Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook

Miss Smith #1

by Michael Garland

When Zack meets his second-grade teacher, Miss Smith, he can tell right away that her class will be different. However, he has no idea just how different it will be.

Zack can't wait for Mrs. Smith to read out loud again from her incredible book. The first story fills the classroom with dueling pirates and the sound of their clashing swords. The second story transports Zack's class to the shady forest of the Big Bad Wolf. At the end of each spellbinding tale the characters slip quietly back into the book. But one day Mrs. Smith is late for school, and the principal takes charge. When he runs away in terror from a fire-breathing dragon, Zack and his classmates set free the rest of the story-book characters and have a morning of high-spirited fun... until they notice that the pirates have hoisted their Jolly Roger on the roof of the school.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, School, Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure, Books About Books

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Author and illustrator Michael Garland was born in Manhattan in 1952. He studied art at Pratt Institute and soon after graduating, he sold his first illustration to True Confessions magazine. He has written or illustrated over 40 books.

Reviews

[debbicat *made of stardust*]

Very cute!

[Lisa Vegan]

What a hoot! I love books about books. I’ve read ones that seem very similar to this one, some done better, I think. But I did really enjoy this story too.

It’s a great book showing how inspirational teachers, books, anyone who helps others love reading and being read to can be.

I’d always loved reading but went to school with kids who didn’t enjoy it and with kids whose parents/others never read to them. I had a couple Miss Smiths. My fourth and fifth grade teachers, both men, read to my classes, and we were all rapt, even the kids “who didn’t like to read” loved that part of our school day. Some of my fondest memories of elementary school involve being read too. One memorable day, as our fifth grade teacher was reading A Wrinkle in Time to us (my fourth grade teacher had read it to us when it was brand new but some of my fifth grade classmates had been in the other fourth grade classroom), he read his somewhat typical lunch time to afternoon recess, but then he continued from recess until the end of the school day. All afternoon. One of my favorite ever school days. The experience of having books “come to life” is one most readers will appreciate and recognize.

[Kathryn]

Zack thinks that the new school year will be just like all the others: B-o-r-i-n-g! Until he meets his new teacher, Miss Smith. There is something very, different, about her. The school day is much the same until she starts to read...

I really enjoyed some aspects of this book. The fun and magic of imagination and storytelling really shine and I like how Miss Smith doesn't look like the stereotypical school teacher. I was a little confused, though, as to how the magic of the stories happened. I thought at first that Miss Smith must just be very good at reading aloud. But, then, it seemed that everyone who read from her book (even the principal) could make the characters "come alive" and I wondered if it was her book, or just her own spunk that rubbed off on everyone else? Surely the kids had stories read to them before, so what was different this year? But, these are minor snags in an otherwise very fun story.

My expectations were maybe a bit high going into this given all the high ratings here (and the fact that the librarian practically cooed when she checked this out for me!) so I felt a little underwhelmed, especially considering a few other books about the joys of reading that I have loved more. But, I do appreciate the message here and think it would be just the thing for audiences wanting a bit more fun and boisterous read.

[Brittney Lara]

Oh this is one book I never want to let go for the beginning of the year purposes! So as a new teacher I was on the hunt for books during the first week of school to set the tone in our classroom. That is when I was introduced this book by a colleague and told that students would be so entranced by this story they won't want you to put it down. Well, it did just that. My kids were hooked and so was I. I immediately ordered my own copy since the book I had was a lender from the library. This book is focused on a classroom where the teacher has a book she reads aloud that makes the stories come to life.The imagery this book has describing how one specific character could "feel the breeze in his hair and hear the waves pounding in the side of the ship," help this story come to life in the classroom. Many times I am asking my students to find things in their own books that you can picture this happening to yourself or make a movie with just based off the way the author portrayed the text. I also like how it establishes for our beginning readers a true love for reading. These students were so grateful for their teacher to read to them and she created an environment to make characters come to life. I found this to be an important reason I picked this book because I strive to help my students see beyond "Oh, another read aloud" and to become captivated in the text. I think this book can be used for a beginning of the year mentor text, a writing exercise, or a way to help children pick good fit books. I like how the principal was involved in this reading process in the story but found it to be scary and ran off. I loved that part because so often we becomes actresses to our stories that it may seem scary to an outsider. I think it is a great read to check out and see if this is something you can use to spark an interest or just have a conversation about why reading aloud everyday is essential in Elementary schools!

