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Mr. S: A First Day of School Book – A Funny Mystery About a Kindergarten Teacher Who Might Be a Sandwich for Kids
It was the first day of school. But even the kindergarteners of room 2B could tell something was seriously wrong . . . Where was the teacher? Who left this sandwich on the desk? The only clue, written on the chalkboard, were three simple letters: Mr. S.
Prepare for plenty of giggles as a kindergarten class arrives for their first day of school, but can't find their teacher — only a delicious-looking sandwich and the words "Mr. S" scribbled on the chalkboard. Chaos ensues as the kids argue whether or not the sandwich must be their teacher. A comical, first day of school book of mayhem and chaos by Monica Arnaldo, perfect fans of Miss Nelson Is Missing.
Praise for Mr. S
“This might be the funniest first-day-of-school book I’ve ever read." —Adam Rex, New York Times bestselling author of School’s First Day of School
"Confusion, mystery, and laughs are on the menu in Arnaldo’s deliciously goofy back-to-school tale." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The tale's genuinely absurd situation, the mystery of the teacher's identity, and the deadpan storytelling make this a memorable read-aloud choice."— Booklist (starred review)
"Mysteries for young readers are few and far between and this one is fun and entertaining." —School Library Journal (starred review)
Prepare for plenty of giggles as a kindergarten class arrives for their first day of school, but can't find their teacher — only a delicious-looking sandwich and the words "Mr. S" scribbled on the chalkboard. Chaos ensues as the kids argue whether or not the sandwich must be their teacher. A comical, first day of school book of mayhem and chaos by Monica Arnaldo, perfect fans of Miss Nelson Is Missing.
Praise for Mr. S
“This might be the funniest first-day-of-school book I’ve ever read." —Adam Rex, New York Times bestselling author of School’s First Day of School
"Confusion, mystery, and laughs are on the menu in Arnaldo’s deliciously goofy back-to-school tale." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"The tale's genuinely absurd situation, the mystery of the teacher's identity, and the deadpan storytelling make this a memorable read-aloud choice."— Booklist (starred review)
"Mysteries for young readers are few and far between and this one is fun and entertaining." —School Library Journal (starred review)
40 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2023
3 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
About the author
Monica Arnaldo
24 books22 followersMonica Arnaldo grew up in Ottawa, Ontario, where she was sometimes allowed inside her older brother's forts. Drawn to illustration by her passion for children's books, she combines a variety of media to create images full of character. She and her husband live in Montreal, Quebec, with their daughter, Beatrice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
August 4, 2023
We’re far beyond The Kissing Hand now, my friends. Time was that when a parent came strolling into a bookstore or library in search of First Day of School Books for their incipient Kindergartners, there was really only one game in town to try. I cast no aspersions upon that raccoon-laden tale. There truly are children for whom the first day of school is a fraught affair, and the more comfort you can ladle on them, the better. But what about the kids that are just raring to go? The ones that have watched cousins or siblings go to school for years and have just been itching, YEARNING, to go themselves? A Kissing Hand title isn’t going to cut it for those particular kiddos. No, they’re going to want something strange. Something funny. Something wholly original, never seen before, extraordinary that also (for some reason) contains raccoons. They’re going to want . . . Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo. It’s a book that takes a pretty basic concept and strings it along to its impossible, illogically logical, end. For some kids, this is going to be the book they remember for the rest of their lives.
It's the first day of school and the kids in room 2B are a bit baffled. They’re in their classroom, it’s time for the day to begin, but where’s their teacher? Slowly, oh so slowly, they come to realize that there’s an impressive looking sandwich on the table. On the blackboard are the words “Mr. S.” Could it be? Without wasting a second, the children come to the only logical explanation: The sandwich is clearly their teacher (and never mind the grown man outside battling the elements as he tries to rescue his car from a series of natural disasters). The kids learn their letters, do art, and even get in a bit of music and singing. But can a sandwich really be a teacher? And who’s that man outside the window? What does he have to do with any of this? The answer… may surprise you.
