ALA Booklist (Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2011)

Gilbert the young opossum wants to participate in Earth Day, but he has no ideas for a springtime poem. Ditto for an Earth Day project. But having a picnic in a dirty, empty lot sparks something. On project day, Gilbert takes his class to the lot, where he has planted a small tree. Hanging on the tree is his poem about spring. Big, colorful art is full of identifiable classroom moments as well as Earth Day ideas that never seem forced. A fun new look at a familiar concept.

School Library Journal (Tue Feb 01 00:00:00 CST 2011)

K-Gr 2 Gilbert's class embraces springtime with poetry, picnics, and Earth Day projects, but Gilbert is jittery over his lack of ideas. While the other students come up with lines of verse and brainstorm projects, many of which show up in thought bubbles above their heads, Gilbert's are completely blank. Meanwhile Mrs. Byrd's gentle suggestion that wiggly Gilbert has "ants in his pants" has him noticing ants everywhereand eventually they lead him in the right direction. The cartoon illustrations add detail to the story, and fans of Gilbert and friends will enjoy reading about their Earth-friendly plans in this latest addition to the series. Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Horn Book

A garbage-strewn, unshaded picnic area motivates Gilbert's class to work on Earth Day projects. Though at first he struggles to come up with an idea, Gilbert finds inspiration in what is "right in front of" him: his favorite tree. Fans of Gilbert and company will enjoy their characteristic humor in this book with an environmentalist twist.

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

DeGroat's recurring opossum character Gilbert is frustrated that he can't come up with a poem about spring or a project topic for Earth Day-especially since the other kids already have their ideas, like turning out lights and riding bikes. But his anxiety turns to inspiration when he finds that what he was looking for was in front of him the whole time, and he creates a presentation that satisfies both assignments. DeGroat's gestural animal characters genuinely convey common anxieties and classroom dynamics, and the green message is clear without being saccharine. Ages 4-8. (Mar.)