[Dolly]

This is a wonderful tale - we have read three Miss Smith books and our girls just love them!

We love that the class becomes so engrossed in the stories she reads that the book becomes alive to them. It's hilarious to see that the class gets into trouble when they get ahold of the "Incredible Storybook" and neglect to finish reading various stories. We also like that the author highlights different literary classics in this series, like The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass.

We really enjoyed reading this story and we are looking forward to reading Miss Smith Under the Ocean next.

[Brenda]

Second grader Zack has a wonderful teacher who loves to read stories from her special book. As she reads these stories the characters seem to come flying off the pages. When Miss Smith is delayed coming to school one day, the principal tries to take over and inadvertently lets lose way to many storybook characters. In the vein of another book that I love (Read All About It!) that encourages a passion in reading and has a wonderful message of you never know what you will find inside a book. Wonderful illustrations as well.

[Caroline Petty]

I like this book because it teaches children that characters really can come alive in great books with the help of an inspiring teacher. We should always make children feel as though they can't get rid of characters and reoccurring themes in their lives because the books are so enthralling and students are so wrapped up in them. It's really a story about what a good story should be about and can even be used to teach children how to write in such a way that were hanging on their every word when their reading.

[Francesca Bertucci]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I fould it really interesting and it gives hope to students who do not like to read. The way the book characters came to life was making school and reading fun for the students. It had a good overall meaning with a great ending. Miss Smith put the life back into reading for Zach and made him look forward to school more! I think this would be a great book for students to read who are uninterested in school. The pictures were facinating and I would reccommend this book to many children!

[Nichole]

Fun book about the power of reading.

[Cheryl]

Do kids like these? Seems kinda superficial to me, and earnest in the message that a good book will 'take you right into it' so to speak. But it's giggle-worthy, too.

Fun to spot the characters. Everyone will get Red Riding Hood; but how many will recognize Tom & Huck? On the back shelf are bonus titles A Child's History of England (by Charles Dickens!), The Brownies: Their Book by Palmer Cox, and Drifting Around The World, by Charles Winslow Hall (I think, if I got the right match). Odd choices... the only one I've even heard of is Cox's.

[Gabriela Cabello]

Summary:
Zack was not looking forward to school, until a new teacher named Miss Smith walks into the room carrying a magical story book. When she reads the characters come to life, but one day she is late and all of the characters are read out of the book and do not want to return. Miss Smith finally returns, and all of the characters must go back into the book.

Review:
I love how this book tells the story about how magical reading can be, and how the teacher can use the magic of reading to inspire students to love school. The vibrant and colorful illustrations really capture the readers attention making their experience just like the characters in the story, magical.

Other books:
Magic School Bus Series
This series is another way learning is made fun for students in a magical, or scientific way. Students can use this understand that there are many different ways learning can be made fun.

"Zack grinned when a princess leaped out of the book, followed closely by a fire breathing dragon and a brave night on his horse."

[Delaney]

The book is about a teacher who takes her students on an adventure through a book that she brought to class. It was the first day of school and Sam was not excited about it until Miss Smith pulled out her book for the reading time. This book shows the power of reading and how reading can transport you to a whole other world. This book captivates the magic behind books while adding a fun twist to the storyline.

The theme is that reading can be fun and can take you on a visual journey through the use of words.

My response to this text is that it is a great book to show the power of imagination and that books can be fun. This book is charming and very well drawn.

I recommend this book because it is an imaginative way to get children to acknowledge the power of books. Also, this book would be great for children from ages 6-10.

