Series: Chu
Format Read: hardcover
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: June 24, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | ARe* | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords
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Blurb from goodreads:
It is Chu's first day of school. Chu is nervous.
He hopes the other boys and girls will be nice. Will they like him?
What will happen at school today?
Will Chu do what Chu does best?
Bea's Thoughts:
Chu the sneezing panda is back and nervous about starting school. He worries if he'll like it, he worries if the others will like him, but he doesn't, oddly, worry about his sneezing. It's a pretty standard story, with nothing new to add about starting school or what school is like. The artwork is still a delight, with the last few pages at school full of vivid visual details.
The teacher asks each student to say their name and one thing that they love doing, Ar first, the answers are cliched: the giraffe likes retrieving items from high up and the monkey likes to climb. Not exactly original. Around the circle they go with Chu last. With all the chalk dust in the air from the blackboard, it's no surprise that he sneezes, startling every one. Sadly, Chu claims his sneezing as the thing he most enjoys doing and then the story cuts to him at home saying how much everyone liked him. Really? We didn't see anything to substantiate that claim. Sure they're smiling after his sneeze but how does that translate to being liked?
Despite the cliches and story inconsistencies, the story and artwork are cute and I think most preschoolers and kindergartners will enjoy the book and relate to Chu's nervousness. It did make me smile.
Click here to see the book trailer and some printables.
I've never read any of Chu's stories. I have to download and read to my kids. Thank you for this lovely review.
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