ALA Booklist (Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2004)

Mr. John Carillo, custodian of Dublin Elementary School, gets to work early in the morning in the pitch-black dark to prepare the building for the school day. Third-grader Gracie and her twin brother, Zach, come early with their mother who teaches at the school, and they love helping Mr. Carillo get everything ready. Then Gracie comes up with a plan for everyone to thank him. The simple, unrhymed poetic words and the realistic oil paintings create a strong sense of a diverse school community and a man in flannel shirt and worn leather shoes who always knows which key fit the right lock. Especially intriguing is the hands-on detail of the tools Mr. Carillo uses (hammers and pliers, / boxes of nails and screws, / and short and tall ladders / that clattered and screeched) and the work he does with wiring, pipes, windows, and lights. Yes, he's a faultless character, but there's no condescension in the kid's view of the strong, solitary, almost melancholy man, and his work.

Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2001)

When Stargirl, a contemporary Pollyanna, is shunned for disloyal cheerleading (she roots for both teams), high school junior Leo persuades her to go along with the crowd. Predictably, this doesn't work for Stargirl; on the author's part, it occasions much heavy-handed moralizing about conformity. But as a story of high school outsiders and light romance, this will find an audience.

Kirkus Reviews

John Carillo is the custodian at Dublin Elementary and has been for many years—children can always hear the jingle of his keys. He can fix anything and solve everything as Borden enthusiastically describes. The third-grade twins Gracie and Zach get to school early, because their mom is the fifth-grade teacher, and they become Mr. Carillo's helpers. He calls them the "Early Birds." Gracie wants to find a way to show Mr. Carillo how important he is to the school and enlists first her brother and parents, then the principal, and finally the whole school in her idea. Richly colored oil paintings show archetypal school halls and byways: Mr. Carillo has a gorgeous mustache and a flannel shirt; Gracie and Zach wear their hair in dreads and cornrows. A nifty slice-of-school that children will recognize—and a terrific paean to the often-unsung heroes of upkeep and repair. (Picture book. 5-8)

School Library Journal (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2004)

Gr 2-4 Third-graders Gracie and Zach arrive at school early because their mother is a teacher. Mr. Carillo has been there since early morning, unlocking the building, turning on the heat and lights, and even making coffee in the teachers' workroom. He calls the twins the "Early Birds" and lets them help with some of the work. The children soon realize how special the friendly custodian is; he can fix anything, knows the name of every student, and even shares donuts with his two assistants. When Gracie notices the words of praise written on the students' papers displayed on the walls, she gets an idea. With the help of Zach, the principal, and her teacher, they plan a surprise for Mr. Carillo. When he opens the school, there's a banner as well as notes written by the children posted on the many things that he has cleaned or fixed: "Super! Mighty Fine! Good Effort." This tale lauds a job well done and highlights the important role of custodians. Gustavson's realistic oil paintings suggest the warmth of the building and the dark hallways in the early morning with enough generic blurred detail to keep readers focused on the people rather than the place. The story is sure to move youngsters to, as Borden suggests in her introduction, "Celebrate your custodian's hard work." Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA