It’s that time of year again….
Caribbean Life, August 14-20, 2020 29
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
A brand-new, shiny box of
crayons.
That’s just one of the things
you’re looking forward to
when you finally start school.
Mom says you can’t have them
yet, though, you have to be
patient. So why not read “I Got
the School Spirit” by Connie
Schofield-Morrison, illustrated
by Frank Morrison in the
meantime?
Fall arrived, summer was
done, and that meant that it
was finally here. It was time
for her and all the kids in her
city to “start the new school
year!”
As soon as she got out of
bed, she brushed her teeth
and fixed her hair. She put on
her best clothes and her new
shoes that told the world she
had “the spirit.” Then she ate
a good breakfast. Fried eggs
make a kid full of the spirit,
too.E
verything was in her backpack,
including the spirit. And
as she waited for the school bus
with other kids in her neighborhood,
she noticed the spirit
come “driving up the street.”
One of the other kids was crying
– she must‘ve been scared
about her first day of school –
so she hugged her new friend,
and shared the spirit.
Inside the school building,
she had to admit being nervous.
She’d never been to school
before, so she breathed deep
and counted the spirit. She
taught her new friends to do
it, too.
And when she reached her
classroom, she waited for
attendance. That’s when the
spirit called her name and
she spoke up loud and clear:
“HERE!”
There’s so much to learn at
school and pretty soon, it was
time for lunch. The spirit was
at the table, and she shared.
Her friends shared, too. Was
the spirit hungry?
Not really but it was at the
playground. It was there at
story time. It sat on the floor
and paid close attention. It was
kind and friendly and happy to
be learning. And when it was
time to go home, the spirit
hugged everyone hard and put
them on the bus. Who knew
what would happen at school
tomorrow?
“I Got the School Spirit” is
cute. And too repetitive. And
unfortunate.
If the enthusiasm by author
Connie Schofield-Morrison
doesn’t get a kid in the mood
to learn, then the illustrations
by Frank Morrison surely will.
Even the most reticent, scaredstiff
child will clearly see that
going to school is something
to be excited about but alas,
the word “spirit” is a lot on the
overused, tiresome side.
Your child might not mind
that so much but you might
mind the rest of the story: the
kids in this book don’t social
distance. They hug, sing, and
share food, squished on a
crowded table in a crowded
lunchroom. The last-year-normal
of it all may give today’s
parents pause, with timing
that’s unfortunate.
Know your child, and know
her school. Bring “I Got the
School Spirit” home, or put it
aside with the knowledge that
there’ll be other First Days of
School. At that time, for your
little student, this book will
shine.
“I Got the School Spirit”
by Connie Schofield-
Morrison, illustrated by
Frank Morrison
c.2020, Bloomsbury
Children’s Books $17.99 /
$24.50 Canada
32 pages
Book cover of “I Got the School Spirit” by Connie Schofi eld-Morrison, illustrated by Frank
Morrison.
“I Got the School Spirit” author, Connie Schofi eld-Morrison.
Illustrator, Frank Morrison.