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Summary
Summary
It's Polka-dot's first day of kindergarten and armed with her trusty fix-it kit, she's ready for anything. When she gets to school, though, everything goes wrong. The duct tape, runny soap, and dotted bandages aren't enough to fix her kindergarten catastrophes. And, when it comes to dealing with stripe-loving, mean-mouth Liz, Polka-dot finds herself in a fix. See how Polka-dot finds a way to mend her stormy relationship with Liz.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-It's great to have a Grandpa who can fix anything, but there comes a time in every child's life when she has to find ways to fix things by herself-and not every problem can be resolved with duct tape, glue, or soap. Polka-dot starts kindergarten on the wrong foot, and things just seem to go from bad to worse. Liz, wearer of all things striped, seems to be in direct opposition to Polka-dot, in more ways than matters of wardrobe. From making fun of others to arguing about teacher gifts and messy paint spills, this story follows a day's negative trail of painful interactions between these two girls. The story captures well the way children act and converse among themselves, and readers will readily relate to the dialogue and dilemma. Urdahl effectively juxtaposes the repair of things and the mending of relationships and feelings. Polka-dot must make a move toward more positive interaction with Liz, and it pays off for both girls in the end. The secondary theme of adjusting to school and its myriad rules and routines is also explored. The colorful watercolor illustrations support the text well. Kemble does a particularly good job of rendering facial expressions to mirror the children's emotions: worry, anger, hopefulness, shame, discomfort, and ultimately, kindness. Character education is becoming increasingly important in schools, and this book will make a solid addition to the resource shelf.-Corrina Austin, Locke's Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
On Polka-dot's first day of kindergarten, her handy grandfather gives her a fix-it kit of her own, which includes duct tape, soap, and bandages. At school, Polka-dot gains an adversary: Liz (a fan of stripes) makes fun of her polka-dotted clothes and points out when Polka-dot makes a mess. But as the tension between the girls rises ("Your mouth is mean, mean, mean," Polka-dot tells Liz), a mishap gives Polka-dot a chance to use her kit to help Liz and forge an unexpected friendship. Kemble's watercolors telegraph the girls' fluctuating emotions as they navigate a new experience. Ages 4-7. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Before Polka-dot's first day of kindergarten, fix-it king Grandpa gives her a fix-it kit, which comes in handy after she tussles with (implausibly nasty) classmate Liz. The germ of a good idea--Grandpa's influence sees Polka-dot through a rough patch--is hampered by some unconvincing dialogue. Watercolor, colored-pencil, and graphite illustrations show characters with Raggedy Annish patches on their cheeks. Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
When Polka-dot encounters a mean girl on her first day of kindergarten, her confidence that she can fix anything is shaken.Even armed with only some runny soap, duct tape and spotted bandages, Polka-dot's Grandpa can fix anything. And with a kit just like his, Polka-dot heads off for her first day of school believing she can, too. But then she gets on the wrong side of Liz, a stripes-wearing girl, who feels that Polka-dot is taking the teacher's attention away from her. The runny soap fails to clean up Polka-dot's paint accident, and the spotted bandages fail to cheer her up at recess when Liz is still being mean to her. But the duct tape proves the handiest tool of all in rescuing Liz from some teasing and cementing the two girls' future friendship. The classroom teacher is depressingly obtuseshe kindly reminds the girls several times about kindergarten rules but never seems to notice the hurtful things Liz is saying to Polka-dot, with the result that Polka-dot thinks she doesn't care. Kemble's watercolor-andcolored-pencil illustrations are best at portraying relationships and feelings. Children will recognize these kindergarteners immediately, while the air between the two girls fairly sparks.Kindergarten compassion and problem-solving rolled into one. (Picture book. 4-7)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
The author of Emma's Question (2009) offers another thoughtful picture book featuring a wise grandparent. Dorothy (aka Polka-Dot ) is anxious about starting kindergarten so Grandpa prepares a fix-it kit duct tape, runny soap, and dotted bandages just like the one he uses to handle emergencies. Unfortunately, the kit is worthless in combating Liz's mean words and Mrs. Jackson's kindergarten rules. Kemble's expressive watercolor-and-pencil illustrations convey a host of first-day concerns that surprisingly lead to empathy, problem solving, and friendship. Pair with Kevin Henkes' Wemberly Worried (2000) or Lauren Child's I Am Too Absolutely Small for School (2004).--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2010 Booklist