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From School Library Journal

Starred review from August 1, 2024

Gr 2-4-If celebrities on social media have taught us anything it's this: apologizing is hard. Thankfully, this charming picture book is here to model how to write a sincere apology at a young age. We can infer that young Jack knocked over his classmate Zoe's block castle and his teacher has tasked him with writing an apology note. The book's title is Jack's poor first attempt. Smartly told, the sole text is that written on Jack's often crumpled letters. He continues to revise his apology, and his teacher provides feedback on how to try again. Jack eventually nails the apology-sincere, no excuses, seeking to make amends-and repairs his friendship with Zoe. The artwork adds layers to the story, showing readers what occurs while the letters are being composed. A particularly memorable scene involves an art assignment to "paint one's feelings." Jack's artwork is a hot-tempered splatter of red paint. VERDICT Lukoff models good behavior for kids (and, let's face it, adults) without being lecturing or preachy. A must-have.-Chance Lee Joyner

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Kirkus

Starred review from July 15, 2024
An epistolary tale told mostly in drafts as a boy completes a teacher's requirement to write an apology. Ripped and crumpled notes tell most of the story as Jack, a brown-skinned boy with straight brown hair, grumps through the school day. An early draft reads, "DEAR ZOE, I'M SORRY YOU GOT SO MAD!!! JACK." Light-skinned, dark-haired Ms. Rice, who looks over his drafts, writes back, "Dear Jack, Please try again. Love, Ms. Rice." As each subsequent draft makes incremental progress, the story of what happened emerges ("I'm sorry FOR REAL that your castle got knocked over"). Kwon's charming art, rendered in ink, then colored and collaged digitally, tells a parallel emotional story as Jack goes from angry to chastised, then back to angry (a wonderful spread shows him expressing his rage while taking part in the day's art assignment: "Paint Your Feelings!"), and finally thoughtful. Meanwhile, the classroom activities with their own small dramas continue around him. In a late draft, the crux of the issue becomes clear. Jack had wanted to play with Zoe and her castle, but two boys told him that castles were for girls. Ms. Rice replies, "Dear Jack, I'm sorry that happened to you. I'll talk to Ben and Jeremy... You're almost there." Ms. Rice's gentle and kind voice guides Jack to a most satisfying apology and ending. Jack's class is diverse. A master class in apologies and in storytelling through words and art.(Picture book. 4-8)

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From Publisher's Weekly

Starred review from May 20, 2024
In this witty epistolary classroom drama, a student struggles to apologize to a classmate about a knocked-over block castle. Jack's first effort, scrawled on lined notebook paper, reads "DEAR ZOE, I'M SORRY YOU GOT SO MAD!!!" When teacher Ms. Rice has him try again, he's shown grinding away furiously at the pencil sharpener. There's improvement, but Jack next tackles the misdeed passively: "I'm sorry FOR REAL that your castle got knocked over." After Ms. Rice explains that apologies have three partsâ€""1) What I did 2) That I'm sorry 3) And I'll help you fix it"â€"a more nuanced understanding of the incident emerges. "I wanted to play in it with you. But Ben and Jeremy said I couldn't because castles are for girls." Jack's almost there ("Can we check in about your letter?" Ms. Rice writes), but there's more to come before Zoe receives a complete note. Polished renderings by Kwon (Waiting for Tomorrow) reveal the peers' grimaces, side-eyes, and clowning, offering believable classroom context as Lukoff (There's No Such Thing as Vegetables) writes a sparkling examination of messy feelings and meaningful apologies. Classmates are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3â€"7.