The Wheel on the School

Written by Meindert DeJong · Illustrated by Maurice Sendak

Can a group of children bring storks back to their village?

7.0/7 Bookroo experts·4.0/5 Goodreads · 13,403 ratings

298 pages· 66,608 words· Est. 9.5 hour read· 710L

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Bookroo's summary

In the quaint village of Shora, young Lina sparks a quest to uncover why storks no longer nest there. Her curiosity ignites a mission among six schoolchildren, uniting the entire village in a shared dream. As they strive to bring the storks back, their journey reveals the power of wonder and community. Will their efforts succeed, or will the storks remain a distant memory? Discover how a simple question can transform a village and inspire change.

From the publisher

Why do the storks no longer come to the little Dutch fishing village of Shora to nest? It was Lina, one of the six schoolchildren who first asked the question, and she set the others to wondering. And sometimes when you begin to wonder, you begin to make things happen. So the children set out to bring the storks back to Shora. The force of their vision put the whole village to work until at last the dream began to come true.

Winner, 1955 Newbery Medal

Notable Children’s Books of 1940–1970 (ALA)

1963 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award

Awards

Newbery Medal (1955)

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 298
Words: 66,608
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 710L

Themes & topics

Books about storks Books about resolving conflict Books about villages Books about curiosity Books about friendship

What readers & critics say

Reviews

7.0

out of 7

7.0

“The Wheel on the School is a favorite of mine from my days as a young reader. The curiosity of the school children and the introduction to life in Holland made a lasting impression on me. I love how the children set out to learn more about their question then work to find answers and a solution.”

The Goodfather

Trusted reviewer

7.0

“Well-written and engaging, this book is a treasure, completely deserving of its Newbery Medal. It's set in a small fishing village in the Netherlands, and it's fun to be immersed in that world. Ultimately, it's a book about wonder--the wonder of the world around us, the power of wondering and asking questions, and the infinite possibilities when we work together to do something wonderful.”

Lauren Hancock

Trusted reviewer

The author