[Courtney Rose]

The book “Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook,” is an awesome story. It reminds me of the magic of stories and our imagination. The main character Zack is prepared for a “boring, boring, boring” year of school, until his teacher opens her book and rather than just words coming out her mouth, the book comes to life. Zack finds himself in the midst of every story his teacher is reading. Zack and the other students cannot get enough stories from Miss Smith’s incredible book. Then one day Miss Smith is late to class, but the students open the book anyways. The stories get brought to life and start taking over the school. Miss Smith saves the day in the nick of time. The illustrations are fantastic, and the book reminds every reader of the magic of reading. It is a great fantasy book. I would use this book to set up a creative writing lesson in my classroom.

[Leah Thomas]

Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook is a fun and exciting story, perfect for grades K-3. It follows Zack, a boy who thinks his new teacher, Miss Smith, is going to be boring. Suddenly, she opens her storybook and the moment she starts reading, the characters literally come to life. The classroom began to fill up with pirates, dragons, and all kinds of wild adventures. However, when the class gets a little too carried away, things get chaotic fast. I picked this book because it’s a celebration of the magic of reading. In class, students will love the action-packed storytelling, the bright, detailed illustrations. They will also love the idea that books can transport you to incredible places. It’s also a great way to spark discussions about imagination, creativity, and why reading is so powerful.

[Kayley King]

This book is another one that really illustrates the power of a good story. This book shows that reading can create a whole new world and characters can seem incredibly real when you are invested in the story. I really like the illustration style in this book, it has a realistic 3D quality that I haven't seen in a lot of books before. The colors are incredibly vibrant and the detail to the illustrations is really intricate. I really liked how the teacher in the story was also not someone who you would initially think of as a teacher based on her style. I thought that was a really great touch to go along with the vibrant way that she was telling stories.

[Allie Pitcher]

This book was a great read. I liked how the author used characters from classic fairytales but added a twist to the plot. While I was reading this book, I could pick out characters from other books that I had read from my childhood ( the three little pigs, the big bad wolf, the wicked witch, humpty dumpty, goldie locks and the three bears, etc). I also liked how the author changed the setting throughout the book. I would use this book for a fairytale unit for younger grades.

[Sharla Bazen]

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Unique feature: The story came alive because the other teachers never read books, nor did they read them in such a way that it feels real. This story wants you to believe that characters actually came to life but really it is a metaphor about the impact that stories have and reading (aloud) has on students.

Grades suggested 1-3

[Chava]

Such a great book for a read-a-loud. Instead of reading a textbook, read a book where the characters actually come alive and jump out of the book, and get it kids excited about reading. The red-headed bespectacled teacher with the funky wardrobe who reads aloud to her class reminds me of super teacher/librarian Esme Codell.

A very fun book about the joys of reading and reading aloud.

[Gerrit Beltman]

Characters from a Jumanji-style book escape and terrorize a local school. Students have to finish the character's stories to return them to the book. Nobody questions the gypsy of a teacher who unleashed the fury of this wretched, possessed tome. Unrealistic, 5/5.

[Delali]

Super fun book about how books can free your imagination and take you places! Also about how one teacher can open that gate for you. After finishing the last page, my daughter promptly said "I want a teacher like that!"

[Abbey Beight]

This book was and is still a favorite of mine. I like that the book promotes creativity and imagination. With the colorful illustrations I think that students would be inspired to read and to write about classic folk tales after reading this book.

[Media Specialist Kates]

Ideal storytime book for 4-5 YO - kids have a great time recognizing the many fairytale characters, and the hijinks make for ideal silly-voice performing. Use to improve visual literacy during storytime.

[Sheila Moran]

Fun and playful, but lacking a wow factor like "Jumanji" and could use some more humor like in "Miss Nelson is Missing".

[Chloe Kim]

It was funny when the principal just walked in and I liked the description of his shiny bald head!

[Sarah Brown]

Loved the imagination in this book! I read it to my 2nd graders and they loved it!

[Lindsey]

A fun story reminiscent of “Inkheart” or other books where story characters come to life, but great for younger kids.

[Ashley Greene]

This book is magical for kids! My three boys loved it!

[Alisha]

What a great book!

[Dawn]

Love this story!! Nothing like having stories come to life and having the characters come right out of the book!

[Colorado Buck]

3.5 really, interesting story that comes to life as you read it, in a classroom, for an older child, was ok, not great, creative though.