SMART List #7: Books for Giddy/Grumpy Kids and their Teachers

If you stepped into most primary classrooms on Friday afternoon, say around 3:00, you’d likely think that civilized society is more or less coming to an end. Kids and teachers have managed to keep it together for 4 and 3/4 days and everyone’s pretty much exhausted and/or giddy and/or grouchy.

At moments like these I sort of understand what makes teachers want to turn off the lights and get the kids to sit down and put their heads on their desks in total and complete silence. Si – lence! There are some Friday moments when the urge to shout “STOP THE INSANITY!” is almost impossible to suppress.

Instead, I reach a shaking hand into my “don’t touch these special books” bin, in search of a story to remind me why hanging out with kids is one of my favorite things to do.

SMART LIST #7: Books for Giddy/Grumpy Kids and their Teachers

(Note: these books work any day of the week, anytime, on most mid-sized munchkins. Some already seem to have lost touch with their sense of humor. All the more reason to read on!)

Runny Babbit – Shel Silverstein

What are you so grumpy about? – Tom Lichtenheld

Scaredy Squirrel – Melanie Watt

What Pete Ate – Maira Kalman

Wolves – Emily Gravett

Traction Man is Here! – Mini Grey

The Big, Bad Wolf and Me – Delphine Perret

Miss Nelson is Missing – Harry G. Allard

The Incredible Book-Eating Boy – Oliver Jeffers

Grumpy Bird – Jeremy Tankard

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type – Doreen Cronin

Diary of a Wombat – Jackie French

Russell the Sheep – Rob Scotton