Testing Miss Malarkey

Reach for this book when you notice your child vibrating with unspoken stress as big school milestones or standardized tests approach. While adults often say test scores do not define a student, our behaviors (taller stacks of worksheets, nervous energy, and endless prep) often send the opposite message. This story follows a classroom where everyone is acting a bit strange due to The Test, from the principal to the parents at home. It validates the confusion children feel when adult words do not match adult actions. For children aged 5 to 10, it serves as a humorous mirror to their own school experiences, providing a safe space to laugh at the absurdity of high-stakes testing while normalizing the very real anxiety it creates.