Short and funny. Another great recommendation for a hesitant chapter-book reader. Translated from French. ( )

Translated by Gill Rosner. Booktalk with gift prop: It's the first day of school after a long summer. You're all looking forward to starting school with a hip, young teacher who's athletic and good-looking. Instead, who you see at the teacher's desk is a fat, old, wrinkly man with messy hair. And instead of saying "good morning," or "Hello, my name is..." this old man says "I have a present for you." And he goes around giving all of you a gift-wrapped package. (Unwrap prop) And in your package is a book of coupons. It is no ordinary book of coupons. There is one coupon for sleeping late. One coupon for skipping a day of school. One coupon for losing your homework. One coupon for not listening in class. On and on, more coupons, right up to One coupon for giving the teacher a kiss on the cheek. And as you look at your coupon book, you wonder: Are these coupons for real? Who is this old man? Do I really want him for a teacher? Before the year is out, the answers may surprise you...

This book was a great story about a teacher that used non-tradtional methods to teach his students life lessons as well as academic lessons. The Book of Coupons is a book that I would use as a read aloud in my classroom, and I think that Morgenstern did a fantasitc job writing this short novel. ( )

Students in a fifth grade class meet their new teacher after coming back to school from summer vacation. This Batchelder Award Winning book, translated from French will entertain readers in grades 3-5. The students in the class are presented with coupon books from the new teacher, Mr. Hubert Noel that are valid for rewards from being able to dance in class to sleeping in. The humor in the book is realistic and assists in conveying important life lessons to the reader. The black and white illustrations are simple, yet effective. ( )