Reading, Rhyming, and 'Rithmetic

Another zany day at school. Judy is caught kissing Justin. Vanessa is eating paste. Mrs. Reilly, a teacher, turns into a ghoul from the dark side of the moon. And Ollie, the classroom mascot, who happens to be a seven-foot-long snake, is chasing Principal Poole. In other words, it's a day at school as imagined by Dave Crawley, author of the popular Cat Poems and Dog Poems. With lively illustrations by Liz Callen, this comical collection examines everything from taking tests, coming up with ever more original excuses for not doing homework, and the shock of seeing a teacher on a Saturday, buying groceries like an actual human being.★ "Well written, very funny, and right on the mark for elementary students. . . . Kids will love this collection."—Library Media Connection, starred review

"The selections are upbeat, and even the more serious topics, such as being the new kid at school or last chosen for games, have an optimistic tone."—School Library JournalDave Crawley is the author of the acclaimed Cat Poems and Dog Poems. His Emmy-winning stories in rhyme have been treasured for many years at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he works as a feature reporter.

Liz Callen's zany illustrations have been seen in books, magazines, and advertisements for over thirty years. Her clients include Highlights for Children, Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin, Time-Life Books, and PBS. She lives in Washington.