MR. OUCHY’S FIRST DAY

Tomorrow is Mr. Ouchy’s first day of teaching, and he is eager, but a little nervous. He has a new haircut, and his new clothes are laid out and ready, but it’s hard to get to sleep. He starts counting sheep, and the next thing he knows, the day has begun. He meets his class, tells them his name, teaches them about the clock and asks what they’d like to learn over the next year. Soon enough, Mr. Ouchy is back in bed, talking to his mother on the phone about his wonderful class, and then falling off to sleep. While the descriptions of the day are straightforward and quietly humorous, the story jumps around a bit; at times, the parallels between teacher and student seem a little strained. Still, the watercolors are bright and energetic, Mr. Ouchy is a likable character, and new students may find solace in the fact that teachers can be nervous, too. (Picture book. 4-6)