On the back of this book sits the following quotation from Adam Rex, “This might be the funniest first-day-of-school book I’ve ever read.” No small praise. Rex is, after all, the author behind the 2016 Best First Day of School picture book School’s First Day of School. I like to credit that book with alerting me to the fact that each and every year there tends to be ONE first day of school book that stands apart from the pack. One year it was King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes (2019). Another it was Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School! (2022). But Rex’s claim that this is THE funniest is cause for some debate. Generally speaking, first day of school books aren’t normally all that laugh-out-loud funny. They might be droll like First Day Jitters or funny in an understated Wes Anderson kind of way, like the aforementioned School’s First Day of School but there is at least one other book out there that is outright hilarious. We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan Higgins is probably the strongest contender for the Funniest First Day of School Picture Book throne. I would have a hard time deciding between these two, so in lieu of a decision I call it a draw. Teachers – pair the two together. Do so, and I guarantee the greatest First Day of School storytime read of all time. Your students won’t know what hit them.
If you are a reader of a certain age, you may have a question. You may have read the premise of this book and thought to yourself, “Wait a minute. This sounds familiar. Is this entire picture book a reference to the burrito on the judge’s desk on the TV show The Good Place?” I assure you, my friend, that I had the same thought. Fortunately, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I was able to locate a conversation on Twitter dating back to 2022 when Ms. Arnaldo first introduced the concept of this book to the Twittersphere. It was fellow author/illustrator Julia Kuo who thought to ask, “Is this a reference at all to the burrito in the Good Place??” to which Ms. Arnaldo responded, “LOL omggggg it never occurred to me, but now that you mention it these two would be very powerful bros.” So there you have it. From the author herself. Not a direct reference by any means, but a half of a powerful pair.
For me, it was the moment when the lightning hit the car and set it on fire. I'll explain. It is not a requirement that every picture book include content for both small children and the adults that will be forced to read and reread the book 100 times. It’s just a nice plus when it happens to fall out that way. In the case of Mr. S, there are two plots going on simultaneously. On the one hand you’ve the titular story involving the Kindergartners and their edible educator. On the other, there’s this whole background storyline (literally) happening out the window to a man seen only briefly in the room at the beginning. Just after he wrote the words “Mr. S” on the chalkboard (and isn’t it cute to see something as retro as a chalkboard in a picture book these days?) he spotted a tree falling over onto his car. As we watch the students in their classroom, things get worse and worse for this fellow. Hijinks? Oh, they ensue, my friends. Raccoons, pizza delivery guys, and the aforementioned lightning? They all take part. So what's your favorite moment of high chaos to take place outside? For me, it's going to have to be lightning. Every time.
I’m talking about what’s appealing to me, the adult reader, but let’s take kids into account here. The book’s written for them, after all. The premise is great, but I’ve seen plenty a fine premise fall flat when it comes to the final presentation. Fortunately, Ms. Arnaldo has honed her skills. The art pops. You can see it across the room, making it ideal for a storytime readaloud. And those little details I alluded to earlier? Perfect for a lapsit reading. But while illustrations are key, if the writing is not carrying its weight then it doesn’t matter. A truly great picture book is one where there is a balance between words and text (if there is any). Happily (and much to my own personal relief) that is the case here. Fairly early on I was hooked by the fact that when it appears that there is no teacher coming into the room, half the kids cheer, “No teacher means no rules!” This is swiftly countered by the other half of the class. “Absolutely not!” If you know kids, you know that this rings true. But it’s more than just truisms. It’s sandwich-related puns, excellently parceled out information, and, of course, that marvelous ending. A co-worker of mine who does storytimes on the regular told me that he recently made this part of his Funny 2023 Picture Books program and then had the kids vote on their favorite. Their choice? Ham’s down, this was the winner.
