Review: Making new friends, the fun way!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 24, 2013
Originally from Australia, Molly Moss now lives in the USA and aside from being a committed teacher who stresses `tough love, high standards, and lots of laughter' has written a little book that deserves both our attention and our caring about her principles. Subtitled `A Childrens' Rhyming Picture Book About a Boy's First Day at a New School and How His Fear and Sadness Turned Into Happiness', this book is a delight from page one to the end.Jake is a new boy in town and despite his friendly new school he misses his old home. When he enters his now school he has a frown on his face despite the fact that his teacher is friendly as is his classmate Amanda. The first assignment after recess is to make a funny face and explain to the class the story behind that face.  Amanda features her smile and big teeth through a magnifying glass (like her grandma's). Tom relates his experience playing a guitar without his big brother Tom's being present and conquered his tears by making a silly face. Anna shares her fear of bats and monsters at Halloween until she learns to make a crazy face like a bat and no longer feels afraid. Lee tells of an experience eating too hot pizza and to get over the fear of hot things he crosses his eyes and extrudes his tongue. Austin once helped his sick sister by showing her an `Ewww' face and made her feel better. Leila made cookies for her Dad but left the milk out overnight and it spoiled - her whole mouth needed a shower! Tamara helped her little sister at the zoo by making the face of a roaring lion - and that helped. Juan invited friends to his house to watch a game, but the television suddenly turned into a zombie show and the kids all had to make zombie faces to frighten the bad zombies away. Karl was surprised by the sudden appearance of a spider while looking for a toy in the attic so he made a funny face when the spider jumped out. Sara meets with disasters at home due to her brother Brett's antics and makes an angry frustrated face. The teacher gets into the act with the face she made when ice cream gave her brain freeze. And even the principal shares and embarrassed face about having a green tooth at a wedding. And at the end of all the stories, little new guy Jake has found new friends and his funny face is a huge smile!Molly Moss writes her story in charming rhyming verse and each child described is accompanied by a photograph of a kid with that face along with Moss' instruction to try to imitate that face. Lots of laughs and good cheer here, lessons on the importance of friends, in addition to some learning ideas that kids will love. This is a terrific little book.  Grady Harp, September 13