The Beast in Ms. Rooney's Room

LFL find. Surprisingly touching. Richard probably would have turned into a bully or something in another author's hands, but Giff shows us that even nice kids, kids with functional families, can have trouble with schoolwork... and more importantly, can be open to getting help from the specialist teacher and from classmates. Includes, in passing in context, a few good tips.

Recommended to any struggling reader grades 1-3, or to families who want to teach empathy.

Richard Best AKA "the beast" has to repeat the second grade. He is embarrased and ashamed about this and does not want to start school again that September. He is not so nice to most of the kids in his class, he calls them babies. By the end of the book he works together with them to win the weekly banner and discovers that his classmates are not so bad and are not "babies" like he thought.

I enjoyed this book because it details a child and how he/she must feel to be held back. The writer did a good job at pulling you into the book with the details, you really feel like you are there and experiencing the situation with the students.

This would be a good book to give a child and his or her parents if that child is held back a grade in show more school. Or to read to your class if you know you have a student who is repeating that grade once again. Let the students talk about the story and how to deal with not only their personal feelings, but with their classmates feeling also. show less

Held back for a year in second grade, Richard can't seem to help getting into trouble, until he gets really interested in reading and helps his class in a very special way.

Excellent story RE: 2nd graders / one child is repeating the grade level.
Humorous! All ends well :)

EducatingParents.org rating: Approved