A word on the back endpapers. Illustrators sometimes think that we can’t tell when they illustrate real people into their books. I get that, I do, but let’s be real. Your average reader can tell. So when I got to the Yearbook-esque back pages of this book and saw the array of “teachers” there, I knew for a fact that they were people the author/illustrator knew. Who are they? Thank Uncle Google for answering that question. With very little searching I was able to identify Ms. Arnaldo’s agent Alexandra Levick, Sebastien Porco, and fellow artist Lian Cho. I’ll give a cookie to anyone who can identify more. This sort of thing is just catnip to librarians like myself. We simply must identify them all! But what’s particularly interesting about the endpapers of THIS particular book is the fact that the plot actually extends into that section. I’m not kidding! The last page of the book (which I will not spoil) makes you turn the page to try and figure out a big reveal and then BAM! You’re on the endpapers (with a mystery that is no clearer than before). It goes further than that, though. If you’re lucky enough to get a copy of this book where the book jacket has not been taped down, remove it and you’ll find something amazing on both the front and back covers. An endless source of delights, this book!
Getting back to my original point about first day of school picture books, it’s probably a good thing that we have so many different kinds in different styles out there. Some kids would probably appreciate those of the more touching variety. But even so, I know for a fact that there are small children out there for whom books, where they not only get the central joke but are surprised by the plot twists, reign supreme. So all hail, Mr. S! A finer sandwich in a finer picture book I have yet to see (take THAT Giant Jam Sandwich!).
It's the first day of school and the kids in room 2B are a bit baffled. They’re in their classroom, it’s time for the day to begin, but where’s their teacher? Slowly, oh so slowly, they come to realize that there’s an impressive looking sandwich on the table. On the blackboard are the words “Mr. S.” Could it be? Without wasting a second, the children come to the only logical explanation: The sandwich is clearly their teacher (and never mind the grown man outside battling the elements as he tries to rescue his car from a series of natural disasters). The kids learn their letters, do art, and even get in a bit of music and singing. But can a sandwich really be a teacher? And who’s that man outside the window? What does he have to do with any of this? The answer… may surprise you.
On the back of this book sits the following quotation from Adam Rex, “This might be the funniest first-day-of-school book I’ve ever read.” No small praise. Rex is, after all, the author behind the 2016 Best First Day of School picture book School’s First Day of School. I like to credit that book with alerting me to the fact that each and every year there tends to be ONE first day of school book that stands apart from the pack. One year it was King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes (2019). Another it was Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School! (2022). But Rex’s claim that this is THE funniest is cause for some debate. Generally speaking, first day of school books aren’t normally all that laugh-out-loud funny. They might be droll like First Day Jitters or funny in an understated Wes Anderson kind of way, like the aforementioned School’s First Day of School but there is at least one other book out there that is outright hilarious. We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan Higgins is probably the strongest contender for the Funniest First Day of School Picture Book throne. I would have a hard time deciding between these two, so in lieu of a decision I call it a draw. Teachers – pair the two together. Do so, and I guarantee the greatest First Day of School storytime read of all time. Your students won’t know what hit them.
If you are a reader of a certain age, you may have a question. You may have read the premise of this book and thought to yourself, “Wait a minute. This sounds familiar. Is this entire picture book a reference to the burrito on the judge’s desk on the TV show The Good Place?” I assure you, my friend, that I had the same thought. Fortunately, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I was able to locate a conversation on Twitter dating back to 2022 when Ms. Arnaldo first introduced the concept of this book to the Twittersphere. It was fellow author/illustrator Julia Kuo who thought to ask, “Is this a reference at all to the burrito in the Good Place??” to which Ms. Arnaldo responded, “LOL omggggg it never occurred to me, but now that you mention it these two would be very powerful bros.” So there you have it. From the author herself. Not a direct reference by any means, but a half of a powerful pair.
