The First Day of School
Categories: Parenting & Families , Children's Books
As summer begins to wind down, it’s nearly here, the event parents eagerly await and children dread: THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Anticipation abounds as children and parents alike are greeted with mounds of immaculate school supplies, teachers to meet, and a host of new routines to master. Inevitably, all that change brings a flutter of nervousness to even the most brave-hearted students. A warm lap and a good book can do wonders to ease the worried mind.
Here to help is the first of two posts filled with great books to ease those first day jitters.
Robert Neubecker, author of Wow! City! & Wow! America! has a brand new back to school offering: Wow! School! What could be more WOW! than the first day of school? From science and storytime to music and math, Izzy's classroom is full of new things to explore. Back to schoolers will enjoy picking out familiar objects and activities as they follow Izzy through her day.
Hennessy’s Mr. Ouchy’s First Day reassures children that they are not the only ones worried about starting school. Mr. Ouchy is nervous about his first day of school . . . even though he’s the teacher! He gets a haircut, makes sure that his wardrobe is up to snuff and gets to bed early, but he cannot seem to fall asleep. Will his students like him? Will he be able to find the bathroom? What if he can’t remember his students’ names? It’s a great twist on the traditional first day of school narrative.
Todd Parr puts the focus on fun in Otto Goes to School. Starting with his favorite breakfast, cereal, juice, and a banana split, he faces the usual first day worries, but manages to settle in.
In I Am Too Absolutely Small For School by Lauren Child, Lola is not so sure about school. Why would she need to count higher than ten when she never eats more that ten cookies at a time? Besides, she does not have time to go because she is extremely busy doing important things at home. It's up to ever-patient big brother Charlie to persuade Lola that school is worthwhile — and that her invisible friend, Soren Lorensen, will be welcome, too.
Fans of Kevin Henkes's loveable mice heroines from Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Chrysanthemum, and Sheila Rae, the Brave, will be delighted to meet the little worrywart in Wemberly Worried. Poor Wemberly worries about everything: What if the tree in the front yard falls on her house? What if no one comes to her birthday party? Or worse: what if too many mice come and there isn't enough cake? Now, her newest worry is her biggest one yet: the first day of nursery school.
It's the first day of kindergarten in Off to School, Baby Duck by Amy Hest and Baby Duck's stomach is all jitters. She loves the important things inside her new school bag: her favorite book, a jam sandwich, a pad of paper, and a yellow pencil. But what if her teacher is mean? What if she won't have any fun? Or any friends? And who will buckle her new school shoes? As always, Grandpa Duck knows just what to say and do to help Baby Duck feel braver.
19 girls-- and me by Darcy Pattison was one of my favorite books of 2006. John Hercules Po’s kindergarten class is made up of 19 girls . . . and him. Every day, John's second-grader brother warns that playing with girls turns a guy "into a sissy," and John anxiously asserts he'll turn the girls "into tomboys" first. The girls happily play along, but not without adding their own unique contribution to the game.
In First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg, Sarah Jane is worried about going to a new school. She refuses to get out of bed because she keeps imagining all the bad things that can happen. An unexpected humorous twist makes for a delightful ending.
It's just ten days before kindergarten, and this little girl has heard all there is to know--from a first grader--about what it's going to be like. You can't bring your cat, you can't bring a stuffed animal, and the number one rule? You can't ask anyone for help. Ever. So what do you do when your shoes come untied, if you're the only one in the class who doesn't know how to tie them up again? Alison McGhee tackles all those first day of school fears in Countdown to Kindergarten.
It's the first day of school in Ian Whybrow’s Harry and the Dinosaurs Go to School! Harry is nervous and isn't sure what to expect. Triceratops is even more nervous, especially when Harry must leave the dinosaurs in the coatroom. But soon Harry sees another boy who is the most nervous of all. Can he help?
Starting at a new school this year? Check out Stuart Goes to School by Sara Pennypacker. Eight-year-old Stuart is worried; it’s his first day at a new school. What if he gets stuck in the boys' bathroom? What if he doesn't have anything to show for show and tell? Worst of all, what if his mother really makes him wear those green plaid pants and a shirt with little cowboys on it? Can Stuart avoid being the laughing stock of the third grade?
