Jamie Anderson Wouldn't…

Krystyna J. Higgins is the former book review editor for the Catholic
New Times.

“On Monday Jamie Anderson wouldn’t get out of bed.” Thinking he
must be sick, his mother brings him blocks to play with and ice cream
for lunch. But the next day he again refuses to get up ... and the next,
and the next. On Friday, the mystery ailment is identified when Jamie
admits what is bothering him: “Next week I have to go to
kindergarten.” Dad’s assurance that he and Jamie’s mother will
accompany him on the momentous day puts Jamie’s mind at rest.

The theme of this story has considerable child appeal, as many a young
reader/listener will identify with Jamie’s fear of the first day of
school. The book is built rather loosely around a pattern format,
progressing through the days of the week from Monday to Friday, and
through the various colors of ice cream requested by Jamie each day.
This pattern seems a somewhat arbitrary device instead of an organic
structural feature of the book.

Lorrie Szekat’s childlike drawings spill restlessly over the pages,
often incorporating unexpected angles and odd perspectives. Though
colorful and lively, they rarely add much beyond the printed text. Both
verbally and visually, in fact, this book lacks sparkle. With the
possible exception of the empathetic dad, the characters ultimately fail
to engage our sympathy. Jamie is fairly static, even obnoxious, and his
mother is singularly lacking in maternal intuition (a commendable but
not wholly successful attempt at reversing gender stereotypes).
Recommended with reservations.