For me, it was the moment when the lightning hit the car and set it on fire. I'll explain. It is not a requirement that every picture book include content for both small children and the adults that will be forced to read and reread the book 100 times. It’s just a nice plus when it happens to fall out that way. In the case of Mr. S, there are two plots going on simultaneously. On the one hand you’ve the titular story involving the Kindergartners and their edible educator. On the other, there’s this whole background storyline (literally) happening out the window to a man seen only briefly in the room at the beginning. Just after he wrote the words “Mr. S” on the chalkboard (and isn’t it cute to see something as retro as a chalkboard in a picture book these days?) he spotted a tree falling over onto his car. As we watch the students in their classroom, things get worse and worse for this fellow. Hijinks? Oh, they ensue, my friends. Raccoons, pizza delivery guys, and the aforementioned lightning? They all take part. So what's your favorite moment of high chaos to take place outside? For me, it's going to have to be lightning. Every time.
I’m talking about what’s appealing to me, the adult reader, but let’s take kids into account here. The book’s written for them, after all. The premise is great, but I’ve seen plenty a fine premise fall flat when it comes to the final presentation. Fortunately, Ms. Arnaldo has honed her skills. The art pops. You can see it across the room, making it ideal for a storytime readaloud. And those little details I alluded to earlier? Perfect for a lapsit reading. But while illustrations are key, if the writing is not carrying its weight then it doesn’t matter. A truly great picture book is one where there is a balance between words and text (if there is any). Happily (and much to my own personal relief) that is the case here. Fairly early on I was hooked by the fact that when it appears that there is no teacher coming into the room, half the kids cheer, “No teacher means no rules!” This is swiftly countered by the other half of the class. “Absolutely not!” If you know kids, you know that this rings true. But it’s more than just truisms. It’s sandwich-related puns, excellently parceled out information, and, of course, that marvelous ending. A co-worker of mine who does storytimes on the regular told me that he recently made this part of his Funny 2023 Picture Books program and then had the kids vote on their favorite. Their choice? Ham’s down, this was the winner.
A word on the back endpapers. Illustrators sometimes think that we can’t tell when they illustrate real people into their books. I get that, I do, but let’s be real. Your average reader can tell. So when I got to the Yearbook-esque back pages of this book and saw the array of “teachers” there, I knew for a fact that they were people the author/illustrator knew. Who are they? Thank Uncle Google for answering that question. With very little searching I was able to identify Ms. Arnaldo’s agent Alexandra Levick, Sebastien Porco, and fellow artist Lian Cho. I’ll give a cookie to anyone who can identify more. This sort of thing is just catnip to librarians like myself. We simply must identify them all! But what’s particularly interesting about the endpapers of THIS particular book is the fact that the plot actually extends into that section. I’m not kidding! The last page of the book (which I will not spoil) makes you turn the page to try and figure out a big reveal and then BAM! You’re on the endpapers (with a mystery that is no clearer than before). It goes further than that, though. If you’re lucky enough to get a copy of this book where the book jacket has not been taped down, remove it and you’ll find something amazing on both the front and back covers. An endless source of delights, this book!
Getting back to my original point about first day of school picture books, it’s probably a good thing that we have so many different kinds in different styles out there. Some kids would probably appreciate those of the more touching variety. But even so, I know for a fact that there are small children out there for whom books, where they not only get the central joke but are surprised by the plot twists, reign supreme. So all hail, Mr. S! A finer sandwich in a finer picture book I have yet to see (take THAT Giant Jam Sandwich!).
April 26, 2024
4.5 stars, author Monica Arnaldo is a hoot in this picture book about a most unusual first day of school. Older children and tweens will this even more than the younger ones.
Read
May 15, 2023lmaoooo this is fucking hysterical
January 18, 2024
This is gold. The class walks in to a chalkboard that says Mr. S but only a coffee mug and a sandwich on the desk. Could it be.... Mr. Sandwich??? Absolutely hilarious.
November 28, 2023
Thanksgiving weekend family picture book read-aloud fun! (Book 3 of 13.)
