Biscuit Goes to School

November 1, 2003
PreS-Gr 1-This story by Alyssa Capucilli (HarperCollins, 2001) about the appealing little puppy, Biscuit, uses simple language to tell of his adventures following his mistress to school. Sadly, dogs are not supposed to go to school, but that doesn't deter this impish fellow. Chaos ensues, but of course all ends well. Each page features one or two simple sentences. In addition, most of the words are one-syllable words appropriate for beginning readers, such as "dog," "woof," and "wants." The narrator, Andrea Kessler, begins by introducing the story and directing readers to turn to the first page, describing the picture on that page. Her voice is clear and easy to understand. The watercolor illustrations also help to tell the story, and early readers will find them useful in discerning text. Bright music and background sound effects add a nice touch to the story. The page-turning sound is clear and easy to detect. On side two, the story is told uninterrupted. The use of repetitive text makes this a perfect choice for new readers. A useful addition for public and school libraries.-Maren Ostergard, Bellevue Regional Library, King County Library System, WA

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2004
K-Gr 1-Alyssa Capucilli's appealing story (HarperCollins, 2001) of a pup's adventures following his owner to school. The repetitive text makes this a perfect choice for new readers while lively music and sound effects add interest.

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2002
K-Gr. 1. Biscuit, the adorable little golden dog, makes an appearance in a My First I Can Read series. Biscuit wants to follow his young mistress to school, but, of course, that isn't allowed. When his girl heads off, Biscuit finds his own way there. Even with a limited amount of words and the shortest of sentences, Capucilli tells a real story, one that will capture the attention of the newest reader. First there is the suspense of the puppy's making it to school. Then, there's Biscuit cutting a wide swath through the school, until he's finally picked up by the principal. The friendly watercolor artwork nicely illustrates the action.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2003
When Biscuit the dog sneaks into school, he explores a gym class, a story hour, and the lunch line. His owner tries to hide him, but Biscuit quickly wins the hearts of both her classmates and their teacher. The plot is minimal, but the simple text (much of which is the refrain "Woof, woof!") and the serviceable illustrations make it an obvious choice for both Biscuit fans and new readers.

(Copyright 2003 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)