Narwhal vs. Kindergarten

A narwhal named Hugo navigates classroom life with a “BIG, TALL” tusk in Roeder’s lightly comedic animal story. Friendly multimedia vignettes show the challenge not only of boarding a bus but also of crossing a crosswalk and trying on a silly hat. The tusk occasionally proves an asset, as when Hugo uses it as a pointer, but it more often “burst big moments,” including welcome-day balloons. The narwhal’s hapless attempts to “tame his troublesome tusk” are to no avail—until a baseball game reveals that Hugo isn’t the only creature struggling to find accommodation (a snake, for example, finds it difficult to catch). By the end of school’s first week, Hugo still runs into “tusk troubles,” but he also has friends to help him navigate them—leading to an easygoing conclusion that emphasizes themes of community support. Ages 3–7. (July)