The Year of Billy Miller: A Newbery Honor Award Winner (A Miller Family Story, 1)

A really charming story. Billy feels real and the writing captures everyday moments in a relatable, gentle way. It’s simple but thoughtful, with nice humor and a lot of heart. Easy to read, easy to enjoy, and it leaves a good feeling when you’re done.

I teach first grade and I am always on the lookout for quality literature to use for read-alouds in my classroom. "The Year of Billy Miller" is an excellent book for primary grades not just as a read-aloud but as the foundation for a whole classroom unit. The book is divided into four sections, each section about as long as a typical book from one of the churn-and-burn series (looking at you Junie B.). So, in essence, you are getting four books for the price of one and I appreciate Henkes for doing it this way instead of starting a series of Billy Miller books. Section One "Teacher" is about how Billy deals with starting second grade and the natural feelings of insecurity that many students go through when starting a new grade. Section Two "Father" is about Billy's dad struggling with his artwork and how being frustrated or angry about one part of our lives can effect other parts as well. This section can be used in conjunction with having your class create dioramas. Section Three: "Sister" tells about Billy's first attempt to stay up all night and how it turns into a wonderful bonding session with his little sister instead. This section can be used for creating scary stories or an arts and craft projects where the students make their own "Drop Sister". Section Four: "Mother" is probably the weakest part of the story but wraps things up nicely. Can be used in conjunction with a poetry writing assignment.

The Year of Billy Miller is a touching and humorous tale of the 2nd grade year for a typical student. The insight into Billy's uncertainties about being is smart enough for 2nd Grade is woven throughout the events and challenges of a school year.This is a must read for teachers, parents and children to understand and appreciate what starting a new school year brings and the role teachers and parents play in the child's success. Just a fun, fun story!

Billy Miller struggles with finding his way through the sorts of problems one would expect for a second-grader. He starts school on a wrong note and seeks to remedy the problem with his teacher. His father's artistic block causes tension in the family until Billy finds a way to help. Billy wants to stay up all night and hopes his little sister can help him do it. But who is he supposed to write his special poem about when he loves both his mom and dad? It's a puzzle, but Billy addresses the problem with his typical aplomb. Strengths: Billy is an adorable character, very believable and endearing. Henkes demonstrates once again his superb understanding of childhood and the sorts of things that most kids worry about. The book would be a wonderful read-a-loud as it is full of character, heart, and beautiful writing. Weaknesses: The only problem I had with the book was the length. The book is rather long (229 pages) for the target audience which would have to be first through third grades. I'm not sure older children would pick up the book.

What a beloved story about a young boy who struggles to express his emotions and to find his place in his classroom among a highly confident 2nd grade girl and a teacher from whom he desperately seeks validation and approval! I read this aloud with two 6-year-olds (a boy and a girl), and they both loved the story. While it has been many years since I was a 2nd grader, everything Billy feels and struggles with resonated with me. This is how I remember feeling and acting when I was in elementary school. Full disclosure, we own all of Kevin Henkes' "mouse stories." This was just as engaging and heartfelt, but in a longer chapter format. My kids are still quoting the haiku to me: Mom likes volcanoes. They are hot. They can explode. Please do not fall in.

Coming from a teacher-in-training perspective, we saw some benefits from this book, but unfortunately Kevin Henkes fell short on his first novel. Billy Miller is a second grade student who has self-esteem issues. Billy feels the need to be accepted, and have everyone's approval. He is also very self-conscious of his academic abilities. As Billy overcomes the challenges of a rude classmate, diorama project, grumpy father, a failed attempt at staying up all night, and a poetry reading in front of an auditorium, readers will re-discover or re-affirm what it is like to be in second grade. Henkes does a great job of demonstrating the many fears and worries of elementary school children. Where Henkes falls short is the format and plot line. Each chapter is a small window into Billy's life with its own little climax and resolution, without any smooth transitions from one story to the next. This can make for a very choppy read. Also, each short story is unfortunately, not very exciting and seems to flat line. It is a very repetitive novel and constantly reinforces the theme of confidence building. Some second graders may delight in the slow-building story, while others may drop the book for it being too boring. As future teachers, we found this book informative in how to be responsive to elementary school students and how to best encourage them academically and socially. Overall, this book might be an acquired taste for readers.

This was a Nerdy Book Club nomination and I thought it would be a good read aloud for my daughter who is a first grade teacher and my sister-in-law who is a second grade teacher. I have always loved Henkes' characters, especially Lily, and in this book, Billy Miller is beginning second grade and has some worries about "if he is smart enough" and if the bump on his head he got at Yellowstone will adversely affect his memory. He has a supportive set of parents and the annoying little sister, Sal. His best friend is Ned and he is very funny. What is so nice about this book is that it is divided into 4 parts and each could be read alouds. Students and teachers will enjoy Billy, his trials and tribulations, and his never ending irritation with a new girl, Emma Sparks. There is humor, wonder and many characters to fondly remember in this little gem of a book.

Billy Miller is a normal boy who just started 2nd grade.He has a problem with a know-it-all girl at school that he dislikes.His father (which he called papa but called him dad later) was struggling to sell his art, but Billy recommended this dad to making a kind of art called diorama.It was a success and Billy was left with her sister, Sal, and their babysitter to go to a hotel because their parents went to a place to ell their art.At the hotel, he tries to stay up all night with his sister but didn't make it, and gave his sister a pearl.He also struggles a little about thinking who to take to the stage and what poem he should make. In all, I think this an interesting , and great book.

Bom

I read this book aloud to my 4.5 year old and he loved it to much! A great buy super quality and simple and loved the size of the text .

One of the better children's books I've read. The characters, the situations they're in, their interactions are all that of a first-tier novel for adults. In fact I think I may read it myself as my spouse got to read much of the book to my son!

厚さ２ｃｍほどの本で 紙質がとても良いです。ところどころちょっとした挿絵が入っており、文章も平易で 洋書初心者さんにおすすめします。 内容は、小学校2年生の主人公を中心にして、”先生””お父さん””妹””お母さん”の4つの章から成りたっています。 何か大げさな出来事が展開していくわけではなく、ごく日常のどこでも起きているようなそんなことが いきいきと描かれており子供が読んだ場合、 自己投影しやすいのかもしれません。 大人が読むと、くすっと笑ってしまうような 微笑ましいような ほのぼのとした・・・そんなお話です。 お父さんは、家でお仕事をしている駆け出しの芸術家、お母さんは、英語の教師。妹は3歳、おしゃまな女の子。 主人公が、タイトルのビリーミラー。

This book has a clear structure for young reader to follow and has interesting content. The story line is simple, yet the story is great.