Ignorant of the drama unfolding outside their classroom window on their first day of school, the young students of room 2B make some unusual leaps in logic when their teacher appears to be absent . . . or perhaps has a most unusual appearance . . .
The ending is laugh-out-loud hilarious.
Ignorant of the drama unfolding outside their classroom window on their first day of school, the young students of room 2B make some unusual leaps in logic when their teacher appears to be absent . . . or perhaps has a most unusual appearance . . .
The ending is laugh-out-loud hilarious.
October 28, 2025
Humor in the details...details....that's all I have to say about that.
October 22, 2023
5 stars. Move over all the first day of school books - this is the new standard! From the case cover art, to the end pages, to all the details in the illustrations, a fun school day happens in room 2B. Anyone else still thinking about that last page tho?
July 17, 2023
This is, hands down, my new favorite back-to-school book. This book is hilarious. This book is humorous. This book is kids-and-grownups-will-both-laugh funny.
January 22, 2024
Thank you to Melissa who recommended this to me! I read this with Mister last night, and we loved this. When you read this, please pay attention to what is happening outside as seen through the window. There are so many shenanigans going on.
Mister observed that they don't have "green boards" on the walls of classrooms; they have smartboards now. Also, "little kids" like kindergartners can't usually read squinty writing, i.e. cursive. We thought that this was a very silly and mysterious book.
Mister observed that they don't have "green boards" on the walls of classrooms; they have smartboards now. Also, "little kids" like kindergartners can't usually read squinty writing, i.e. cursive. We thought that this was a very silly and mysterious book.
October 28, 2023
A laugh-out-loud funny picture book about the first day of school for a group of resourceful kindergarten students. At first, they think they don't have a teacher, but then determine that the impressive sandwich is in fact their new teacher. A fun book to read with lots of great illustrations, especially the illustrations depicting all the car drama going on outside. A must-read for the first day of school!
July 26, 2023
Oh this book is hilarious! It is a fabulous first day of school book. Older students and adults will notice the side illustrations that tell a story a bit different than the one taking place in the classroom.
May 13, 2024
This story is ridiculously funny and surprisingly satisfying, providing a clever way to help kids find the humor in first-day-of-school fears. Hilarious illustrations, especially of the googly-eyed kids and Mr. S, make for an entertaining read-aloud for bedtime or story time.
July 26, 2023
Absolutely ridiculous in the best kind of way
September 3, 2023
A fun and funny selection for you back to school text set
November 14, 2023
I love funny picture books with great twists and this one delivers just that.
January 27, 2024
Hilarious, loved it!
April 27, 2024
This was amazing. I loved the ending. The illustrations were great, the little details in the background were not obvious, but hilarious when you go back through and realize they are there.
Very enjoyable story and I would absolutely recommend.
Very enjoyable story and I would absolutely recommend.
December 12, 2024
Using this during the first week of school for the foreseeable future
December 11, 2023
What an amusing and delightful story!
Mr. S runs really great lessons. I loved the illustrations!
Mr. S runs really great lessons. I loved the illustrations!
August 5, 2023
This is a fantastic picture book. On the first day of school a man is standing in a classroom, when outside the window we see a car hit by a fallen tree. Children enter the classroom, and wonder where there teacher is. There is a sandwich, a cup of coffee and some papers on the teacher's desk. Outside the window you see a pizza delivery man arrive, and the damaged car get struck by lightning. The children debate whether a sandwich can be a teacher or not, and go about the normal school day while the sandwich gives them lessons. Outside the window you can see what is happening with the man and his car. The illustrations are great, and following the events of the two different plot lines is really fun. If you peek under the dust jacket on the back cover there are illustrations of sandwiches as if they were painted by different famous artists. I especially love the Magritte sandwich. This book is funny, it has wonderful illustrations, and the story is delightful. 10 out of 10 would highly recommend!
January 4, 2024
Listen: do I love it? Yes. Is it hysterical? Yes. Am I going to read it to Kindergarten classes? Maybe, though maybe not on their first day... A *great* picture book for older readers, though I wouldn't go as young as preschoolers (which those first-day kindergarteners are close to).
