Richard's day gets off to a bad start when he has to wear too-big purple corduroy pants to school. Although it's Richard's turn to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and to hand out the mealworms that Mrs. Zookey's class is going to study, those purple pants keep getting in his way. Richard tells his classmates that the pants are a gift from his aunt and uncle, who are space aliens from the purple planet Pluto. After he names one of his mealworms Uncle Ken, the real Uncle Ken shows up in Mrs. Zookey's classroom-knock-knock jokes, too-loud laugh, and all. Richard has some explaining to do, but a plan for Silly Clothes Day and a surprising rapport with his uncle make it a good day after all.
Second-grader Richard is embarrassed to wear the oversized purple corduroy pants his aunt and uncle have just given him, but after he tries them on, he is late for the school bus and hurries out the door. It's his day to be the teacher's helper, and as he performs the tasks she assigns him, such as portioning out mealworms into petri dishes for a science lesson, he is preoccupied with keeping his pants up. When the class troublemaker tickles him, both pants and petri dishes fall down. A bad day turns worse when Richard's uncle shows up and learns that the boy has named a mealworm after him. Much to Richard's surprise, Uncle Ken takes the news with good humor and presents his nephew with a gift of bright red suspenders. Richard finally relaxes in his new clothes when his classmates declare the next day to be "Silly Clothes Day" and plan to wear offbeat gifts that they have received. Gilson captures the thoughts and fears of second graders through authentic dialogue and solid characterization. Information about mealworms is skillfully woven into the text. The story unfolds smoothly and is enhanced by several full-page black-and-white sketches. A sound choice for beginning chapter-book readers. Anne Knickerbocker, formerly at Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX Copyright 1998 School Library Journal Reviews
Shopping Cart
