ALA Booklist (Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

Author of the Sophie Hartley series of middle-grade chapter books, Greene now offers a series for early chapter-book readers. Nervous about starting first grade in the fall, Posey spends the summer wearing the pink tutu that makes her feel special and worrying that this year she must walk into school and down the first-grade hall alone. It doesn't help that her neighbors, Nick and Tyler, love to tease her about the monster and snakes in that hallway. Midway through the book, Posey jabs Nick's arm with a stick to find out whether the monster really turned his blood to ink. The chapter ends there, leaving readers to wonder whether she drew blood, got into trouble, and/or apologized. The next chapter opens with her sympathetic grandfather drawing out her concerns as he drives her to the store for ice cream. Apart from those lingering questions, the story and illustrations offer a satisfying portrayal of Posey and her world. The black-and-white illustrations are appealing, and the sparkly pink tutu on the book jacket will draw just the right audience.

Kirkus Reviews

Posey is nervous about first grade. She'll have to walk all the way down to the hall to Miss Lee's class. Alone. It's a long way from the Kiss-and-Go-Lane to the first-grade classroom, and the corridor seems especially long when the neighbor boys add to her anxiety by telling her tales about the snakes and blood-sucking monsters that lurk there. On top of everything else, Posey's mom will not let her wear her favorite tutu costume to school. She loves being Princess Posey, the Pink Princess, but she has to wear school clothes to school, doesn't she? Posey's family supports the little girl and helps her make her transition to the big world of first grade. Emergent readers can be anxious as they make the transition from easy readers to early chapter books and, like Posey, can be overwhelmed by new challenges. Short sentences, a generous font, ample white space and Sisson's charming, expressive black-and-white illustrations make this sweet story just right for them. First graders will be looking for more stories about Posey. (Fiction. 5-8)

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

Readers anxious about starting school will identify with the ingenuous heroine of Greene%E2%80%99s (the Moose and Hildy books) novel, first in a series. Fancying herself the %E2%80%9CPink Princess,%E2%80%9D Posey dreads the first day of school: she can%E2%80%99t wear her beloved tutu, and her mother will be dropping her off outside instead of escorting her to the classroom. She accuses her mother of abandoning her, then credibly lashes out at her brother (%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s all your fault.... I was the baby till you got here%E2%80%9D). After the boys next door tell her that a monster haunts the school, Posey%E2%80%99s grandfather assuages her fears, but it%E2%80%99s her teacher who has the solution to both problems, inviting her students to wear their %E2%80%9Cfavorite clothes%E2%80%9D to start the year with a dress-up parade. Greene%E2%80%99s simple sentences are distinguished by punchy dialogue and sentiments that do justice to a range of emotions, from frustration and nervousness to unadulterated glee. They should go a long way to easing the worries of readers embarking on a new stage in their school life. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 5%E2%80%938. May)

School Library Journal (Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

K-Gr 1 Posey is about to start first grade, and she can't help but feel a little intimidated. Her mom won't be walking her to her classroom, neighborhood boys have terrified her with stories of a first-grade monster, andworst of allshe won't be allowed to wear her pink tutu to school. Posey doesn't think she can be brave without it and is more nervous than ever. How will she survive her first day? This is a sweet book, and children will relate to the child's fears about her new experience and leaving her security tutu behind. There's also a confidence-building ending in which the new first graders are encouraged to be true to themselves. The illustrations are spare and in black and white, but they do complement the story. Children will find this offering a good start for trying chapter books as it is has such an easy reading level. This first title in the series is likely to find an appreciative audience. Elizabeth Swistock, Jefferson Madison Regional Library, Charlottesville, VA