Students arrive for their first day to see a sandwich on the desk and a blackboard that says "Mr. S"... but no teacher. Or-- could it be that the sandwich is the teacher?
Students arrive for their first day to see a sandwich on the desk and a blackboard that says "Mr. S"... but no teacher. Or-- could it be that the sandwich is the teacher?
December 8, 2023
Mr. S! What a darling first-day of school book! It's one we re-read several times, the minute we finished it the first time. The kids come to school and we see a grown man, rushing outside to deal with an emergency. If you aren't paying close attention (we weren't at first), you might miss all the chaos and calamity going on outside the classroom window. While the kids are having a safe day inside, something wild is going on with a man outside. Inside, the kids, who have never been to school before, debate a bit about where their teacher might be? Could he possibly be the sandwich at the front of the room? They have a lovely day and learn lots, but just as they begin to doubt what is happening with their sandwich-for-a-teacher, the man comes in to set things straight. Just right for imaginative kids. It gives a silly, calm-your-nerves sort of take to the first day of school.
What a funny adventure! We weren't surprised to see a recommendation on the back from Adam Rex - just his style of book (our favorite is On Account of the Gum). My children found this book to be satisfying, silly, and one they'd like to keep coming back to or share with their friends.
Read as a nomination in the Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).
What a funny adventure! We weren't surprised to see a recommendation on the back from Adam Rex - just his style of book (our favorite is On Account of the Gum). My children found this book to be satisfying, silly, and one they'd like to keep coming back to or share with their friends.
Read as a nomination in the Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).
October 12, 2023
This is a fun, slightly creepy head-scratcher. It's useful as a critical thinking exercise. There are a lot of things about this book that don't really make sense. For example, the students have never been in school before, yet they know how to read. At least one knows how to write, "i will not throw food." Two of the students are playing what look like recorders during "music class," during which they sing, "Mary had a little ham, little ham, little ham! Mary had a little ham, on some nice rye bread." It is morning, yet there is a large pizza delivery happening out the window, and next to the steaming mug of coffee, there is a fresh sandwich that looks a bit like bologna and lettuce on white bread with two green olives on a toothpick sitting right on the desk, no plate or napkin in sight.
The twist at the end is funny, and invites other ideas for what S could stand for. First-day-of-school kindergarteners or pre-schoolers may not be able to come up with S words yet. It also begs the question whether the solution offered by the man is really true.
The man's adventures outside take place out the window, which can be hard for an audience to see in a read-aloud. That's too bad, because the antics with the pizza delivery person and a band of opportunistic raccoons are pretty funny.
Good multi-cultural mix of students in the 12-person class of Mr. S. A white boy-presenting student uses a wheelchair, and a girl-presenting student of indeterminant ethnicity uses fore-arm crutches.
The twist at the end is funny, and invites other ideas for what S could stand for. First-day-of-school kindergarteners or pre-schoolers may not be able to come up with S words yet. It also begs the question whether the solution offered by the man is really true.
The man's adventures outside take place out the window, which can be hard for an audience to see in a read-aloud. That's too bad, because the antics with the pizza delivery person and a band of opportunistic raccoons are pretty funny.
Good multi-cultural mix of students in the 12-person class of Mr. S. A white boy-presenting student uses a wheelchair, and a girl-presenting student of indeterminant ethnicity uses fore-arm crutches.
October 31, 2023
A bald-headed man runs from the classroom just before the kindergartners file in for their first day. Now the kids are confronted with nothing but a humanoid sandwich sitting on the teacher's desk.
Could this sandwich. . . be their kindergarten teacher?
A hilarious day ensues both inside the classroom and out, where the bald-headed man's series of unfortunate events can be seen through the window. Whiz-bang comedy that's sure to be a hit for adults and kids alike.
Could this sandwich. . . be their kindergarten teacher?
