Alpaca Goes Back-A to School - by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A joyful picture book about a young alpaca's first day back at school, from powerhouse team Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Leeza Hernandez

The first day back to school is always a little scary, but Alpaca is ready to face the new year! With shoes tied and snack-a all packed-a, Alpaca's first day back-a is filled with classroom fun.

Working together. / Learning each rule.
You're getting the KNACK-a / of being at school.
You'll dream of tomorrow / when you hit the SACK-a
Your school will be waiting . . . / get ready, Alpaca!

From singing new songs to making new friends (and a paint spill here and there--no worries, Alpaca! Ms. Yak-a has more!), Alpaca will help young readers feel prepared for their first day, easing their anxieties and getting them excited for school.

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen's inventive rhyme, paired with Leeza Hernandez's bright, graphic art, is perfect for read-aloud fun, as well as school and family libraries.

Review Quotes

"This cheery story is a humorous vocabulary developer, with numerous ack-a words playfully running throughout the narrative; kids will be quick to shout out their own riffs on the word alpaca. The soothing tale will resonate with those starting school for the first time or returning to classrooms for another year of learning...Kids will "crack-a" up over this jolly school story."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

About the Author

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen has many things in common with alpacas--she's highly sociable, she's easily trained, and she never spits or bites unless you really scare her. Her stack-a of published children's books is over fifty titles high and includes picture books like Chicks Rule and Roxie Loves Adventure, as well as chapter book series like Purrmaids and Mermicorns. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, three children, and an adorable pug named Roxie (who does happen to love adventure). Just as alpacas are the smallest member of the camel family, Bardhan-Quallen is the smallest member of her human family. Leeza Hernandez adores alpacas because they're just like cats: curious, treat-loving, and cuddly. She nearly adopted one, but with a tiny apartment, frequent farm visits to snuggle and sketch seemed like a better option. With more than 25 illustrated books in her backpack-a, including Roxie Loves Adventure, Hernandez currently lives in Central Florida where alligators outnumber alpacas. She's not sure how cuddly gators are but she sketches them a lot and they always smile . . . so they must be friendly!