A Fine, Fine, School
Written by: Sharon Creech
Illustrated by: Harry Bliss
Harper Collins $9.99
Recommended for ages: 4-8

Is there such a thing as too much school? For most of us there is but not if you are Mr. Keene, the principal of “the fine, fine school”, home to some fine, fine children and fine, fine teachers. Mr. Keene is a round, jolly man who loves his teachers and students but most of all loves learning.
Tillie is a young student at Mr. Keene’s school. When she is not at school, she is at home teaching her dog, Beans and her little brother how to skip and swing and climb trees.

Mr. Keene enjoys his job so much and is so pleased with his students’ performance that he decides they should attend school more often. First he asks them to come on Saturdays, then Sundays, then holidays and finally every day of the year, even the summer holidays. The children and teachers are uneasy with his decisions but don’t want to upset their beloved leader and so they trudge off to school every day learning more and more.

It is young Tillie who gathers the nerve to approach Mr. Keene and question his administration style. She explains that although the children are attending school more often than any other children their age they are still not learning certain things. This statement baffles her principal. How could that be? When Tillie explains that her little brother isn’t learning to swing on a swing and her dog does not know how to fetch a bone, she seems to be getting through to the boss. Finally, when she tells him that none of the children know how to climb a tree and sit in it for one whole hour, his mind is made up. He makes an announcement to the rest of the students telling them that life will resume as usual and they will only have to attend school five days a week.

The illustrations by Harry Bliss are incredible. He captures the worried expressions on the students’ faces perfectly. The combination of an original story told with beautiful language and priceless illustrations make this a marvelous read-aloud for young readers.

Sharon Creech has proven that she is not only a superb author of juvenile and young adult stories but has also mastered the fine art of a great picture book.