First sentence: At the beginning and end of each day, the principal, Mr. Keene, rang the school bell. Tillie, who was the first student to arrive and the last to leave, often helped him. Mr. Keene loved his fine, fine school. He loved to stroll up and down the halls looking at the fine, fine students and the fine, fine teachers. He loved to watch the students drawing and painting and reading and singing. He felt so proud to be their principal that some days he thought his buttons would burst.

Premise/plot: A Smart, Smart School is the sequel to A Fine, Fine School. The principal, Mr. Keene, is absent for a week--his appendix burst--and a substitute principal, Mr. Tatters, takes over the school. He is so determined to have a smart, smart school that he forces all classes to have tests--all day, every day, endless testing. What will nonstop testing do to the students? the teachers? the morale of the school?

My thoughts: I enjoyed reading A Fine, Fine School and A Smart, Smart School. Both books are good. I'm not sure these picture books are written specifically for children. But I think they make GREAT books for teachers. And perhaps, children will enjoy them as well. These picture books are VERY text-heavy. So even though they are picture books, I would say the reading level is more third grade. ( )