Product Description

It’s his first day at a new school, and Stevie is scared.Who will he talk to at lunchtime? But his teacher says, "It is my fondest wish that you join me for lunch today, Stevie."And with that, a bad day becomes a good one. Miss Perry always has a new fondest wish—something new to read, sing, celebrate. But then an awful thing happens: Miss Perry dies in a car accident, and everything is suddenly sad and complicated.Yet Stevie and his classmates must find their way to happiness again. It would surely be Miss Perry’s fondest wish.

Pat Brisson and Stéphane Jorisch have created a poignant story, appropriate for children coping with a teacher’s death or in need of comfort after any loss. Readers of all ages will be affected by its depth and honesty, and buoyed by its capacity for joy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #919864 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3–A poignant story about loss. Stevies teacher finds ways to make him feel at home during his first day at a new school. Her fondest wish, she says, is that they have lunch together, evoking for him the sense of speaking with a fairy-tale princess. The young narrator soon discovers that Miss Perry has a new fondest wish daily, such as for the class to become quiet so that she can read from James and the Giant Peach or for the students to plant tulips around the school flagpole. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes, and news arrives of a car crash that has taken her life. A counselor helps the children talk about their memories, which cushions their loss by bringing back the joy of Miss Perrys fondest wishes and the way that her eyes disappeared when she smiled. The delicate pen-and-ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations reflect the varied emotions evoked by this treasured individual. This title fills a need for books that encourage healthy emotional expression. A first purchase.–Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
K-Gr. 3. Stevie's first day at school gives him a stomachache. But his teacher, Miss Perry, whose eyes disappear when she smiles, gets him through by telling him that her fondest wish is that they have lunch together. In fact, Miss Perry has a new fondest wish every day, and her upbeat charm makes for a happy class. Then one day, she isn't in school. After lunch, the kids are surprised to find their parents in their classroom. Principal O'Brien has something so sad to tell them that they may need their moms and dads: Miss Perry has been killed in a car accident. A grief counselor helps the students cope by asking for memories, and recalling their teacher's fondest wishes eases the children's pain. Although the title gives a clue, parents may pick this up by accident and get an unpleasant surprise mid-reading. But for children who are experiencing loss (even though this is one step removed from a family death), the story clearly makes the point that memory is an antidote for sadness. Sprightly ink-and-watercolor illustrations feature a multiethnic class, and capture Miss Perry with particular charm. Her smile lights up the pages. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Pat Brisson lives in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

Stéphane Jorisch lives in Montreal, Canada.

Customer Reviews

I remember Miss. Perry
When things happen in live that you can explain. It good to know that there are books out here that can help. I wish that I had got books like this when I was growing up. They would have help me thank God for all that I have today.