The School Play

This charming school story tackles the universal childhood experience of classroom plays, where the drama often begins long before the curtain rises. Yoko and her classmates are cast in a dental health production, but several young actors are deeply disappointed with their assigned roles, setting the stage for a relatable conflict about fairness, disappointment, and collaboration. Rosemary Wells masterfully captures the high-stakes emotions of these seemingly small school events, giving young readers a mirror for their own feelings of stage fright and casting envy.

The book’s true strength lies in its gentle exploration of how a group navigates individual discontent to create a successful group project. Wells' signature, expressive animal characters make the emotional turmoil both accessible and less intimidating for a child to process. Young readers who have ever felt overlooked or stuck with an undesirable task will find a comforting and insightful companion in this story, learning that every role, no matter how small it seems, contributes to the final triumph.