Hooray for Reading Day! (Jessica Worries)
Kindergarten-Grade 1—Worrier Jessica reappears in an anxiety-filled story about learning to read. As inStop, Drop, and Roll(2001) and100th Day Worries(2000, both S & S), the first grader is filled with dread because of an upcoming Reading Theater day at school. She elicits the help of her busy family members in practicing and is even more alarmed when she finds out that parental attendance and costume wearing are part of the event. This third title in the series does a serviceable job of portraying a young student struggling with the trials of being a beginning reader. The message of "practice makes perfect" and the encouragement of her teacher and family can serve to motivate children. Howard's cartoon illustrations add to the humor and exaggerate Jessica's expressions of angst, anguish, and ultimate achievement.—Lynne Mattern, Robert Seaman School, Jericho, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.