Miss Nelson is Missing! Book Summary

Miss Nelson is Missing!

By: Harry Allard 

Illustrated by: James Marshall 

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1977 

Reading Level: ~6-8 yrs

Number of pages: 32 

Genre: Humorous Fiction Picture Book 

Summary: Miss Nelson's class is very misbehaved. She can't get them to settle down and listen during story-time. One day Miss Nelson doesn't show up to school. The class's new teacher is Miss Viola Swamp. She is very ugly, strict, and mean. After a few days with Miss Swamp, the kids get worried that they will never see Miss Nelson again. They come up with all kinds of crazy ideas about how Miss Nelson went missing. But none of them could really have happened.Just when the class thinks they will be stuck with Miss Viola Swamp forever, Miss Nelson is at school the next day. The children missed her and from that day on the kids behaved themselves. It turns out Miss Nelson had the same ugly dress in her closet and a wig that looked oddly like the hair of Miss Swamp...

Problems: Misbehaved children and deception by an adult. 

Reaction: This was one of my favorites as a child. I think it teaches a good moral and lesson to be grateful for what you have cause you never know when it will disappear. I love it and will read this to my children.

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to younger audiences. Also for teachers to read probably towards the beginning of the school year.