Book Descriptions
for Once Upon an Ordinary School Day by Colin McNaughton and Satoshi Kitamura
From The United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY)
Once upon an ordinary school day, an ordinary boy woke from his ordi nary dreams, got out of his ordinary bed, had an ordinary pee, and an ordi nary bath . . . you get the picture with delightful, sepia-toned illustrations depicting the boy’s bedroom, strewn with cricket bat, skateboard, and a cat pawing through school supplies and sneakers. But the school day takes a startling—and more colorful—turn when a new teacher, Mr. Gee, bounds into the classroom in his vibrant yellow suit carrying a Victrola. During the creative writing lesson, Mr. Gee plays music and inspires the students to use their imaginations. 2006 USBBY-CBC Outstanding International Books List, 2005 Bank Street School’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2005 Parents’ Choice Award. djg
Originally published by Andersen Press Great Britain, in 2004.
From the Publisher
A celebration of extraordinary teachers!
The boy's breakfast is ordinary, his walk to school is ordinary, even his thoughts are ordinary. But when he goes to his classroom and sits down at his desk, his day begins to change - a new teacher, Mr. Gee, bursts into the classroom with an extraordinary idea that challenges all the children to use their imagination. Suddenly an ordinary day is turned topsy-turvy, and the boy is inspired in a way that will change him forever.
The rollicking words and pictures celebrate the unexpected in this tribute to great teachers and students everywhere.
Once Upon an Ordinary School Day is a 2006 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.