First Grade Dropout

by Audrey Vernick

Vernick, A. (2015). First grade dropout. New York, NY: Clarion Books.

A young, first grade, Lakeview Elementary student has embarrassed himself so completely that he insists that he is NEVER going back to school.  Everyone laughed and slapped their desks and stomped their feet.  Even his very best friend Tyler laughed!  Maybe he can cast a spell to unsay what was said, or build a time machine to go back to before it happened.  So what was this heinous social infraction?  "I. Called. My. Teacher MOMMY!!!"  As teachers know this is a common occurrence, and his teacher tells him not to worry that it happens every year.  But when you're a young child, humiliated in front of the whole class, it can feel like the end of the world.  And that's why this child is dropping out.  How could he ever show his face there again?!  When he runs into Tyler on the soccer field he's prepared to be laughed at all over again, but it's Tyler who ends up being embarrassed this time around.  When Tyler just laughs at his mistake, our narrator discovers that that's often the best way to deal with an embarrassing situation.  

First Grade Dropout Book Trailer