Sonderbooks Book Review of

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?

by Audrey Vernick

illustrated by Daniel Jennewein

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?

by Audrey Vernick
illustrated by Daniel Jennewein

Review posted March 9, 2011.
Balzer & Bray (HarperCollinsPublishers), 2010. 32 pages.
Starred Review

And I thought every possible twist on starting Kindergarten had been covered! How wrong I was!

Here's a delightful way for a kid-in-the-know to tell their Buffalo what's needed to get ready for Kindergarten.

There are some great lines:

Some people say kindergarten is no place for a buffalo.
How crazy is that?
Does your buffalo have a backpack?
Well, then. He's definitely ready for kindergarten.

But your buffalo may sometimes get frustrated.
Like when someone takes his building blocks.
Or calls him Fluppalo.
Another buffalo might be tempted to nudge those kids.
But not your buffalo!
He'll stop, take a deep breath,
and remember the Rules for Sharing and Caring.
That's why kindergarten's so great.
You learn to get along without using your horns.

Snack time!
Your buffalo is probably looking forward to sharing treats with a classmate. But he may be the only one who eats grass, then throws it up in his mouth and eats it again.
Remember: Everyone's special in his or her own way.

There you have it: A truly new perspective on getting ready for kindergarten and going over everything a kid (or a buffalo) will need to know. The pictures, of course, add to the fun. The buffalo is kind and lovable and looks perfect for hugging or cuddling up to during storytime.

Absolutely charming!