"In Ms. Mya’s classroom, it is “just one of those days.” The students are enthusiastically jumping on chairs, “making a monstrous mess,” and roaring like lions “for no reason at all.” Using her “I need your attention right now” voice, Ms. Mya calmly reins in the energy and calls a special morning meeting on the carpet. A discussion about behavior expectations ensues, with plenty of child-friendly explanations, positive phrasing, and modeling. Prentice’s cheerful illustrations show the children practicing their indoor walking skills, using kind words, and employing indoor voices. The last line on the list of expectations is “Roar like a lion when there’s simply no other way to say it.” VERDICT Useful for school readiness conversations."
School Library Journal

Lots of children in the classroom were doing crazy things. One person was jumping, someone else was making a great big mess, and other children were bouncing and kicking and running and squeaking. The teacher said they needed to decide what was the right way to act in the classroom, like walking inside or waiting for other people to finish talking and not interrupting. The children made a list of the things they were supposed to do. The next day was a better day because they got to play house and do fun things and everybody wasn’t crazy.

I don’t like this book because it’s really not fun. All it is about is school and just telling you what to do. I already know what to do, but I don’t always do it, because sometimes I act bad and sometimes I act good. So this book is supposed to tell me how to act the right way, but it doesn’t really because I already know what I am supposed to do, and Mama always tells me what to do anyway.
San Francisco Book Review

Those who work with young children may smile a the mischief these kids get up to - from jumping on a chair and playing catch with a stuffie to running and drumming, these kids are loud and boisterous. . . . Prentice's brightly colored illustrations capture the exuberance and innocence of these ethnically diverse children wonderfully—they aren't being naughty; they are just exploring and being kids, and once the expectations are explained, they abide by them.

A reassuring explanation of both expectations in general and the behaviors expected of students in school.
Kirkus Reviews

"Jamilla was jumping. Ruth was running. David was drumming. Binh was bouncing.... Masha was making a monstrous mess."
All kids need clear, consistent expectations about how to behave in various environments. But kids with ADHD — who miss social cues and act impulsively — need to see, hear, and practice good social behavior.
In this book, Ms. Mya's classroom is a chaotic mess. She calls a special morning meeting. After introducing the concept of expectations, she and her students work together to create a list of them. They practice walking, instead of running, and speaking in their regular voice in the classroom. The next day is their best day ever. A note to readers stresses the importance of adults setting expectations, and teaching, practicing, and demonstrating positive behavior
ADDitude Magazine

I would read When You Just Have to Roar to our store's kids story time group in a heartbeat (mostly ages 0-4). I was really taken by it.
Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, CO