The reward for finding a room mother for the second grade will be the lead role of Squanto in the Thanksgiving pageant, and even though all the parents are so busy, Gooney Bird Greene has some secret tricks up her sleeve to find their room mother. The clever second grade protagonist who is wise beyond her years is the role model, mascot, and cheerleader for her classmates who together demonstrate a strong classroom community. As part of the Gooney Bird series written by the award winning Lois Lowry, this transitional chapter book contains ten brief chapters titled with an illustration with one additional black and white full-page illustration in each. In addition to the upper elementary independent reader, this story would be suitable for a younger audience as a read aloud especially in a classroom setting as that’s where the story takes place. Several academic skills are addressed, such as storytelling skills and promoting dictionary use as a fun way to learn new “big” words. There is an element of mystery throughout resolved on the last page. ( )

Gooney Bird and the Room Mother is a story about a class of second graders being prepared by their teacher, Ms. Pidgen, for a Thanksgiving presentation. The story is told with grace humor, and compassion for each of its characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Gooney Bird Greene who relishes being unique and the center of attention in her class. Her surprise selection of room mother (revealed at the very end of the book) for her classroom was indeed heartwarming. ( )

This story teaches the fine art of storytelling to young children. Gooney Bird Greene, the story’s protagonist, is a very bright young lady who truly has the gift for telling stories. Spelling is also a theme in the story and teaches children a good habit—always have a dictionary and know how to use it. Lois Lowry uses an appropriate style of writing for a transitional book. The typeface is large and easy to read. Illustrations are interspersed throughout the story for visual appeal. The story has a mystery to solve that makes the plot fresh and lively. ( )