A hilarious day ensues both inside the classroom and out, where the bald-headed man's series of unfortunate events can be seen through the window. Whiz-bang comedy that's sure to be a hit for adults and kids alike.
finalists-2023
October 11, 2023From Travis @100ScopeNotes https://100scopenotes.com/2023/05/11/...
August 9, 2024
Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo is an entertaining first-day-of-school book sure to give you a case of the giggles.
Something’s terribly wrong! Even the new kindergarteners can tell. Where’s their teacher? A search for the answer turns up two clues— “Mr. S”, written on the blackboard and…a sandwich on the desk. Could it be Mr. S? With no other answer in sight, the students organize and work their way through the day’s lessons. ABCs come first with A is for avocado toast, B is for bagel and so on. Art lessons, and story time are followed by music class complete with an imaginative chorus of Mary had a little ham.
Arnaldo spins this tale of classroom antics with a wacky sense of the absurd, but a glance out the window reveals a second tale unfolding. Prior to the children’s arrival a man is seen writing “Mr. S” on the board just as a massive tree falls on his car in the parking lot during a violent storm. He rushes out and page turn after page turn tells another story as chaos ensues with lightning strikes, firefighters arrive…
Could this be the illusive Mr. S? The author merrily leads readers down a path of assumptions until she pulls the two narratives together with a surprise twist at the end to solve the mystery!
Arnaldo’s brilliant use of illustration to tell the two stories makes this a wonderfully visual experience that invites readers both young and old to look beneath the surface of the classroom tale. The clever narrative will make this a read aloud favorite sure to be requested time and time again.
Recommended for anyone looking to add some laughter to their day!
Something’s terribly wrong! Even the new kindergarteners can tell. Where’s their teacher? A search for the answer turns up two clues— “Mr. S”, written on the blackboard and…a sandwich on the desk. Could it be Mr. S? With no other answer in sight, the students organize and work their way through the day’s lessons. ABCs come first with A is for avocado toast, B is for bagel and so on. Art lessons, and story time are followed by music class complete with an imaginative chorus of Mary had a little ham.
Arnaldo spins this tale of classroom antics with a wacky sense of the absurd, but a glance out the window reveals a second tale unfolding. Prior to the children’s arrival a man is seen writing “Mr. S” on the board just as a massive tree falls on his car in the parking lot during a violent storm. He rushes out and page turn after page turn tells another story as chaos ensues with lightning strikes, firefighters arrive…
Could this be the illusive Mr. S? The author merrily leads readers down a path of assumptions until she pulls the two narratives together with a surprise twist at the end to solve the mystery!
Arnaldo’s brilliant use of illustration to tell the two stories makes this a wonderfully visual experience that invites readers both young and old to look beneath the surface of the classroom tale. The clever narrative will make this a read aloud favorite sure to be requested time and time again.
Recommended for anyone looking to add some laughter to their day!
July 17, 2023
First sentence: The kids in room 2B could tell something was wrong. Even though it was their very first time at school, they had the sense that something was missing. "Where's the teacher?" someone whispered. "Shouldn't they be here by now?" asked someone else.
Premise/plot: A kindergarten class is puzzled by their teacher--or lack of teacher. Where a teacher should be sitting there is only a SANDWICH. On the board is written a name: Mr. S. Could this sandwich be their actual teacher?
The text only tells HALF the story. The illustrations reveal quite the commotion out the window, outside the school. As the school day progresses, so does the drama. Will the students ever have an answer to their question?
My thoughts: This one is super silly, over-the-top ridiculous, absurd, odd. This could be a GREAT thing in the book's favor. There's something to be said for pure nonsense. Of course, not every reader will find pure nonsense hilarious and appealing. Some will.
I didn't love this one. I can see how it might prove very funny as a read aloud. I think some readers will find the humor actually funny.
Premise/plot: A kindergarten class is puzzled by their teacher--or lack of teacher. Where a teacher should be sitting there is only a SANDWICH. On the board is written a name: Mr. S. Could this sandwich be their actual teacher?
