About the Holiday
Starting Kindergarten is a major milestone in any child’s life and ushers in exciting growth in knowledge, friendships, and experiences. But children don’t all perceive and process the world in the same way. Being sensitive to individual differences and talking about issues as they arise are just two of the ways that kids can making navigating school or any new experience easier. Sharing picture books like today’s book can help too!
Thanks to Harry N. Abrams for sending me a copy of Puppy Bus for review consideration. All opinions on the book are my own.
Puppy Bus
By Drew Brockington
As a boy’s parents unload the moving truck, he heads up the steps of the school bus with an anxious backward glance. once on the bus, his nerves take over and his mind races with all the new things he will encounter: “The teachers will be different. I’ll have to make new friends. I won’t even know where the bathroom is.” But in a minute, he gets a friendly lick of reassurance. Wait, what? That’s right, a big, slobbery lick of friendship. His seatmate even offers the boy his paw to shake.
Copyright Drew Brockington, 2022, courtesy of Harry N. Abrams.
It’s just about this moment that the boy realizes he’s made a mistake. “I’m on the wrong bus!” he shouts with an attendant “AUGHHH!!!” Well, it’s too late to do anything about it now. The boy gets off at Leroy’s Puppy School with all the other students and decides to find an adult to talk to. He finds the principal’s office only to find that the principal is also a dog. “Woof! Woof! Bark! Bark!” The principal does his best to help, but there’s a definite communication problem.
Copyright Drew Brockington, 2022, courtesy of Harry N. Abrams.
The boy’s just wondering what he’s going to do now, when one of his fellow classmates gets a chomp on his shirt and drags him toward a doggie door leading to a classroom. Once everyone’s inside, the lessons begin. As the collie leads the class in learning how to roll over, the boy thinks, “Everything about this school is strange and different.” Math class doesn’t really add up. The bowlfuls of dry food are gross. And remember how the boy was worried about wondering where the bathroom was? Well, that’s not the worst of it! In the stall, he finds a fire hydrant next to the toilet paper roll.
Copyright Drew Brockington, 2022, courtesy of Harry N. Abrams.
It all makes the boy miss his old school and friends even more. But then his puppy seatmate from the bus comes over to give him a cuddle, and the pup that sits next to him in math joins in, along with a couple of other “soft and fuzzy” students. Just then the recess bell rings, and they’re all off to have fun playing catch, digging in the dirt, running around and jumping, and just general piling on. The day ends with a song and a story, and by the time the boy gets on the bus home, he’s even speaking a little dog: “Arf! Arf!”
He gets home enthusiastic about his new school and the friends he’s made. He’s even excited to go back tomorrow. His parents are thrilled with his change of heart and send him off the next morning with big smiles and waves. There’s just one thing… could he be on the wrong bus again?
Copyright Drew Brockington, 2022, courtesy of Harry N. Abrams.
Funny and relatable, Drew Brockington’s Puppy Bus is sure to reassure and delight all kids, whether they’re starting a new school or just a new grade. Being nervous about making new friends, meeting a new teacher, and navigating a school building is a universal emotion, even though it can often feel singularly personal. Brockington exposes the doubts kids have in a way that will make them laugh while discovering that friendships made and extended can make all the difference. His comical twist ending reminds kids that change is part of life and adapting is a valuable skill to have.
Brockington’s hilarious cartoon illustrations—well-known to his CatSronauts fans—depict the boy’s full range of emotions from panicky to uncertain to grossed out to perplexed. When he’s at his lowest point of the day, a group of canine classmates take notice and do what they do best—become enthusiastic and comforting best friends. As the boy and his new friends romp on the playground, kids get the message that reaching out to someone new or hesitant (or, conversely, accepting an invitation to join in) has benefits for all.
A terrific story to share as school starts up again or for any time a child is beginning a new activity or encountering change, Puppy Bus will be a favorite on home, classroom, or public library bookshelves.
Ages 4 – 8
Harry N. Abrams, 2022 | ISBN 978-1419751912
To learn more about Drew Brockington, his books, and his art, visit his website.
Get Ready for Kindergarten Month Activity
Small Box School Bus
With a small tea box, some paint, and the printable template, kids can have fun making a model school bus (or Puppy Bus!) to play with or display. Make your bus as detailed or simple as you’d like!
Supplies
- Printable School Bus Template
- Small tea box: 20-bag size; or other small box
- Bright yellow craft paint
- Scissors
- Craft glue
- Paintbrush
Directions
- Print 2 copies of the School Bus Template
- Carefully take the tea box apart at the seams, invert it, and glue or tape it back together
To Make the Passenger Side of the Bus
- Cut the Door from the template
- Glue the door to the box near the front
- Cut out and trim the row of windows from the template
- Glue the windows near the top of the box
- Cut out and trim two of the solid black lines from the template
- Glue the stripes onto the side of the box below the windows
- Cut out two tires from the template and glue them to the box
To Make the Front of the Bus
- Cut out two of the red and orange paired lights
- Glue one on each side of the box near the top with the red light on the outside
- Add a School Bus sign between the lights
- Cut out the windshield in the lower corner of the template and glue it in place
- Cut and trim grill and glue it beneath the windshield
- Cut and glue white circles for headlights on either side of the grill
- Cut, trim, and glue the wide black strip to the bottom as the bumper.
To Make the Driver’s Side of the Bus
- Cut and trim the row of windows from the template
- Glue the windows near the top of the box
- Cut out and trim two of the solid black lines from the template
- Glue the stripes onto the side of the box below the windows
- Cut out two tires from the template and glue them to the box
- Cut out and glue the Stop sign over the two stripes near the front of the bus
To Make the Back of the Bus
- Cut out two of the red and orange paired lights
- Glue one on each side of the box near the top with the red light on the outside
- Add a School Bus sign between the lights
- Cut out the two small rounded corner windows
- Glue them underneath the lights close to the edge of the box
- Cut out and glue the bigger rounded corner window between the smaller windows
- Cut out and glue the yellow, red, and white lights underneath the small windows with the yellow light on the outside
- Cut out and glue the black rounded corner window centered beneath the lights
- Cut and trim the wide black stripe and glue it near the bottom of the box for the bumper
You can find Puppy Bus at these booksellers
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million
To support your local independent bookstore, order from
Picture Book Review
celebratepicturebooks.com 