Description

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iAn irrepressible new girl dethrones the reigning recess bully by becoming her friend in this infectious playground romp./i

Mean Jean was Recess Queen and nobody said any different.

Nobody swung until Mean Jean swung.

Nobody kicked until Mean Jean kicked.

Nobody bounced until Mean Jean bounced.

If kids ever crossed her, she'd push 'em and smoosh 'em

lollapaloosh 'em, hammer 'em, slammer 'em

kitz and kajammer 'em.

Until a new kid came to school!

Parents and teachers will appreciate the story's deft handling of conflict resolution (which happens without adult intervention).

b"A lively story about the power of kindness and friendship" -- iPublishers Weekly/i

"A lighthearted look at a serious topic in schools and on playgrounds everywhere..." -- iSchool Library Journal/i

"Great for reading aloud and joining in." -- iBooklist/i/b

About the Author

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ALEXIS O'NEILL's all-time favorite game at recess was kickball. She also loved kick-the-can, hide-and-seek, and red rover, but she wasn't fond of dodge ball (ouch!). Alexis is grateful for the loyal, true-blue friends she has in her life. She lives in Southern California with her best, best friend (who has never ever been her worst best friend)--her husband, David, a computer wiz who makes her laugh.



LAURA HULISKA-BEITH was an enthusiastic "hopper" in the schoolyard, where she was often found playing hopscotch and jumping rope. A not-so-big kid, and now a not-so-big grown up, Laura lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her four best, best friends (yes, she believes you can have four best, best friends): her husband Jeff, and their three dogs Roxy, Chloe, and Jake.

Praise For…

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bPraise for iThe Recess Queen/i:/b

"A schoolyard bully is enlightened by the new kid in class in this lively story about the power of kindness and friendship... O'Neill's text brims with fun-to-say phrases that fit a rollicking rhythm, and her assessment of recess dynamics feels authentic. Huliska-Beith's memorable Jean busts out of the pages." -- iPublishers Weekly/i

"Told in a rollicking rhyme, the story offers a lighthearted look at a serious topic in schools and on playgrounds everywhere-the bully... The text effectively dips, swirls, and slants around the action of the art, further marrying the two." -- iSchool Library Journal/i

"Huliska-Beith's rubbery-limbed figures, rolling perspectives, and neon-bright colors reflect the text's informality as well as its frenzied energy... young readers will be caught up by Katie Sue's engaging, fizzy exuberance." -- iKirkus Reviews/i

"The physicalness of the words makes the wild nonsense rhyme great for reading aloud and joining in, and the brilliantly colored, computer-generated art captures the yelling playground mayhem that's both scary and wonderful." -- iBooklist/i

"O'Neill's rhyming text bounces right along, however, and it should make a rousing readaloud. Huliska- Beith's acrylic and collage illustrations have the same rousing tone as the text: the neon palette is lively, and the riotously distorted figures keep things safely and entertainingly unreal." --iBulletin of the Center for Children's Books/i