First Year Letters (The Jitters Series) - Hardcover

Danneberg, Julie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1580890849 ISBN 13: 9781580890847

Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2003

Synopsis

In this sequel to FIRST DAY JITTERS, Sarah Jane Hartwell receives letters from her students, the principal, and even the janitor, in this epistolary tale about all that can happen over the course of one school year. As every first-year teacher knows, a classroom full of second graders can be alarmingly unpredictable.

The letters the children write to Mrs. Hartwell are sympathetic ("I figured you might be a little scared, just like me"); informative ("…most kids don't eat cauliflower"); encouraging ("Yesterday was THE BEST!"); and apologetic ("I'm sorry about throwing up all over your shoes"). Even a local firefighter writes to Sarah Jane.

Fun, funny, and heart-warming, Danneberg’s newest installment in the Mrs. Hartwell Classroom series is sure to delight both teachers and children as they follow Mrs. Hartwell and her class through the year. Classes will be inspired to write letters to their own teachers about their favorite, or wildest, days of the year.

About this title

About the Author

Julie Danneberg is the author of several books for children, including FIRST DAY JITTERS, FIRST YEAR LETTERS, LAST DAY BLUES, COWBOY SLIM, and FAMILY REMINDERS. She lives in Denver, Colorado.

Reviews

Kindergarten-Grade 3-In this animated follow-up to First Day Jitters (Charlesbridge, 2000), Danneberg and Love continue to pay tribute to the trials and tribulations of elementary school teachers through the experiences of Mrs. Sarah Jane Hartwell. Through short letters and notes written by her students and colleagues, readers learn of Sarah Jane's many classroom adventures, including field trips, a loose pet, fire alarms (complete with sprinklers and the arrival of firefighters), and drop-in visits from the principal. Although these messages hint at the events that take place throughout the school year, the lively and engaging illustrations, done in transparent dyes, really tell the story, incorporating humor through details attentive children will discover. The vibrant colors and animated faces bring the barely controlled chaos to life. Although it is a bit disconcerting that only one student hand writes his messages, children will appreciate that most of the notes are typed and easy to read, and will relate to and enjoy this book.
Piper L. Nyman, Fairfield/Suisun Community Library, Fairfield, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

K-Gr. 3. There are lots of humor and probably a little truth in this hilarious account of a new teacher's first year, which is relayed in a series of classroom letters. On September ninth, Shannon, who has noticed Mrs. Hartwell's hand shaking when she puts her name on the blackboard, writes to her teacher, "that's when I figured you might be a little scared, just like me." Missives in generic type are interspersed with handwritten letters from Josh, a student whose spelling and handwriting noticeably improve throughout the year. Especially funny are students' observations about the principal: "When Mrs. Burton came into our class today, your face turned really red. I peeked to see what she was writing. I couldn't read a word! Did you know Mrs. Burton has very messy handwriting?" The funny illustrations show the class in glorious chaos, from dealing with an escaped class pet snake to the disarray after knocking over of a stuffed bison during a field trip to a natural history museum. Kids and teachers alike will appreciate this unusual take on the ups and downs of a school year. Diane Foote
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Charlesbridge
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1580890849
• ISBN 13: 9781580890847
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Love Judy
• Number of pages: 32