I Will Never Get a Star on Mrs. Benson's Blackboard

PreS-Gr 1—Will Rose ever earn a star on her teacher's blackboard? Mrs. Benson only seems to hand them out for achievements like spelling correctly, being neat, and raising one's hand to answer correctly. Rose, on the other hand, is a daydreamer who is more talented at wielding a paintbrush than at completing math problems and cleaning messy desks. It seems as if Rose will forever be starless until the surprising moment that Mrs. Benson congratulates her on a noteworthy artistic achievement: the best and biggest card for visiting artist Mr. Sullivan. Fortunately, she has just enough time afterward to draw her own star…and a special one for Mrs. Benson. Mann's stylized cartoons feature Mrs. Benson with thin, spindly legs and the kids with round misshapen heads. They perfectly suit the book's overall theme, which emphasizes the ultimate rewards for following one's own path as Rose does at the story's end. Any child with a special talent should appreciate Rose's struggles and enjoy the triumphant moment when she is rewarded for her efforts, both for an artistic masterpiece, and for finally cleaning up. For a similar story by this author/illustrator about an odd girl who is appreciated for her differences by an unlikely new friend, try Two Speckled Eggs, a worthy book about school friendships and acceptance.