FIRST GRADE TAKES A TEST - Softcover

Miriam Cohen is an avid champion of the emotional rights of children. Her stories ring true because she spends many hours in classrooms reading, listening and talking with children. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Although Cohen's story originally appeared in 1980, with pictures by Lillian Hoban, this newly illustrated version couldn't be more timely. One day the first-graders are given a special multiple-choice test by the principal. Some kids find the questions puzzling. Then, suddenly, time's up. Anna Maria announces, "That was easy."But many kids are confused and upset, and "You're a dummy!" echoes through the class, which only settles down when the kindly teacher reminds the children of all the things they do understand. Veteran author Cohen's sensitivity to children's feelings and reactions really shows here, and it's just as on point now as it was all those years ago. Himler was a good choice to update the art. It's a cozy multicultural classroom now, with kids working closely together, and Himler's loose-lined, pencil-and-watercolor pictures skillfully use body language and facial expressions to chart the children's emotional highs and lows. There's little question that kids who have had similar experiences will recognize themselves. A wonderful book for discussion. Stephanie Zvirin
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