WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY JAMIE HARPER
PUBLISHED BY CANDLEWICK PRESS
Young animal enthusiasts won’t soon forget these unique students or Miss Mingo’s enthusiastic celebration of their diversity. — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
If there’s an elephant in the classroom — along with an alligator, a koala, a centipede, an octopus, and who knows what else — it must be Miss Mingo’s class on the first day of school! Miss Mingo, a flashy flamingo, starts off the year by inviting all creatures big and small to share something special about themselves. Did you know that Cricket hears with his legs, Snake smells with his tongue, and Frog enjoys eating his own skin? Visit this multi-species classroom for a nonfiction storybook filled with learning — and laughter.
FOR EDUCATORS: There are a number of great ways to share this picture book biography with readers of all ages. Download the EDUCATOR’S GUIDE, the ACTIVITY KIT including templates for making finger puppets and designing your own parade balloons.
Here’s a short video celebrating the Texas Bluebonnet Nomination.
The University of Minnesota Kerlan Collection created the Engineering of a Picture Book, a comprehensive digital resource about the making this picture book biography.
★ “The funny commentary from these stereotypic class personalities (e.g., a nerdy frog and an alligator who serves as the class goody-goody) keeps the narrative moving and the facts coming. Young animal enthusiasts won't soon forget these unique students or Miss Mingo's enthusiastic celebration of their diversity.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
PRAISE
“The classroom's energy is contagious, and soon-to-be-Kindergarteners will be anxious to get to know the unique talents of their own new classmates. A cute combination of animal fact book and a lesson in kindergarten preparedness.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“This book is a perfect mix of a first-day-of-school story and facts about the natural world. It will be enjoyed by students and teachers.”
— School Library Journal