Henkes's delightful story is restrained and vivid . . . forgoing the overdramatic or zany, it shows the substance, warmth and adaptability of beautifully common family love." When Billy Miller has a mishap at the statue of the Jolly Green Giant at the end of summer vacation, he ends up with a big lump on his head. What a way to start second grade, with a lump on your head! As the year goes by, though, Billy figures out how to navigate elementary school, how to appreciate his little sister, and how to be a more grown up and responsible member of the family and a help to his busy working mom and stay-at-home dad. Newbery Honor author and Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes delivers a short, satisfying, laugh-out-loud-funny school and family story that features a diorama homework assignment, a school poetry slam, cancelled sleepovers, and epic sibling temper tantrums. This is a perfect short novel for the early elementary grades.
本书讲述了一个二年级小男孩比利的成长故事。刚上二年级的比利，满心担忧自己应付不来新学年。老师说二年级充满挑战也有很多欢乐，但比利的担心并未消散。开学第一天，比利的经历可谓是“精彩纷呈”，他坐错座位，和老师产生误会，跟同学发生冲突，一个又一个挑战接踵而至。
然而，比利没有被打倒，他在质疑自己的同时努力证明自己，与自责、挫折顽强斗争，并在这个过程中学会了如何适应小学生活，如何欣赏妹妹，如何成为一个更成熟、更有责任感的家庭成员，变得更加坚强和勇敢，度过了属于比利的传奇一年。
作者以生动、幽默的语言，写出了一个小学二年级男孩的心思、情感、忧虑、好恶、不自信和努力成长的过程，深得广大小读者喜欢。
每个孩子都有很多个第一次，比利在与自责和挫折的斗争中成长，每个孩子都能对比利的经历感同身受，可以和主角比利一起学会勇敢面对新学年、新挑战。l在孩子的成长中，爱的教育非常重要，故事中充满智慧与爱心的父亲、母亲和老师，让我们看到如何鼓励、陪伴一个孩子成长，这本书也非常适合父母与孩子一起阅读交流，也非常适合课堂朗读共读
By Kevin Henkes, Paperback, Simplified Chinese Charaters, 152 pages, 8"x6.5", or Hardcover, Traditional Chinese Characters, 240 pages, 8.4"x6.25"
