This new get-ready-for-school picture book is my favorite in a long time.  Children (and parents) just starting kindergarten as well as those who know the drill can all appreciate the humor.  The buffalo's eager-to-please grin, the tiny backpack perched on his big hump, and his foray into the realities of kindergarten are irresistible.  

A buffalo's bulk in a kindergarten classroom?  It is absurd enough to take away feelings of nervousness as readers contemplate the challenges of school.  The reassuring text is comforting without talking down to children, and the illustrations convey a giddy sense of exploration and accomplishment.  The fun that the little girl and her buffalo have at school is delightful and convincing: you don't have to be perfect, you just have to be open to new experiences. ~Tegan