Mrs. Hartwell, still weary from the last class field trip, is fully prepared for this field trip to the zoo. She has her list of field-trip tips and her handy-dandy just-in-case-something-unexpected-happens bag. Will all of her preparation be enough?
With their observation sheets in hand, students begin exploring the zoo. Soon everyone finds out that they are too busy writing to actually observe everything going on around them! A bale of hay, an elephant trunk full of water, and a parrot’s—ahem—droppings, all spell trouble for Mrs. Hartwell and her class.
Mrs. Hartwell has the great idea to collect the observation sheets and save the actual writing for later. The class continues on to see monkeys, lions, hyenas and actually observe what is going on around them. When Mrs. Hartwell and her students meet in the middle, the result is lots of fun (and lots of learning, too)!
The story is accompanied by hilarious illustrations by Judy Love, capturing every detail of this wild field trip.
It was the morning of the field trip to the zoo. Mrs. Hartwell's students tumbled into the classroom. They were very, very, very excited. Mrs. Hartwell, however, shuffled in slowly. She remembered the last field trip.
Mrs. Hartwell and her second graders are back and are off to the zoo. Hoping to avoid the fiasco of their last trip to a natural history museum, the teacher is super-prepared—ultra-prepared—for this one. She has done her research and has nine foolproof tips for a great outing. Each and every rule comes in handy—“#3 Be prepared for delays. Food works,” “#6 Bring lots of paper towels and an extra tee shirt,” “#7 No matter what happens stay calm!”—with comical results. Kids will love seeing a parrot poop on Eddie (Rule #7 is invoked here). But Mrs. Hartwell also knows when to relax the rules a little (“#1 Give students a job to keep them focused and learning…and out of trouble!”) and let the kids have a good time. Love’s illustrations perfectly capture the children’s expressions, actions, and abilities. There is plenty to see on each page, and readers will want a close look. Like the previous installments, this one is chock-full of humor and truth. Both teachers and their students will find it easy to relate to the characters and situations. Good pre–class trip or anytime reading. -School Library Journal
After graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Julie Danneberg became a teacher. In her classroom, she read many children's books and witnessed the profound impact a good book can have on a child. "I was motivated to try and write books like the ones I enjoy reading." Julie earned great success with First Day Jitters--the funny and engaging story of Sarah Jane Hartwell's first day at a new school. The surprise ending charms and delights readers time and again. Teachers and students alike love these stories, and they are perennial favorites for back-to-school. Julie lives with her husband and two children in Denver. She teaches at a local middle school where she garners ideas for her books. When she's not writing, Julie enjoys reading, quilting, gardening, and spending time with her family. Judy Love is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design. She has illustrated numerous children's books, including First Day Jitters and Last Day Blues by Julie Danneberg. She lives in North Carolina.
Mrs. Hartwell, still weary from the last class field trip, is fully prepared for this field trip to the zoo. She has her list of field-trip tips and her handy-dandy just-in-case-something-unexpected-happens bag. Will all of her preparation be enough?
With their observation sheets in hand, students begin exploring the zoo. Soon everyone finds out that they are too busy writing to actually observe everything going on around them! A bale of hay, an elephant trunk full of water, and a parrot’s—ahem—droppings, all spell trouble for Mrs. Hartwell and her class.
Mrs. Hartwell has the great idea to collect the observation sheets and save the actual writing for later. The class continues on to see monkeys, lions, hyenas and actually observe what is going on around them. When Mrs. Hartwell and her students meet in the middle, the result is lots of fun (and lots of learning, too)!
The story is accompanied by hilarious illustrations by Judy Love, capturing every detail of this wild field trip.
Excerpt
It was the morning of the field trip to the zoo. Mrs. Hartwell's students tumbled into the classroom. They were very, very, very excited. Mrs. Hartwell, however, shuffled in slowly. She remembered the last field trip.
Mrs. Hartwell and her second graders are back and are off to the zoo. Hoping to avoid the fiasco of their last trip to a natural history museum, the teacher is super-prepared—ultra-prepared—for this one. She has done her research and has nine foolproof tips for a great outing. Each and every rule comes in handy—“#3 Be prepared for delays. Food works,” “#6 Bring lots of paper towels and an extra tee shirt,” “#7 No matter what happens stay calm!”—with comical results. Kids will love seeing a parrot poop on Eddie (Rule #7 is invoked here). But Mrs. Hartwell also knows when to relax the rules a little (“#1 Give students a job to keep them focused and learning…and out of trouble!”) and let the kids have a good time. Love’s illustrations perfectly capture the children’s expressions, actions, and abilities. There is plenty to see on each page, and readers will want a close look. Like the previous installments, this one is chock-full of humor and truth. Both teachers and their students will find it easy to relate to the characters and situations. Good pre–class trip or anytime reading. -School Library Journal
Author
After graduating from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Julie Danneberg became a teacher. In her classroom, she read many children's books and witnessed the profound impact a good book can have on a child. "I was motivated to try and write books like the ones I enjoy reading." Julie earned great success with First Day Jitters--the funny and engaging story of Sarah Jane Hartwell's first day at a new school. The surprise ending charms and delights readers time and again. Teachers and students alike love these stories, and they are perennial favorites for back-to-school. Julie lives with her husband and two children in Denver. She teaches at a local middle school where she garners ideas for her books. When she's not writing, Julie enjoys reading, quilting, gardening, and spending time with her family. Judy Love is a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design. She has illustrated numerous children's books, including First Day Jitters and Last Day Blues by Julie Danneberg. She lives in North Carolina.
