Title: Constantine Goes to School

Author: Nancy Rogers Yaeger

Illustrated by: Bill Grace

Published by: Macmillan Caribbean

Reviewed by: Shaunette Jones

In Constantine Goes to School,, Nancy Rogers Yaeger continues the adventures of this intelligent bird with the rainbow-coloured beak. In her first book about the toucan, titled Constantine, Yaeger tells how the bird escaped from a ship and ended up on a beautiful Caribbean island, where he was welcomed by a shy and lonely old man. The two became fast friends and in this follow-up, Constantine's horizon is broadened and he gets into lots of trouble.

Constantine has made new friends. Neville, Tom, Clyde (Tom's little brother), Angela and Carla. During the summer, he has lots of fun playing with the children, but when the holidays end, he becomes a sad and lonely bird.

The old man realises how sad the toucan is and decides to leave him at Neville's house in the village, just so he can be with his new friends. But Constantine is still lonely because during the days, the children still have to go to school. He goes on his own, exploring his new surroundings and causing chaos wherever he went.

When trying to get apples, he scares the deaf Miss Worrell; he steals grapes and a mango from vendors in the market; and mistakenly flies off with Mrs. Babbs' straw hat, because the fake green flower on the hat looks like a real guava. The people complain to Neville's parents, and his dad tells him he can't leave the bird at home anymore.

Neville eventually has to take Constantine to school with him, but this causes more trouble. Neville ties the toucan to a tree in the schoolyard, but Miss Beckles, the principal's assistant, unties him, thinking that the students were playing a cruel joke on the bird. Constantine is happy with this freedom, but he disrupts two classes and a football practise. Neville gets another stern warning and is told by his principal not to take the bird back to school.

several themes

Yaeger brings out a lot of themes in this book. Love jumps out from the very beginning. She shows that animals and humans alike love quickly and readily. It took one summer for Neville and his friends to love Constantine, and the children at Tom's school seemed to love the bird instantly.

The issue of responsibility is also presented. Even though Neville is happy and excited about having a bird, he comes to realise that having a pet means more than just feeding and playing.

Yaeger uses a few things in the book to give an extra Caribbean feel to the text. She writes in Standard English, but allows the characters to speak in creole. For example, when the old man brings the toucan to Neville's home, the children ask, 'You mean Constantine would be living here? En we can play games wid him every day? En bring him to de cricket field , maybe eeben de beach?' While this might make reading a bit difficult for some, especially younger children, the author's use of patois makes it more humorous and exciting.

In addition, Yaeger names a number of fruits known to lots of children mangoes, cherries, guavas, bananas, apples, breadfruit and plantains.

The illustrations are wonderful and quite interesting. Yaeger's readers will be fascinated by the use of colour on every page. The toucan, the cherry and mango trees, the homes, the market scene, are all beautifully drawn and children will identify with the dark-skinned characters, and Angela (along with some girls at Tom's school), who sports corn rows in her hair.

Beautifully illustrated by Barbadian sculptor and artist, Bill Grace, Constantine Goes to School is the beginning of another delightful story based on a unique friendship and adventures which will keep readers enthralled. It is a satisfying read for families to share aloud and for young children to enjoy.

Nancy Rogers Yaeger is a freelance writer, columnist and critic. Once resident in Barbados, she is now living in the United States.