Principal Tate Is Running Late! by Henry Cole
Published by Katherine Tegen Books on July 6, 2021
ISBN: 0063025744
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals, Humor
Goodreads

Hardy Elementary school’s organized school day begins on a chaotic note when the unthinkable happens; Principal Tate, a large white chicken, is late!  A cast of cute animals, signature Cole style, must step up since the beloved, positive Principal Tate is missing at the start of the day.  Miss Dee the school secretary herds a line of community members to other activities, like pottery, cancels the scheduled fire drill and the rest of the Hardy school staff takes up the slack assisting students, cleaning up messes and making sure the school song is song.  There are lots of rhyme to the text, although different parts of the story have different rhythms.  Teachers looking for a beginning of school way to encourage class cooperation will find this a fun book to share.

Reviewed by Sheila Dube, Youth Services Librarian, Springvale Public Library