TONI BUZZEO'S NEWEST BOOK!

Jacket Art ©2010 by Amy Wummer

Adventure Annie Goes to Kindergarten
by Toni Buzzeo; illustrated by Amy Wummer
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2010
ISBN: 978-0803733589

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About the Book: There won't be a zoo escapade or a high-flying circus exploit today for Adventure Annie. Instead it is her

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FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN ADVENTURE!

Luckily with her zookeeper hat, her high-wire slippers, and her walkie-talkies tucked into her backpack, Adventure Annie is ready for anything--even Kindergarten! Her teacher isn't pleased when Annie tries to turn every activity into an adventure, but when the milk for snack time goes missing, it's

ADVENTURE ANNIE TO THE RESCUE!

This energetic and laugh-out-loud story is sure to get every kid excited about starting their own Kindergarten Adventure.

From the Book

"Rise and shine, Adventure Annie,"
Mommy sings at my door.
I hop to my calendar.
AT LAST!
Adventure Annie kindergarten day.
"Will I have a wild animal zoo advenure?"
"Maybe not today," says Mommy.
"Will I have a high-flying circus adventure?"
"Maybe after school," says Mommy.
"What about a daring search-and-find rescue adventure?"
"Maybe on the weekend," says Mommy.
I throw my arms out wide.
"Well then, what adventure will I have at kindergarten?"
"Sometimes," says Mommy, "kindergarten is its own adventure."
I give her the Adventure Annie thumbs-up.

Toni shares "The Story Behind the Story"...

When the color art arrived from Amy Wummer for Adventure Annie Goes to Work, I fell even more in love with my rambunctious little character and knew she was going to light up her school when Kindergarten rolled around. I wrote to my editor, Lauri Hornik, and said, "I think Annie ought to go to Kindergarten."

She responded, "Write it!" and so I did.

Now, I was not at all like Annie in Miss Smiley's Kindergarten. I was shy and quiet and afraid of my rather cranky teacher. But as with so many of my characters, I think a high-spirited child lived inside me, the Annie I am able to channel as I write the Adventure Annie stories.

I knew I wanted to use the Pattern ofThree story structure again, as I had in Adventure Annie Goes to Work., and so I began by imagining what three adventures Annie might most like to have. Then I gave her a prop for each one (a zookeeper's hat for her wild animal adventure, high-wire slippers for her high-flying circus adventure, and walkie-talkies for her search-and-rescue adventure) to pack in her backpack. As in the previous story, Annie's exploits get her into a world of trouble, but in the end, it is Annie who saves the day--as I certainly would have, if my inner child had ever been allowed out!

Reviews and Awards

"Annie's good intentions, optimism, and curiosity make her a likable character and an excellent one to dispel fears for incoming kindergartners." ~Kim T. Ha, Elkridge Branch Library, MD School Library Journal 5-10

"Toni Buzzeo's jaunty text and Amy Wummer's jovial artwork convey a gentle message while keeping the tone effervescent. Use this bubbly book to introduce your own classroom rules and encourage individual exuberance." ~ Joy Fleishhacker, "School is Cool: Fabulous Books for Reading Aloud", SLJ Curriculum Connections 8-3-10

"With the help of this ever-spunky heroine, readers will discover that, as Annie's mother puts it, "Sometimes . . . kindergarten is its own adventure. " ~Publisher's Weekly 7-26-10

"Washed with bright, cheerful watercolors, the cartoon-style pencil drawings magnify the story’s humor and high spirits. A fine addition to the Adventure Annie series, this picture book offers a dynamic alternative to stories about shy kids with kindergarten jitters." ~ Carolyn Phelan, Booklist 5-1-10

"Buzzeo’s dauntless heroine’s attitude is infectious, and Wummer gives the curly-mopped tyke all the visual verve she deserves." ~ Kirkus 6-1-10