KINDERGARTEN KIDS

Calmenson, herself a former kindergarten teacher, explores that world in this collection of original poetry. The 18 short rhyming poems address common features of the classroom such as show-and-tell, learning the alphabet and celebrating holidays, and several of the poems could be used as part of special days such as the 100th day of school. Some are written as riddles or with a missing final word to be filled in or with related movement or activity suggestions, and one of the last, a riff on the old “See You Later, Alligator” pattern, might just become a new playground classic with 19 ways to say good-bye (“time to float, billy goat”). Sweet fills her vibrant illustrations with bright citrus colors and bouncy children of varied ethnicities who help bring the rhymes to life. (Picture book/poetry. 4-6)