The School Bus Comes at 8 O'clock - Hardcover

McKee, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0862643732 ISBN 13: 9780862643737

Publisher: Andersen Press, 1993

Synopsis

The Giles family have never had a clock or watch in the house. They don't need one - they always know the time because the school bus comes at 8 o'clock. But one day Mum decides that things must change and a grandfather clock is installed. This is a story about the pressures of time.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

McKee, illustrator of Two Monsters , makes his writing debut in describing a clock-free family that acquires one, then two, then four timepieces. Although the narrative is slightly short on zing, there's appeal to spare in the richly textured pastel spreads. The tale opens on Jennifer and Eric Gilbert's first day of school. As the title indicates, the school bus comes at eight, but the children aren't quite sure when to look for it--their parents don't own so much as a sundial. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert buy a rickety grandfather clock to remedy the situation, then add a backup in case the first ticker fails; although the hourly chimes keep them awake at night, they collect two more clocks before reverting to their original ways. This agreeable story is not for technophobes alone: the clocks and the opening of school demonstrate the importance of schedules (perhaps this is why, when the grandfather clock stops permanently at eight, the Gilberts keep it as a reminder of the a.m. bus and p.m. bedtime). Philosophical considerations aside, McKee's slightly smeary, blocky compositions--which retain their brightness despite an unusually heavy application of color--warrant a good look. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 1-When Jennifer and Eric start school, they know that they must be at the bus stop at eight o'clock. But how will they know when it's time? There are no clocks in their house; no one has ever needed one before. Thus, the family buys a huge grandfather clock-and then decides they need another one to verify its accuracy. They end up with a houseful of clocks chiming at different times. Finally, they get rid of all of them except the first one-which they stop at eight o'clock. The father reasons that a stopped clock is better than an inaccurate one-at least it tells the right time twice a day. The story line is not new; it has been heard before as a riddle/joke. The illustrations-childlike renderings in bright, appealing colors on textured paper-are done in pastels and are primitive in style. On some pages it is difficult to distinguish the adults from the children. While the story has the flavor of some of the wonderful tales of Chelm, there is no consistency to the nonsense, and the writing doesn't flow smoothly.
Alexandra Marris, Rochester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Andersen Press
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0862643732
• ISBN 13: 9780862643737
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32