A SMART, SMART SCHOOL

School administrators enact different visions of success.

Principal Keene is proud of his “fine, fine school,” where racially diverse students draw, sing, and read to their hearts’ content. But when acute appendicitis results in a hospital stay, the district sends Mr. Tatters—the weedy, pinch-nosed opposite of Mr. Keene’s rotund joviality (both light-skinned)—to look over Fine Elementary School in his absence. Tatters disapproves of creativity and implements a strict testing policy, to the dismay of students and teachers alike. Luckily, Mr. Keene’s hospitalization proves brief, and upon his return the school goes back to its colorful, inventive self. Student Tillie (who is light-skinned) takes Mr. Tatters around and represents the schoolchildren as a whole but never establishes a personality of her own. This story seems more for adults than children, since students have little to no influence on school policy and don’t need to be informed that test-taking is less fun than art and music. Key repeated words (“fine, fine,” “smart, smart,” “empty, empty, empty,” “sad, sad, sad”) seem extraneous, as does a lot of the text in this word-heavy read-aloud. Detailed illustrations in a muted color palette maintain a somber tone throughout, even under the rambunctious eye of Mr. Keene. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A staid story about the importance of fun.