Harry Allard (1928–2017)

One of my favorite picture books, although I’d never before realized it had the group-mind POV thing going on. This book is what made me more interested in exploring the group-mind topic, because I seem to keep wanting to write picture books with group-mind characters, and common wisdom seems to be that you need one (individual) identifiable character to create a successful picture-book story. Since I doubt anyone can argue that Miss Nelson Is Missing! is anything other than a successful show more picture-book story, it seemed to present the beginnings of a very good counterargument. show less

This book is a clever reminder to always be respectful of your teachers. I can remember one of my elementary teachers reading this on the first day of school. I very well might read this to my own students on our first day. I love that this story is humorous and a little mysterious while still providing an important lesson in a fun way. Miss Nelson is a kind and compassionate teacher whose class cannot seem to control their behavior. One day their teacher goes 'missing" and in her place is show more Miss Viola Swamp and evil witch who makes class tough for all of the students. The students quickly regret how they treated Miss Nelson and are desperate to find her. The illustrations are equally as fun and playful as the story itself. I think this book will always be relevant. show less

Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard and James Marshall is a picture book that explores the central themes of consequences and gratitude. This story follows a teacher and her misbehaving class. The students in room 207 would not listen or settle down for their kind teacher, Miss. Nelson. When their kind teacher disappears, a terrifying substitute teacher, Miss Viola Swamp, appears and enforces strict discipline through consequences.
The authors convey these consequences by showing the show more juxtaposition from a kind teacher who just wanted the students to listen, to a teacher who was mean and gave piles of homework, would not let them talk, and threatened the students if they misbehaved. At the end of the book, the students show clear character development by changing their behavior, and Miss Nelson comes back demonstrating that they learned from their mistakes.
The author's illustration design instills emotional impact with unease, with Miss Viola Swamp looking like a scary witch. This visual representation reinforces the lesson that kindness shouldn't be taken for granted and serves as a powerful reminder for students about the value of a supportive teacher, especially when faced with a harsh alternative. show less

Sweet Miss Nelson has a new class of students in Room 207, but like their predecessors in Miss Nelson Is Missing!, they have a talent for trouble, and like to test the boundaries a bit! When Miss Nelson must miss a week of school, after having her tonsils out, the children at first imagine that this will give them the perfect opportunity to act up. Then they hear the stories of scary substitute teacher Miss Viola Swamp, who appeared the last time Miss Nelson was missing. But will even that show more threat be enough to dissuade them from misbehaving, when boring Principal Blandsworth turns out to be their substitute instead?

This humorous second adventure to feature Miss Nelson and her surly counterpart, Miss Swamp, is just as fun as the first, with twice as many devious disguises! Students and teacher both get in on the act (with an interesting double-disguise at one point) in Allard's droll narrative, which is perfectly matched by James Marshall's zany illustrations. The style here is rather cartoon-like - fans of the artist's George and Martha books will know what to expect - and works very well with the over-the-top story. All in all, Miss Nelson Is Back is a most engaging follow-up to the initial Miss Nelson adventure, and more than enough to convince me to pick up the third, Miss Nelson Has a Field Day! show less