Poetry Book Review: WHAT A DAY IT WAS AT SCHOOL

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Prelutsky, Jack. 2006.WHAT A DAY IT WAS AT SCHOOL. Ill. by: Doug Cushman. New York: Greenwillow Books, Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN: 978006823351

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Told in the first-person point of view from the perspective of a cat, this collection of 17 poems, chronicles the cat’s day at school as he is reading about his experiences from a journal to his mother. From his backpack being too heavy to not studying hard enough for a test to following the every day routine procedures of gym and lunch, Prelutsky realistically captures, with great humor, what a day is like at school for an average student.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this individual poet compilation, WHAT A DAY IT WAS AT SCHOOL, Jack Prelutsky helps the reader see the humorous side of everyday situations that occur during the school day. In poems such as “I Wished I’d Studied Harrder", Prelutsky use great humor to illustrate the fact that the student didn’t study for a spelling test. Sprinkled throughout the poem and even in the title, are misspelled words. For example, “I’d like to get a passing graid,/ But don’t beleeve I will- / I think I got Whyoming wrong, And Chyna, and Brazill.” As evident in this poem, and in all of Prelutsky’s poems in this collection, is how each one possesses a great sound when read aloud. This can be attributed to the great rhythm and rhyme present in his work.

The rhythm of Prelutsky’s poems is masterful. The short lines and ending sound rhyme help make the reading aloud of each poem easy. As the reader is reading, it feels like each line flows into the other without a need to stop, and with none of the words being used in the poems feeling forced to fit the theme, his word choice selection is top-notch. The only poem that was difficult to read aloud is “I Know How to Add.” Though it does posses ending sound rhyme, the lines are longer which when being read aloud effects the rhythm. Overall, each poem flows right into the other to present a cohesive, chronologically ordered day at school. What helps to add to these poems that makes this collection even better are the illustrations contributed by Doug Cushman.

Cushman use of acrylics to bring to life Prelutsky’s cast of characters. Just as Prelutsky’s poems are humorous and full of life, Cushman’s illustrations echo this feeling. Bright and vibrant colors adorn each page. Each picture looks as if Cushman used a multitude of blues, reds, greens, yellows, blacks and browns to create a school and cast of characters that children would find appealing. Cushman also did a wonderful job of capturing the emotions of the characters through each poem. For example, as seen in “I Made a Noise This Morning” which is about the main student hiding the fact that he created a smell that wasn’t very fragrant, Cushman had characters holding noses and created disgusted looks on their faces by the inflection he painted in their eyes. The main character looks like he is trying to hide something with his hands clasped together on his desk looking to the right trying to avoid eye contact with his other classmates. Through this picture you can since the tension in the air (no pun intended). What’s even better is that Cushman delivers time and time again in each illustration conveying the feelings and emotions of the characters, yet making each picture humorous with details that can keep the reader looking at the pictures long after reading the poems.

After reading this collection of poems, the collaboration between Prelustky and Cushman is a winning combination that each child should be exposed to if they want a fun easy to read book that will keep them laughing throughout the day.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BOOKLIST review: "Prelutsky brings his sly, slapstick verse to the classroom in this picture-book collection of school poems.”

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “In addition to being a popular choice for poetry-loving young readers, this school-themed collection is certain to make continual rounds among early elementary teachers for use in the classroom.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*During the first six weeks of school, read a poem a day aloud to students as an introduction to a new school year.
*Since these poems deal with the everyday happenings on a school campus, use these poems as humorous read alouds to discuss real issues like, not studying for a test, creating “non fragrant” smells in class, field trips, homework, and more.
*The author presents this book of poetry as a journal, so a teacher could read the collection of poems aloud of a number of days as a springboard into a journal activity, where students need to keep a daily or weekly journal about the happenings at school.

*Other collection of school poetry
Dakos, Kalli. IF YOU’RE NOT HERE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND: POEMS ABOUT SCHOOL. Ill by: G. Brian Karas. ISBN: 9780689801167
Dakos, Kalli. DON’T READ THIS BOOK, WHATEVER YOU DO!: MORE POEMS ABOUT SCHOOL. Ill by: G. Brian Karas. ISBN: 9780689821325
Dakos, Kalli. PUT YOUR EYES UP HERE: AND OTHER SCHOOL POEMS. Ill by: G. Brian Karas. ISBN: 9781416918028