Peace Week in Miss Fox's Class - Hardcover

Spinelli, Eileen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 080756379X ISBN 13: 9780807563793

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company, 2009

Synopsis

Miss Fox is tired of hearing her young students quarrel. So she announces Peace Week―no more squabbling for one whole week! The children chime in with their own rules: no fighting, don't say mean things, and help others. Throughout the week each of the little animals gets a chance to practice this new behavior. When Polecat teases Bunny for wearing a bright yellow sweater, instead of poking fun back at Polecat, Bunny admires his sweater. Soon, to their surprise, the animals are finding that it's easy to help others, take turns, and say nice things, even when someone is grumpy to them. Wouldn't it be nice, Squirrel says, if every week could be Peace Week?

About this title

About the Authors

Eileen Spinelli is the author of many books for young readers including Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch and Callie Cat, Ice Skater. Eileen and her husband, author Jerry Spinelli, live in Pennsylvania.

Anne Kennedy has been illustrating children's books for twenty-seven years. Anne and her husband live in Ohio.

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 2—The students in Miss Fox's class have been squabbling for days, so their teacher declares "Peace Week." The children decide that there will be no fighting or saying mean things, and that they will help others for an entire week. The rest of the book consists of various ways in which a child is tempted to engage in bad behavior but consistently chooses the high road instead. When Squirrel's sister complains about him bouncing nuts against the gate, he bounces marshmallows instead. When Bunny wears her yellow sweater and Polecat calls her "Bunny-Banana," she does not retaliate. In each case, the perpetrator of the mean remark or action is instantaneously and unrealistically reformed. Kennedy's watercolor, ink, and dye illustrations feature an endearing cast of animal characters with expressive faces. The book could generate some discussion about making positive choices; otherwise, it's an additional purchase.—Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ
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Tired of all the squabbling in the classroom, Miss Fox declares Peace Week: no quarrels, don’t say mean things, help others. The message is overt in this lively picture book, but it never gets too heavy as the animal cast carries out the teacher’s instructions. Caught by the angry standoffs and hurtful confrontations in everyday life, kids will welcome the scenes of reconciliation. Of course, the quarrel scenes are exciting: “Is not!” “Is too!” Squirrel wants to yell back when his big sister yells at him, but he doesn’t. Mouse wants to ignore the little kids who are quarreling in the sandbox, but instead she joins in and helps them make a bigger, better sandcastle. Baseball fans supporting opposite teams taunt each other, and then smile, “Good game.” The celebratory ending––make every week Peace Week––may be pushing the theme, but the common scenarios make this a fun story that will open discussions with bullies, victims, and bystanders. Preschool-Grade 2. --Hazel Rochman

Edition details

• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 080756379X
• ISBN 13: 9780807563793
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Kennedy Anne
• Number of pages: 32