Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2002)

An overzealous principal decides to extend school time through the weekends, evenings, and finally summer vacation until Tillie tells him about the things they are not learning, such as tree climbing. While the illustrations of the mountain-like principal are benevolent and Creech's writing style is tight, this poke at self-indulgence in education has more to say to adults than to children.

Kirkus Reviews

<p>School can be peachy, but that doesn't mean time away from school isn't just as valuable, which is the lesson Principal Keene has to learn in this charming story of a school administrator utterly rapt in his job. Mr. Keene just can't get enough of his fine school with all that fine learning being taught by the fine teachers to the fine students. So he decides to have school on Saturday, then Sunday, then on holidays, then the whole year through: "He was so proud of the students and the teachers, of all the learning they were doing every day." Literally. But the students and teachers aren't so sanguine about the situation, though no one wanted to prick Mr. Keene's balloon. Until Tillie finally tells him that some others are not learning because of all the school, like her dog, who hasn't learned how to sit, or her little brother, who hasn't learned how to swing or skip, because she's never home to teach them. Indeed, she hasn't learned to climb a tree for all the classroom time she's been putting in. Mr. Keene sees the light, beveling his enthusiasm and putting his good intentions into perspective. Creech's text capably moves the story forward, but it has all the humor of a stoat and the repetitions are overmuch. Yet Bliss (Girl of the Shining Mountain, 1999, etc.) comes through not just to save the day, but to make the story memorable, with appealing characters and numerous silly sight gags and verbal asides, like the post-it notes that read "Massive Quiz Saturday" and "Power Nap 2 pm," the photo in the kid's locker from his parents signed "We Miss You Son!" and the TV screen that reads "The Best Cartoons in the World Start in 5 Minutes!!" just as Tillie is shuffling out the door to school on Christmas. Just fine. (Picture book. 4-8)</p>

School Library Journal (Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

K-Gr 2-Principal Keene is proud of his school. "Oh!' he would say.Aren't these fine children? Aren't these fine teachers? Isn't this a fine, fine school?'" He becomes so enamored of the learning he sees taking place that he decides there should be more. First he schedules school on Saturdays, then Sundays, then holidays, and finally throughout the summer. With each addition, readers are told, "The teachers and the students did not want to go to school [on Sundays, holidays, etc.], but no one knew how to tell Mr. Keene that." Finally, young Tillie confronts him and explains that not everyone is learning-there are little brothers who can't skip and dogs that can't sit-and she herself cannot climb her tree. The principal finally realizes that there are certain kinds of learning that take place outside the classroom and the normal schedule is resumed. Creech's telling of this implausible parable is repetitive and not particularly energetic, but Bliss's colorful cartoon illustrations take up the slack with their sly humor and meticulous attention to detail. Children are pictured with backpacks labeled "wide load," and plastered with Post-it notes reading "massive test on your birthday" and "power nap at 2 pm." In this day of the over-scheduled and hurried child, this book could be a good impetus for a discussion of the value of stopping to smell the roses.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Starred Review ALA Booklist (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2001)

Starred Review Mr. Keene, the principal of a fine, fine school, just loves to see his students learning. So happy is Mr. Keene, he calls an assembly, proclaims his pride, and gives an order, Let's have school on Saturdays, too! Young Tille is less than pleased. On weekends she likes to climb her favorite tree; show her dog, Beans, tricks; and teach brother how to skip. But soon, she's going to school on Sundays, holidays, and during the summer. Finally, Tille's had enough. She marches into Mr. Keene's office and announces that not everyone is learning. Horrified, Mr. Keene demands to know what she means, and Tille explains: Beans isn't learning his tricks, her brother isn't learning to skip, and she's not climbing very well. Mr. Keene gets the picture immediately, and he revokes his order: Fine, fine, fine, the students and teachers cheer. This book has it all: a fine, fresh idea; a witty text that's fun to read aloud; and, most of all, intelligent, amusing art that provides an extra load of laughs. Bliss, an award-winning cartoonist at The New Yorker, takes a good idea and flies with it. He captures the initial intensity of the classroom and elevates it to the blissfully absurd, as banners spring up in the cafeteria (Why not study while you chew?) and the children wear signs on their huge, stuffed backpacks that read, How's my walking? The closer one looks, the more laughs there are, and everyone--kids, parents, teachers, even principals--will want to look more than once.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

"This timely story about extended schooling touches a nerve with a kindly delivery," said <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">PW in a starred review. Ages 4-8. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Jan.)