Skippyjon Jones: Class Action

Review

Common Sense Media says

The Chihuahua-wannabe kitty-boy goes to a school for dogs.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is the sixth book in the bestselling Skippyjon Jones series and includes a CD of the author reading the story. With the exciting adventure and the bilingual wordplay, it is especially fun to read aloud.

  • Educational value2
    Gives young kids an impression of the grade school setting. Also teaches some Spanish and French words.
  • Positive messages3
    Skippyjon shows how much fun you can have with your imagination and inventive wordplay. He actually does well in school, showing the teachers he knows how to count and draw, which the poochitos can't do. He also offers a very positive view of reading. "At the bell, the amigos followed their noses into the library," Schachner writes. "Not even a bowl of frijoles smelled as delicious as the scent of books waiting to be read." There is a positive message about learning a foreign language, too, when Skippyjon checks out French class and learns a few French words. But as Skippyjon admits in obedience class, "I'm not good at following rules."
  • Positive role models2
    Skippyjon Jones is imaginative, believes in himself -- even his delusion that he is a Chihuahua rather than a Siamese cat with big Chihuahua-like ears -- knows how to create his own fun and is loyal to his imaginary Chihuahua friends, Los Chimichangos, and generously shares his food with them.
  • Violence & scariness0
    Mild dog and cat mayhem and a whirling teacup that cuts "a mean path of destruction past the principal's office" into the lunchroom and breaks. 
  • Language0
    Not applicable.
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What's the story?

The Siamese cat who thinks he's a Chihuahua is dying to go to school, and when his mother tells him school is for dogs, that only entices him further. He dives into his magic closet and comes out the other side to catch the schoolbus with the other poochitos. He has lots of fun going from class to class, punctuating his action-packed adventure with his usual funny mix mix of English, Spanish and Spanglish.

Is it any good?

 

It's hard not to be swept up in the excitement as the irrepressible Skippyjon lets his imagination -- and his Spanish vocabulary -- run wild. Kids will love seeing him bring his enegry and positive spirit to the familiar school setting, charming teachers and four-legged students alike. Illustrated in acrylic and pen-and-ink on watercolor paper, the book captures the momentum of running dogs and the expressive moods of the adorable, irresistible kitty-boy.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about how it is that Skippyjon can go into his closet and then magically board a schoolbus full of dogs, driven by a penguin.

  • Why does Skippyjon think he's a Chihuahua? Have you ever imagined you were something or someone other than who you are?

  • Skippyjon breaks one sister's teacup and eats his other one's banana. Can you see how the things he did in real life became part of his imaginary play? Should the story have included his saying "I'm sorry" to his sisters? Does Skippyjopn get away with too much because he's so cute?

This review was written by Regan McMahon

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This review was written by Regan McMahon
Author:Judy Schachner
Book type:Fiction
Genre:Picture Book
Publisher:Dutton Children's Books
Number of pages:32
Hardcover price:$17.99
Publisher's recommended age(s):4 - 8
This review was written by Regan McMahon
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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