Susan Milord

I enjoyed reading Happy School Year because it helps children who may be afraid during the first day of school feel better and it allows them to know that other students have the same fear. This would be a great book to read to students on their first day of school. The book really pushes readers to have a positive view about the first day of school. The principal in the story helps with this when she says, “A new school year is a great adventure, and like all great adventures it can show more sometimes be a little scary. But, we are all here to help one another.” This is the perfect quote from this book, and could also be posted in the classroom somewhere to remind students that school can be scary, but we all have each other. This is the central message of this story because everyone is scared for their first day of school and the book shows that it is okay to be scared, but it can be overcome by being positive. show less

Graham, who hates school and has difficulty reading, is afraid no one will remember or celebrate his birthday, which happens to be the 100th day of school. Plus, he has to read 100 books by the 100th day. This is a unique take on a sometimes tired subject (100th day of school) that lower elementary children will easily relate to and enjoy.

Truly beautiful story about belonging. Used well with special needs pupils and friendship groups, healthy minds.

In my opinion, I liked the book “Willa the Wonderful” by Susan Milord. One aspect I liked was the plot, it showed how Willa had a good idea but everyone disliked her idea and it got her in trouble at school. By the end of the story, people had changed their minds about Willa’s idea. In the beginning the teacher tells the students that they have to write a report on their favorite career. Willa already knows she wants to write about a fairy princess, but her parents try to get her to show more pick something else. She is persistent and writes about it anyways and makes a costume for her fairy princess occupation. She goes to school and presents her report, and the teacher tells her to put her wand away. She does not so she gets it taken away. Then at recess she tries to make her best friend invisible. “She tossed some fairy dust into the air. Hey! Cried Jenny. Why did you throw dirt in my hair?” Willa ends up losing her best friend. Then at gym she tries to show off saying that the wings will help her leap farther, and she just ends up falling down instead. When the school day is over, Willa is upset and thinks that being a fairy princess wasn't what she was supposed to be after all. When she got off the bus she noticed a kid Sherman bump into a wagon and start rolling away down the hill. Willa ends up saving him at the last minute. Everyone at the end thinks that being a fairy princess was a good idea. I also liked the illustrations in this story. They actually show what is being told in the story and are drawn in bright colors to attract the reader’s attention. The big idea of this story is to not let people get you down and to stick to your dreams. show less