I'm Smart!

by Kate McMullan, Jim McMullan (Illustrator)

Overview

"Expressive, inky illustrations pair with a jaunty text that’s as fun to read as it is to hear. And when a cop pulls over a silver sports car disobeying the rules of the road, believe me when I say young listeners will be riveted.” —The New York Times

From the popular creators of I Stink! and I’m Dirty!—now a streaming animated series—comes the perfect school-time addition to their noisy series: a school bus!

Smarter than a rocket scientist, more powerful than a monster truck, able to halt traffic with the flick of a switch! Drive you to school and keeps you safe!

Who am I?

Your school bus, that’s who!

I’m Smart! is the latest A+ addition to Kate and Jim McMullan’s hilarious read-aloud series.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062449238
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	06/20/2017
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kate McMullan is the author of the easy-to-read books featuring Fluffy, the Classroom Guinea Pig, the middle grade series Dragon Slayers’ Academy, and Myth-o-Mania, the Greek myths as told by Hades. She is also the author of the Geisel Honor Book Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day.

Kate and Jim McMullan have collaborated on many popular picture books, including I'm Brave!; I'm Fast!; I'm Big!; I'm Bad!; I'm Dirty!; and I Stink!, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book. The McMullans live in Sag Harbor, New York.

Jim McMullan is an internationally acclaimed illustrator and poster designer whose work can be seen in The Theater Posters of James McMullan. His most recent book is the illustrated memoir Leaving China: An Artist Paints His World War II Childhood.

Kate and Jim McMullan have collaborated on many popular picture books, including I'm Brave!; I'm Fast!; I'm Big!; I'm Bad!; I'm Dirty!; and I Stink!, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book. The McMullans live in Sag Harbor, New York.

Editorial Reviews

A perfect back-to-school storytime option.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for I’M COOL!: “Staccato, clipped quickness and plenty of onomatopoeia-“VZZZZZZZZZZT”-make this a read-aloud success. Who knew ice could be this much fun?” — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for I’M COOL!: “The colorful, grinning Zamboni is whimsical but also educational.” — School Library Journal

Praise for I’M COOL!: “This book [is] as much fun to read aloud as it is to look at.” — The Horn Book

Praise for I’M COOL!: “The droll, succinct text is well matched with the appealing watercolor-and-gouache artwork…the illustrations personify the machine while showing how it cleans up the rough ice and lays down a smooth surface.” — Booklist

Praise for I’M COOL!: “Between sound effects, a cranky arena announcer, and the Zamboni’s wise-guy narration…read-aloud sessions should be as smooth as ice.” — Publishers Weekly

Praise for I’M BRAVE!: “This boisterous story pays homage to the importance of fire fighters-and their engines-while maintaining plenty of action and a sense of fun.” — School Library Journal

Praise for I’M BRAVE!: “Will satisfy young gearheads and future firefighters alike” — Publishers Weekly

Praise for I’M BRAVE!: “For those kids who dream of the station, the fire pole and the calls, this will be an exciting ride.” — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for I’M BRAVE!: “Great fun for reading aloud.” — Booklist

Praise for I’M BAD!: “Vibrant artwork done in bold shades of green, orange, and violet equal the swaggering text in tone, energy, and humor. Whether devoured during a boisterous storytime or consumed independently, children will eat this one up.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for I’M BAD!: “The high-energy illustrations and macho narrator’s words create a rowdy, crowd-pleasing whole. Children will delight in the dinosaur’s wild expressions and the dynamic text, filled with comic-book sound effects.” — Booklist

Praise for I’M DIRTY!: “The short, choppy phrases, filled with sound, are just right for jolly, raucous read-alouds: “Ugh! Arrrrrrrgh! Mmmmmmmmmph! Tim-berrrrrrrr!” — Booklist (starred review)

Praise for I’M DIRTY!: “Full of kid appeal, this is sure to be a favorite with reluctant readers, those who revel in mud and all who love trucks.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for I’M DIRTY!: “Energetic illustrations capture the mucky goings on with a large dollop of humor…abundant sound effects make this a high spirited read-aloud.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for I’M DIRTY!: “With its saucy tone and dynamic color cartoon illustrations, this picture book exudes energy.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for I STINK!: “It will easily become a favorite of younger readers” — New York Times Book Review

Praise for I STINK!: “A hilarious homage to an unsung hero.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for I’M MIGHTY!: “Young Swabbies will be delighted” — Kirkus Reviews

Praise for I’M MIGHTY!: “Kids will happily climb aboard.” — Publishers Weekly

"Expressive, inky illustrations pair with a jaunty text that’s as fun to read as it is to hear. And when a cop pulls over a silver sports car disobeying the rules of the road, believe me when I say young listeners will be riveted.” — The New York Times 

From the Publisher

Praise for I’M COOL!: “This book [is] as much fun to read aloud as it is to look at.

The Horn Book

Praise for I’M COOL!: “The droll, succinct text is well matched with the appealing watercolor-and-gouache artwork…the illustrations personify the machine while showing how it cleans up the rough ice and lays down a smooth surface.

Booklist

Praise for I STINK!: “It will easily become a favorite of younger readers

New York Times Book Review

Praise for I’M DIRTY!: “The short, choppy phrases, filled with sound, are just right for jolly, raucous read-alouds: “Ugh! Arrrrrrrgh! Mmmmmmmmmph! Tim-berrrrrrrr!

Booklist (starred review)

Praise for I’M COOL!: “The droll, succinct text is well matched with the appealing watercolor-and-gouache artwork…the illustrations personify the machine while showing how it cleans up the rough ice and lays down a smooth surface.

Booklist

2017-05-15
As Adam Rex and Christian Robinson's School's First Day of School (2016) gave readers a school building's point of view, the McMullans now give kids a peek inside the mind of a school bus. This bus is bold and in-your-face, trying almost too hard to be cool; it's a persona that slightly clashes with the bus' sway back, toothy grille grin, and huge windshield eyes. "Who am I? / Smarter than a rocket scientist, / More powerful than a monster truck, / able to halt traffic with the flick of a switch." This bus only has three stops (shown on an aerial view of the town), so riders board in long lines. Other than noting that cars have to slow down for the bus's amber flashing lights and stop for the red ones (or else get a ticket, as one speeding auto does), there are no safety rules here. The bus does have to wait its turn to get by a construction area, and it keeps the kids from getting rowdy by asking them questions: a raised hand signals yes. Another staple of bus riding gets a spread: going over a bump. In Jim McMullan's watercolor illustration, the bus is shown in profile with the side removed, and the kids are hovering above their seats, motion lines showing the bounce and smiles on their faces. All in all, this feels like a pale dilution of the creators' zippy first in this series, I Stink! (2002). Takes credit away from the human bus drivers, who deserve a book of their own. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews