Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook

Rating:
Summary: Encourage Reading
Review: I was looking through children's books at the book store and immediately this one caught my eye. I have read several Michael Garland books to my twins and they have loved his stories and illustrations. This one is no different. I laughed aloud at the store as I turned the pages. I thought of all of those wonderful teachers out there that encourage reading in their students because they are fantastic story readers. I immediately ordered the book for my son's teacher (who happens to have short spikey hair like Miss Smith). What a wonderful book to give as a gift to a child and a teacher!

Rating:
Summary: SHOWS THAT READING IS FUN!
Review: Michael Garland's high powered imagination and razzle-dazzle illustrations bring the story of a one-of-a-kind teacher to energetic life. There's zip and color on every page plus a lesson for all.

Zack is a pretty disheartened young fellow. It's the first day of school, and he's sure the semester will be as boring as ever. Suddenly a small ball of fire whips through the door in the person of Miss Smith, a new teacher. She is unlike any teacher Zack has ever known because when she reads to the class from her story book, the characters actually come to life. There are swashbuckling pirates so real that Zack could actually feel waves pounding against the sides of their pirate ship. And then, when she finished reading "all the characters and adventure whooshed back into her book."

From then on Zack couldn't wait to go to school.

One day when Miss Smith was stuck in traffic and couldn't reach the school, others read from her book and the same amazing things happened. Except for one problem: the storybook characters didn't want to return to the book once the story was over. That could make for a very crowded room!

"Who would ever have guessed that reading could be so much fun?"

- Gail Cooke