Hands Off, Harry! (Kindergators Series)

by Rosemary Wells, Rosemary Wells (Illustrator)

Overview

“Wells' details of the kindergarten classroom are spot-on, and, as always, her illustrations, rendered here in textured mixed-material collages, perfectly capture young children's body language and emotions.” —Booklist

Beloved picture book author-illustrator Rosemary Wells brings her signature humor and trademark knack for understanding young readers to issues of personal space in the first book in the Kindergator series. Perfect for classroom use or for reading and sharing at home.

"Guess what happened at school today!"

Kindergators work and play happily in Miss Harmony's class. But Harry isn't being a good classmate! He's disrupting Friendly Circle, causing accidents, and upsetting the class. Can the Kindergators find a way to help Harry learn to respect personal space?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061921124
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/21/2011
Series:	Kindergators Series
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	574,067
Product dimensions:	9.22(w) x 9.22(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Rosemary Wells is the creator of many unforgettable children's book characters, including Max and Ruby, McDuff, and Yoko, each of whom stars in their own book series. She is also the author of perennial favorites about universal childhood experiences, such as Noisy Nora and Read To Your Bunny. Rosemary Wells lives in upstate New York.

Rosemary Wells is the creator of many unforgettable children's book characters, including Max and Ruby, McDuff, and Yoko, each of whom stars in their own book series. She is also the author of perennial favorites about universal childhood experiences, such as Noisy Nora and Read To Your Bunny. Rosemary Wells lives in upstate New York.

Editorial Reviews

This first book in the Kindergators series, which tackles socialization issues, focuses on a familiar figure: the kid who has personal space issues. Harry pokes, pushes, and tackles; he startles one classmate so badly that the victim spills poster paints all over his new clothes (and to add insult to injury, "Benjamin's cubby outfit didn't fit anymore"). Despite repeated admonitions from the firm yet supportive Miss Harmony, Harry seems like a lost cause—until his peers call an "emergency session" of circle time and devise a clever yet compassionate way to teach Harry how to keep a more civil distance. Wells (the Max and Ruby books) takes her time solving the problem that is Harry, and her approach may initially strike some readers as slow and pedantic. But step-by-step, she builds a sense of drama while showing that she knows kindergarten inside and out. Kids will appreciate her faith in their inventiveness and sense of community—and they'll also enjoy the genial, neatly framed collaged images, which use textured materials to convey the alligators' bumpy skin and vibrant wardrobe. Ages 3–6. (July)

Publishers Weekly

Wells’ details of the kindergarten classroom are spot-on, and, as always, her illustrations, rendered here in textured mixed-material collages, perfectly capture young children’s body language and emotions.” — Booklist

“Kids will appreciate Wells’ faith in their inventiveness and sense of community.” — Publishers Weekly

“This vibrant picture book has mixed-media illustrations and an afterword offers tips on creating a meaningful conversation about personal space.” — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

Wells’ details of the kindergarten classroom are spot-on, and, as always, her illustrations, rendered here in textured mixed-material collages, perfectly capture young children’s body language and emotions.

Booklist

Wells’ details of the kindergarten classroom are spot-on, and, as always, her illustrations, rendered here in textured mixed-material collages, perfectly capture young children’s body language and emotions.

Booklist

A reptilian kindergartner who can't keep his hands to himself is the focus of this kickoff to a new series from Wells.

Harry is just having fun, being goofy, being the class clown. But none of his classmates see it that way. Not when they are tackled, when spilled glue ruins a gift or when paint wrecks a new shirt. After each episode, the kindly Miss Harmony attempts (and fails) to get Harry to see the error of his ways. Several hastily called "Friendly Circle" meetings allow Harry's classmates to express their frustration with his behavior in positive ways and to give Harry some ideas of what he should do with his hands instead. Nothing works until Babette finds the perfect way to teach Harry about personal space. Like magic, the lesson is learned, and Harry even manages to earn the good-behavior gold star by dismissal time. An afterword gives educators and parents alike some ways to effectively share this book with youngsters. Wells' "kindergators" are delightful alligators, each with a personality all its own. Collaged clothing covers their bumpy-textured alligator skin, which can actually be felt on the front cover.

While Wells tidies everything up a bit more neatly than real-life Miss Harmonys are likely to manage, there are some valuable lessons in problem solving and expressing oneself, for both children and educators. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

K—In this first book in a new series, 10 anthropomorphic alligators are challenged when energetic Harry consistently disrupts Miss Harmony's kindergarten class with pokes, various spills, and a general case of "ants in your pants." Since he can't restrict himself to "Shake a hand!" "Hold a hand!" or "Lend a hand!" the teacher tries consequences like jumping jacks and the Thinking Chair. The breakthrough, however, is a classmate's idea for Harry to wear an inner tube to preserve others' personal space. The restriction calms him and ultimately Harry proves his mettle as playground monitor, earning a gold star for the day. The considerate support of classmates, despite their travails with Harry, is endearing. This vibrant picture book has mixed-media illustrations and an afterword offers tips on creating a meaningful conversation about personal space.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA—

School Library Journal