Ready or Not, Woolbur Goes to School!

The fiercely independent sheep introduced in Woolbur starts school in this infectious follow-up. On the first day of class, Woolbur prepares excitedly: he accents the wild spikes of wool on his head with red yarn, and he dons his bumblebee backpack. “Let’s go!” he exclaims. Woolbur tackles each new experience with aplomb. When classmates express doubt or anxiety throughout the day, Woolbur exuberantly chimes in with the refrain “Isn’t it great?” (“ ‘I can wait my turn,’ said Woolbur./ ‘But there are so many of us,’ said Llama/... ‘I know,’ said Woolbur./ ‘Isn’t it great?’ ”). His enthusiasm catches on, leaving the friendly-faced animals of Barnyard Elementary smiling and eager to return. Watercolor and pencil art captures the energy of the school day, as well as Woolbur’s cozy environment at home, underscoring the story’s upbeat, encouraging tone. Ages 4–8. [em](June) Correction: A previous version of this review misstated the type of art. [/em]