This has a comfortable sitcom feel. I could almost imagine that familiar studio audience laugh track after each punchline.

I liked how well it established the characters. By the end of the book, they felt familiar and I was looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Though all the characters are animals, some read as Muslim (Aziza wears a headscarf, another student is named Abdi).

Another thing I liked is that it was funny in a realistic, sweet sort of way. For example, one kid is taking a poll asking if the other students prefer ice cream or farts with genuine enthusiasm about making it a Venn diagram to include kids who like both equally.

I think this will be popular with third and fourth graders. ( )

I found this story about a teacher and his class of students delightful. ( )

Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher at ALA Midwinter 2018. ( )

Cute and lively graphic novel about the students and a new teacher on their first day of school. Lots of charming and authentic kid behaviour in this. The plot is pretty low stakes and the book seems intended for early chapter book age readers. ( )

Definitely intended for grade school-age readers. My adult brain got very stuck on a carnivore being in charge of a classroom full of prey animals. ( )