The Best Thing About Kindergarten

The kids in Mrs. Appleby’s kindergarten class are getting ready to graduate, but there’s time for one last activity: “Who can guess what is the best thing about kindergarten?” she asks. Guesses include the playhouse, the writing center, and recess, and Mrs. Appleby affirms each suggestion: “You are a monkey bar superstar,” she tells a boy named Will, adding, “We still haven’t found the answer” (it turns out to be the children themselves). Leng’s cozy, smudgy-edged art expresses the loving disorder of a kindergarten classroom, and Lloyd’s light touch will help readers moving on from kindergarten say goodbye on a celebratory note. Last day of school stories are rare compared to ones about first days, and this one is a keeper. Ages 4–8. (June)