No! I Won't Go to School, by Alonso Núñez,‎ illustrated by Bruna Assis Brasil, translated by Dave Morrison

"I know two letters,
the N and the O.
On the first day of school,
they spell a word: NO!"

I think most of us can relate to this sentiment.  Alonso Núñez speaks for all kids who don't want to go to school in No! I Won't Go to School.  A little boy gearing up for his first day of school tells all the reasons why he must stay away.  The teacher is a monster, the bus eats kids, the principal will make the kids dig ditches.  It's like prison, a dungeon.

By the end of day one, though, he has decided school isn't so bad!  He is surprised by meeting new friends, learning numbers, learning words in other languages, and even liking the teacher.  In fact, "Tomorrow when the bus comes and it's time to go, maybe, just maybe, I won't say N, O."

Núñez's text, which is actually Dave Morrison's translation from the original Spanish, is fun-to-read rhyming verse.  Bruna Assis Brasil's illustrations include photographic elements, creating a cool collage-like feel to the book.  No! I Won't Go to School captures the feelings of kids everywhere in a fun way, while putting a positive spin on the first day of school.  Very enjoyable!



Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!