School, Drool and Other Daily Disasters
Author: Rachel Vail
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Book 1 in the Justin Case series
Pages: 256
Published: 2010
Age: 7+
September 1, Tuesday Okay, yes. I'm worried. Already. I can't help it.
September 2, Wednesday Seven days to go until the start of third grade. I can't sleep. I'm not getting onto a good schedule. I'm still on a summer schedule. But worse. Everybody else is asleep. Mom, Dad, Elizabeth—they're all snoring, and I'm still up. Listening. To the silence. It's very loud, the silence in my room. I'm flopping around my bed, tangling in my blankets. My pajamas are starting to itch. My stuffed snake, Snakey, is giving me an evil look, like he might come to life and bite me. I know that is not possible and I definitely don't believe in stuff like that anymore. Just in case, though, I'm now sitting up, with my heart pounding, throwing blankets on top of Snakey. It's not working. I know he's still in there, under my blankets, with his venomous stuffed teeth and glassy eyes. I'm more awake than ever. If I don't get enough sleep, I am a disaster. Sometimes I am a disaster anyway. And I don't just mean at ball sports . . .
Bank Street Children's Book of the Year (2011)
Video
About the Justin Case Series
Books in series order
- 1.School, Drool and Other Daily Disasters(2010)
- 2.Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom(2012)
- 3.Rules, Tools, and Maybe a Bully(2014)
Reading age: 7+ years
This series should be read in order.
The diary of a third-grade year, as told by a loveable worrywart.
It's the start of the school year, and nothing feels right to Justin. He didn't get the teacher he wanted, he's not in the same class as his best friend, and his little sister, Elizabeth, is starting kindergarten at his school. Elizabeth doesn't seem nervous at all. Justin is very nervous about third grade. And to top it off, he's lost his favorite stuffed animal, but he can't tell anyone, because technically he's too old to still have stuffed animals. Right?
Here is third grade in all its complicated glory – the friendships, the fears, and the advanced math. Acclaimed author Rachel Vail captures third grade with a perfect pitch, and Matthew Cordell’s illustrations are both humorous and touching. As Justin bravely tries to step out of his shell, he will step into readers' hearts.