The Children’s Book Review | September 21, 2016
Written by Anne M. Gorman
Illustrated by C. Clancy Higgins
Age Range: 3-6
Paperback: 18 pages
ISBN: 978-1480835689
Publisher: Archway Publishing
What to expect: School, Self-esteem
A day in the life of Annie provides young children with the encouraging reminder that every individual has strengths that they can be proud of.
Annie is a sprightly young girl excited to share the news of her day. Each week, her teacher Mrs. Kimble selects a star student. Will today become Annie’s turn to be the star student? In previous weeks, Natalie was selected for her beautiful artwork, Catherine was selected for knowing her letters and numbers, and Billy was selected for his master block building skills. Annie does not feel that she has mastered these skills. No matter, she gets on with her work and plays nicely with her friends. When the time comes for Mrs. Kimble to announce the star student of the week, Annie feels nervous. It turns out that Annie has nothing to be worried about. Trying hard at everything you do and being a kind friend are very special skills—the kind of strengths that make this week’s star student, Annie, shine bright.
Using young Annie as the narrator, Anne M. Gorman has created a relatable story for preschool and kindergarten aged children. The text is both short and sweet and portrays Annie’s emotions well, allowing children to recognize Annie’s enthusiasm for school, her desire to be recognized by her teacher as special, and the self-affirmation that comes when she realizes her own strengths. The illustrations are a colorful extension of the text and provide ample visuals for a storytime read-aloud session.
Annie the Star Student is a great choice for anyone looking for a book that provides an encouraging and positive school experience for children ages 3 through 6. Teachers that implement the star student process in their classroom could certainly benefit from sharing this story with their young pupils. It could also help stimulate conversations between a child and their caregiver, and the final bedtime scene also makes it a good choice for transitioning into bedtime. Recommended.
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Also available: Annie Spills Her Milk
Annie the Star Student, written by Ann M. Gorman and illustrated by C. Clancy Higgins, was reviewed by Bianca Schulze. Discover more books like Annie the Star Student by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with School Life and Self-Esteem.