Coasting Casey: A Tale of Busting Boredom in School

by Shannon Anderson, Colleen Madden (Illustrator)

Overview

“My teachers say I’m coasting, that I just do ‘well enough.’ But why do I want to waste my time on super boring stuff?” Casey is bright but bored in class, and doesn’t apply himself at school. Instead, he coasts—doing just enough to get by and ignoring homework and projects that don’t interest him.
 
What does interest Casey is art. He loves to draw, make music, and create. Sometimes this enthusiasm interferes with learning and gets him into trouble. With help from his school principal, Casey learns to apply his passions to his schoolwork. Told in humorous rhyme, this lively story will speak to bored students and to any kid who can—and wants to—do better and turn their “snores into scores.”
 
The book concludes with tips and information to help adults talk with kids who are bored in class and want to do better (and have more fun) at school.
 
A social story to promote student engagement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631980893
Publisher:	Free Spirit Publishing
Publication date:	04/27/2016
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	660L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Shannon Anderson is an award-winning children's book author, TEDx speaker, and national presenter. She loves to do author visits to teach the power of reading, writing, and learning with a growth mindset. Shannon taught for 25 years from first grade through college level, where she wore the hats of literacy coach, gifted coordinator, and adjunct professor. She lives in Indiana. You can learn more about her and her books at www.shannonisteaching.com.

Colleen Madden acted and trained at The Second City in Chicago, then went on to graduate from a small liberal arts school in Massachusetts, with a major in illustration and English literature.

She has illustrated for many different kinds of clients and is the recipient of an International Greeting Card Louie Award.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their two sons. When not illustrating, Colleen can be found long distance running, making her boys giggle, and eating lots of sushi.

Editorial Reviews

06/01/2016
Gr 1–3—Casey is a young student who is aware of his potential but doesn't care about his grades. He drifts and doodles while his teachers and coaches talk; his daydreamer ways lead him straight to the principal's office. Noticing the ink doodles on Casey's pants, the principal decides to encourage his creativity and brings out a giant paper roll that Casey designs into a banner for the school. The experience prompts the boy to want to do better. ("I decide I like doing well. How can I do some more? My head is full of ideas for turning my 'snores' into 'SCORES.'") Having found ways to work his hobbies into his schoolwork, Casey proudly holds up a report card of B's and even a few A's. Casey is a likable character, with tousled black hair and a little brother who could be his mini-me. The illustrations complement the text as Casey goes from a student with slumped posture and bored expression into a wide-eyed and eager scholar. The inclusion of nonwhite characters is visually refreshing, but the focus is mostly on Casey. Unfortunately, the narrative is limited by the text's rhyme scheme and the sing-song lyrics turn what could be a strong subject of interest into a forgettable and trite experience. A note to students, discussion questions, and activities follow the story. VERDICT This is a well-meaning effort but, ultimately, an unmemorable one. Consider for larger collections.—Jane Hebert, Glenside Public Library District, Glendale Heights, IL

School Library Journal