The text only tells HALF the story. The illustrations reveal quite the commotion out the window, outside the school. As the school day progresses, so does the drama. Will the students ever have an answer to their question?
My thoughts: This one is super silly, over-the-top ridiculous, absurd, odd. This could be a GREAT thing in the book's favor. There's something to be said for pure nonsense. Of course, not every reader will find pure nonsense hilarious and appealing. Some will.
I didn't love this one. I can see how it might prove very funny as a read aloud. I think some readers will find the humor actually funny.
May 10, 2024
When the kids in room 2B arrive for the first day of school, there seems to be a surprising lack of, well, a teacher. But there is a sandwich on the desk and "Mr. S" scrawled on the chalkboard. Could...the SANDWICH...be their teacher? (And will the man going through a series of unfortunate events in the parking lot provide further clarification?)
There has already been a lot written about this book (thanks a lot, Betsy Bird—always reading things, making smart notes, and generally just raising the bar for us slower and dimmer readers), so I do feel like it's hard for me to top the already enthusiastic discussion. I guess I can just join the club, since this book is already on a roll.
Still, lettuce appreciate olive the humor here with a few rye, er, wry observations:
* The raccoons in the "parking lot story arc" is *chef's kiss*
* I very much enjoyed the pun about Mr. S being "as composed as ever"
* I grinned at the name of the elementary school
* I loved the "double twist" ending
I guess what I'm saying is: read the book. It's as satisfying as a really good sandwich (and that's saying something).
And...that's a wrap!
There has already been a lot written about this book (thanks a lot, Betsy Bird—always reading things, making smart notes, and generally just raising the bar for us slower and dimmer readers), so I do feel like it's hard for me to top the already enthusiastic discussion. I guess I can just join the club, since this book is already on a roll.
Still, lettuce appreciate olive the humor here with a few rye, er, wry observations:
* The raccoons in the "parking lot story arc" is *chef's kiss*
* I very much enjoyed the pun about Mr. S being "as composed as ever"
* I grinned at the name of the elementary school
* I loved the "double twist" ending
I guess what I'm saying is: read the book. It's as satisfying as a really good sandwich (and that's saying something).
And...that's a wrap!
picture-books
September 9, 2024Date: 09.09.24
Attendees 40
Theme: school
Introduction and announcements: My Hands Say Hello
Book one: Best Frints at Skrool by Antoinette Portis
Song/rhyme/game one: There's a Dog in School
There’s a dog in school, OH NO!
What are we going to do?
As long as there’s a dog in school
He’ll have to learn his alphabet, too!
Bark ABCs, switch out animals
Book two: Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo
Song/rhyme/game two: Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill
Book three: The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing
Song/ rhyme/ game three: A is for Alligator
A is for Alligator, chomp, chomp, chomp (clap hands together on each chomp)
B is for Bunny, hop, hop, hop. (hop up and down)
C is for Circle, round and round, (draw a big circle in the air)
And D is for when we all sit Down.
Activity: https://jewishjournal.com/wp-content/...
Attendees 40
Theme: school
Introduction and announcements: My Hands Say Hello
Book one: Best Frints at Skrool by Antoinette Portis
Song/rhyme/game one: There's a Dog in School
There’s a dog in school, OH NO!
What are we going to do?
As long as there’s a dog in school
He’ll have to learn his alphabet, too!
Bark ABCs, switch out animals
Book two: Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo
Song/rhyme/game two: Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill
Book three: The Night Before Preschool by Natasha Wing
Song/ rhyme/ game three: A is for Alligator
A is for Alligator, chomp, chomp, chomp (clap hands together on each chomp)
B is for Bunny, hop, hop, hop. (hop up and down)
C is for Circle, round and round, (draw a big circle in the air)
And D is for when we all sit Down.
Activity: https://jewishjournal.com/wp-content/...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews