Mostly Monty: First Grader
Monty, an asthmatic who also suffers from lack of friends and pets, spends the first few weeks of first grade wishing he could be someone else. Slowly he learns to appreciate the qualities that make him Monty, such as his remarkable reading ability. By the end of the book, like his pet caterpillar, he begins to emerge from his cocoon. Adults will predict the outcome and may wince at the occasionally awkward placement of vocabulary-building words: "Monty didn't complain about his limitations." Children are unlikely to be bothered, though they may notice the unusually long chapters; the first one stretches to 21 pages with four page breaks. Watercolor illustrations (black and white in galley) appear every few pages, breaking up the text with pictures of cheerful button-nose children. More reserved children who lack the boundless energy and self-assurance exhibited by Junie B. Jones and Gooney Bird Greene will appreciate seeing themselves reflected in this gently funny story about learning to like oneself. Harold, Suzanne--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.