Hrab, Naseem. (2026). I Will Not Walk to School. Kids Can Press.
Monster is having such a hard time getting up for school! (SAME Monster, same.)
Bird tries to remind him that it’s time to walk to school but he isn’t having it. Monster flat out refuses to walk to school, even though he LOVES school.
He just hates the “commute.” Bird reminds him, but it’s pancake breakfast day! Oh yeah. Monster decides, it’s happening. Let’s go.
A whole host of things happen that slows down his progress when he finally gets to the door. And then, he still decides he is refusing to walk to school.
But he’ll hop, and jump, and skip in some pretty silly ways.
But apparently, it’s still not fast enough.
Then we find out he had a scooter in his backpack this entire time! OOF!
The get to school…the prize at the end of the gauntlet only to find out, they are just plain pancakes. WHAT?! No pepperoni, cheese, pineapple, or double maple syrup?! (I mean that’s not my preference for pancakes but, hey, you do you.) WHAT WAS IT ALL FOR!
Then his classmates show up and save the day. Bird asks Monster if the trip home will be any easier. “Totally!” he says. I’m not so sure I believe him. HA!
The monster is a little surly, and silly, and sly, and ridiculous and I love him. I feel like this is how I feel in the morning, even if I don’t show it, and sometimes, I too am disappointed I don’t have an all appointed pancake breakfast when I get to work. (Now I really want pancakes).
The silliness is fun. Kelly Collier does a great job with the illustrations (NOT easy to make a sour faced monster look expressive but Kelly manages it with ease!) Lots of giggles to be had. Definitely recommend.
Recommended Ages: 3-7