School supplies? Check. Pencils sharpened? Check. First-day clothes picked out? Check. Now that you’ve got the nitty-gritty out of the way, it’s time to prepare for those first-day jitters. You can’t go wrong with these three brand-new picture books. Add them to your check list today!
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
Flap Copy: It’s Penelope’s first day of school, and she can’t wait to meet her classmates. But making friends is hard when they’re so delicious!
The juxtaposition of a child T-Rex in pink overalls with her cheeks bulging from having eaten her entire class and then being reprimanded by her teacher is hysterical. Kids will be laughing so hard they will forget they were nervous in the first place. The visual jokes play against the straight text to create such an original story in the much-loved back-to-school story category. Fresh, funny, and unforgettable!
Lena’s Shoes are Nervous: A First-Day-of-School Dilemma
by Keith Calabrese and Juana Medina
Flap Copy: Today is the big day! Today, Lena starts kindergarten. She is very excited. But there’s just one problem…. Lena’s shoes are nervous. Lena doesn’t want to miss out on her first day of school, but she can’t go without her favorite shoes! How can she convince them to be brave?
Starting school is exciting! And nerve-wracking. LENA’S SHOES ARE NERVOUS recognizes that emotions are complex. With humor and heart, Calabrese and Medina build a story that shows that it’s okay to feel BOTH feelings before the first day of school, or any new endeavor. “Because often the best things happen when we’re nervous.”
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman
From the dedication page: We hope All Are Welcome is a celebration of diversity, and gives encouragement and support to all kids.
A celebration of humanity unfolds from spread-to-spread in this book that is destined to become a first-day-of-school read-aloud staple. Favorite stanza: We’re part of a community. / Our strength is our diversity. / A shelter from adversity. / All are welcome here.
To add to your list, my buddy, Leslie Helakoski’s new school time book, Ready or Not Woolbur Goes to School.
Oh! I love Woolbur! Thank you so much for sharing the sequel. 🙂