★ 03/11/2024
Ebullient eight-year-old Bibsy Cross loved everything about her life until she landed in Mrs. Stumper’s class. The teacher “thinks Bibsy talks too much, which isn’t true. She’s just a third grader with a whole lot to say.” Mrs. Stumper sighs whenever Bibsy speaks up in class, labels what she perceives as Bibsy’s inability to keep quiet as “a stone too far”—a phrase that becomes the book’s refrain—and ultimately punches a “worm” hole in the paper apple that represents Bibsy on the class tree, declaring Bibsy’s behavior as “rotten.” In spare, emphatic verse, Scanlon (Everyone Starts Small) writes, “It’s not a real wound, but it feels like one.” The story, punctuated by warmhearted spot cartooning by Ho (Tala Learns to Siva), highlights Bibsy’s supportive homelife and the development of a school science fair project with Bibsy’s best friend that shows the protagonist at her creative best. But the narrative’s real power comes from its poignant depiction of a child coming to terms with an uncomprehending adult, a trajectory that takes Bibsy from befuddlement to despair to speaking truth to power. Bibsy is rendered with pale skin, brown hair, and green eyes on the cover. Ages 7–10. Agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary. (June)
★ "[A] poignant depiction of a child coming to terms with an uncomprehending adult, a trajectory that takes Bibsy from befuddlement to despair to speaking truth to power." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "Pitch-perfect writing, a charming protagonist, and relatable conflict—what more could readers ask for?" —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ Scanlon’s story, which is written in conversational free verse, combines an exuberant, endearing protagonist with an empowering, STEM-focused plot....Hopefully many more adventures will follow." —BookPage, starred review
"This new early chapter-book series starter offers readers a likable protagonist, believable problems, short chapters, and frequent artwork." —Booklist
"This is a fine story of friendship and individuality—sprinkled with some engaging science." —School Library Journal
06/01/2024
Gr 2–4—Life is a breeze for title character Bibsy: a "regular-pegular" eight-year-old girl who is introduced in this early chapter book series' first installment. From the "bell that begins the day" to read-alouds with her favorite teachers, Bibsy has loved school since kindergarten. Now in third grade, Bibsy struggles to connect with her new teacher, Mrs. Stumper, who thinks Bibsy is too chatty and often dims her bright, inquisitive mind. It also does not help that her best friend Natia is in a different class this year. Mrs. Stumper's bulletin board of paper apples displays students' names and whether or not they stay hung on the class tree throughout the day, fall to the ground, or get figurative wormholes hole-punched in them—all dependent on individual behavior. As the status of her apple looms over her like a dark cloud each day, Bibsy does her best to stay true to herself and hope for acceptance from her teacher. Bibsy shows a magnetic love for the many ingredients that codify being a happy kid (including but not limited to knitting while watching TV and riding her bike), and she has an affinity for school. Young readers will find Bibsy both a likable and relatable character. This is a fine story of friendship and individuality—sprinkled with some engaging science. VERDICT This should circulate often in an elementary library and keep readers engaged enough to continue with the subsequent books.—Kerra Mazzariello
★ 2024-04-05
Trouble with an insensitive teacher threatens an enthusiastic 8-year-old’s love of school in this series starter.
Third grade looks rocky for Bibsy Cross. For the first time, she and her best friend, Natia, aren’t in the same class. And Bibsy’s new teacher, Mrs. Stumper, seems to sigh with irritation every time Bibsy raises her hand. Granted, Bibsy has a tendency to “go on” just “a stone too far,” as her teacher puts it. But Bibsy has a such a font of interesting information and a yen to share it! Mrs. Stumper indicates her displeasure by moving the paper apple bearing Bibsy’s name to the bottom of the bulletin board. The teacher grows increasingly exasperated until the dreadful Wednesday when the apple isn’t just plucked, but hole-punched. On Friday, Bibsy will have to take her apple home to be signed by her parents. Garton’s prose is marked by whimsy, enchanting turns of phrase, and an intuitive understanding of how children perceive the world. Bibsy’s empathy (she worries for a classmate whose apple is often grounded) and her willingness to make the best of a bad situation (or to turn “sours” sweet, in Bibsy’s words) make her a winsome protagonist. Gracefully composed, two-color illustrations and line breaks make for even faster page-turning. Bibsy and Mrs. Stumper appear light-skinned in the art; Natia presents Black.
Pitch-perfect writing, a charming protagonist, and relatable conflict—what more could readers ask for? (Chapter book. 6-9)
