The New Boy

From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 1-- A subtle lesson in human nature comes across in this bouncy story of Milton, the new boy in Miss Higgins's kindergarten class of mice, rabbits, and squirrels. At first he terrorizes everyone, putting a caterpillar into Mindy's lunchbox, eating all the cherries on Gregory's special cupcakes, and singing during rest period. Abruptly he becomes angelic. His constant volunteering to clean, pick up, and fix is more annoying than his naughty behavior. Only when Stanley, an even newer boy, arrives, does Milton relax. Young children will have no trouble seeing their own classes in this cheery setting. Plants, pets, toys, and art supplies scattered against a warm background of melon and tangerine or standing out on a white page make this classroom universal. At an early age, children know what it is to be the victim, the weird kid, the prankster. They will identify with the resilient animal classmates. The story is constructed expertly, with each of Milton's misdeeds building suspense. When Stanley arrives and Milton settles down, children will nod their heads, "Here it goes again." This is a delightful way to show, without preaching, how hard it is to be the new kid. --Nancy Seiner, The Carnegie Library of PittsburghCopyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Kirkus Reviews Relations with his fellow kindergartners go from bad to worse after mouse Milton's unfortunate opening gambit: he sticks out his tongue. Repeated rejections lead to new pranks until a classmate's forthright judgment (``You're BAD'') causes a sudden turnaround and Milton becomes obnoxiously good. By the time the next new little animal joins the class, Milton has settled down; now it's Stanley's turn to be pronounced ``weird.'' It's not that simple in real life; still, Milton's troubles are all too familiar, and their easy, mildly humorous resolution may suggest some healthy behavior modification to children similarly afflicted. Keller's expressive, simply drawn illustrations lend additional appeal. Schwartz's Camper of the Week (below) provides a subtler, more perceptive treatment of similar themes. (Picture book. 4-7) --