Vibrant. . . If a school pep rally could walk and talk, this kid would be it.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“The electric hues, constant motion, and winning smiles that fill Morrison's oil paintings enhance the boundless vitality of this sensory celebration of school.” —Publishers Weekly
“This joyful offering will be a happy addition to any shelf.” —Booklist
“Christmas spirit is expressed in joyous and reflective onomatopoeic exclamations in this new holiday staple. . . . Soul-stirring and sure to put readers in a festive mood.” —Kirkus Reviews on I GOT THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
“Morrison's oil paintings capture the crackling energy of a city preparing for Christmas; the married coauthors' message about cultivating kindness, gratitude, and community the whole year through sings on the page.” —Publishers Weekly on I GOT THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
“Schofield-Morrison's onomatopoeia-inflected text and Morrison's kinetic, zoomed-in oil paintings enliven various iterations of experiencing 'the spirit' . . . An energetic and uplifting celebration of the season.” —Horn Book Magazine on I GOT THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
“The driving beat of debut author Schofield-Morrison's narrative is likely to have readers bouncing and tapping right along with her . . . An upbeat celebration of the senses, self-expression, and camaraderie.” —Publishers Weekly on I GOT THE RHYTHM
“The bright palette and vibrant tones of Morrison's loosely painted illustrations echo the energy of the text nicely . . . the book begs readers to sing and move along with this little dancer.” —Booklist on I GOT THE RHYTHM
“For a storytime that will get bodies rocking, fingers popping, and rhythm flowing.” —Library Media Connection on I GOT THE RHYTHM
“Ready made for storytime, Schofield-Morrison's text pulses with a beat of its own and practically demands audiences to clap along. . . . The urban setting and varied cast of characters make this title particularly valuable, showcasing diversity as an integral part of everyday life.” —School Library Journal on I GOT THE RHYTHM
07/01/2020
K-Gr 2—A confident African American girl with two fuzzy ponytails prepares for the first day of school. "I slip on the spirit in my shiny new shoes. STOMP, STOMP!" Eating breakfast, waiting for the bus, comforting a nervous friend, standing straight and tall for attendance, and kicking the ball with super strength at recess are showcased in illustrations of the smiling, wide-eyed, energetic girl. The first-person narrative punctuated by stylized colorful sound words—"zip, zip!" and "Ka-pow!"—adds to the liveliness of the school day, which finishes with the open arms of her mother for a "squish, squeeze!" Realistic oil paintings depict a diverse cast of school classmates and a positive view of the school experience. VERDICT This cheerful and energetic story depicts a girl preparing for and embracing school spirit on her first day and will be a welcome addition for most collections.—Ramarie Beaver, formerly at Plano P.L., TX
★ 2020-05-17
A great prescription for kids who tremble at the thought of their first day of school.
A young African American girl with deep brown skin, round cheeks, and an infectious smile spends her first day of school celebrating spirit in many ways. With her hair in two gigantic puffballs, she shows her school spirit with snazzy shoes (“STOMP, STOMP!”), her backpack (“ZIP, ZIP!”), and her “loud…clear” singing in class (“ABC, 123!”). Her spirit surfaces in onomatopoeic words on nearly every double-page spread, contributing to the high energy of the story. Morrison’s vibrant oil paintings, reminiscent of those by artist and NFL player Ernie Barnes, feature close-up perspectives of the little girl and everyone she encounters while they reveal lots of diversity both in her neighborhood and at school. She even has a black male teacher—a rare demographic in American elementary schools—who captivates his class during storytime. Like its predecessors, I Got the Rhythm(2014) and I Got the Christmas Spirit (2018), this picture book establishes a sentence pattern that persists, one that will help nascent readers predict what comes next. Each line begins with a personal pronoun and an active-voice verb—“I share,” “I breathe,” “we sing,” etc.—that exudes this protagonist’s enthusiasm for school.
If a school pep rally could walk and talk, this kid would be it. (Picture book. 4-8)