The Best Seat in Kindergarten by Katharine Kenah, illustrated by Abby Carter

Author Katharine Kenah and illustrator Abby Carter are no strangers to the world of beginning readers – together and separately, they’ve produced many books that would fit the Geisel criteria.  However, neither has ever been recognized by the Geisel committee. Will The Best Seat in Kindergarten be the book that changes that?

Sam and the rest of his class are all new to kindergarten.  When the teacher takes them on a nature walk, Sam helps each of his classmates find the items they are looking for. When asked what he found on the nature walk, Sam’s reply is, “Friends!” 

This book has many things going for it, in terms of the Geisel criteria.  The most notable feature is the use of repetition, particularly in the middle of the book. The illustrations support the text admirably, providing context for potentially unfamiliar words. When, for instance, a pinecone is mentioned in the text, it also appears in the illustrations. Sentences are mostly short and straightforward. The text is large and clear. Sam presents as white, but his classmates are portrayed as a diverse group.

On the other hand, the plot, while charming, doesn’t drive the story forward. The Best Seat in Kindergarten may not encapsulate that “page-turning dynamic” that’s desirable in a Geisel contender. If you’ve read this book with beginning readers, I’d be interested to hear what they thought of it.  I suspect that this book will be useful, as books at this level are always in demand.  However, does it rise to the top of this year’s offerings?  Only time will tell.