Ms. Rooney’s class,” said Mr. Mancina.
Emily Arrow yelled. So did Alex. And Matthew. So did he.
Ms. Rooney had promised them a party if they won. Cookies and juice.
It was going to be a great day. (p. 74-75)

Anyway, this is a great book to read, and I admire the concept of a class winning the banner for best class of the week, too.

Finally, I highly recommend this book to all those who recall their own school days, and I give it five stars (although ten stars would be even better, too). 📚🏫

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty cute kids book. I look forward to know these kids a bit better.

[Stacey Mulholland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember loving the Polk Street School books when I was in 2nd or so grade. I hope one of my reading groups will love them too.

[Angela Silvas]

I have not read this book. It seems like a book that some students would be able to relate to by being held back a grade like some of my students have in the past. The students would be able to map out this story by chapters to help summarize this book.

[Diana Pettis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Guided reading level M. I am going to use it with second graders tomorrow about finding the main idea and describing main character. Richard who is the main character is someone that most children can relate to.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick enough read for those looking for a short chapter book series. In this one, Ronald is held back a year. Can he figure out a way to return to his original class? Is it possible that and his new classmates could win the weekly banner for "Best Class"?

[Cws]

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