Back to School with a Bang: Books for the Eager and the Apprehensive

Joy Fleishhacker -- School Library Journal, 8/23/2007

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Gear up for the school year with a pile of colorful picture books guaranteed to grab the attention of summer-saturated students. Written and illustrated in a kaleidoscope of styles, these titles will ease anxieties, introduce classroom routines, describe behaviors, and generate enthusiasm among elementary students everywhere.

First Day Jitters
PreS-Gr 2–Bursting with power-packed colors and charismatic characters, Robert Neubecker’s dazzling Wow! School! (Hyperion, 2007) follows a vivacious girl and her classmates through an enjoyable and eventful first day. The simple exclamatory text is great for group sharing, but kids will also clamor for a closer look at each detail-filled scene. Taking an equally upbeat approach, Jane Yolen and Mark Teague answer the question, How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? (Scholastic, 2007). From a stygimoloch who runs in the hallway to a silvisaurus who fidgets at his desk, 10 winsomely wicked creatures show their human counterparts how not to behave. With jaunty rhymes and exuberant artwork, this book will elicit giggles and introduce classroom dos and don’ts. For a calmer read-aloud, share Elisa Kleven’s tenderly told, delicately illustrated story about an introverted girl who fashions a fresh-picked fruit and several twigs into The Apple Doll (Farrar, 2007), names it Susanna, and takes it along on her first day of school so that she won’t be lonely. Mama eventually shows Lizzy how to dry the apple and transform Susanna into a real doll. When Lizzy displays her new and improved playmate on sharing day, she inspires an art project that captivates her classmates and helps her to overcome her shyness. Extend this story with a hands-on activity by following the author’s directions for making an apple doll. 

Small Fry
PreS-Gr 1–Three neighborhood children eagerly head to The Bus Stop (Dutton, 2007) on the first day of school, but when the vehicle arrives, looking “awfully big and tall,” they must summon all of their courage to climb aboard. Janet Morgan Stoeke’s buoyant rhymes and candy-colored pictures transform a much-anticipated journey into a joyride. Philemon Sturges’s I Love School! (HarperCollins, 2004) pairs ear-catching verses with bright-hued artwork as two siblings enthusiastically describe their favorite classroom pursuits. Angela McAllister’s comforting story, illustrated with Sue Hellard’s charming animal characters, introduces a more reserved student. When Digby wakes up with the second-day blues, his mother tells him to Take a Kiss to School (Bloomsbury, 2006), and the youngster reaches into his pocket for an imaginary smooch whenever he feels in need of reassurance.

First Graders Only
Gr 1–Nancy Carlson’s First Grade, Here I Come (Viking, 2006) tackles common concerns with a light touch and crisply colored pictures. Henry, a spiffy-looking mouse, misses the comfort of kindergarten, but as he tells his mother about a day filled with fabulous first-grade firsts, he realizes that he’s in for a fantastic year. Jean Van Leeuwen’s Amanda Pig, First Grader (Dial, 2007) thinks she’s ready for the big time, but is immediately faced with tough challenges. Four delightful easy-to-read chapters, enhanced by Ann Schweninger’s endearing watercolors, depict this spunky porcine protagonist’s true-to-life experiences.

For Older and Wiser Folk
Gr 2-5–Welcome back seasoned students with entertaining titles that can segue into writing projects. With melodramatic flair, Honor Brown confesses, I Hate School (S & S, 2004), proving her point with descriptions of teachers well versed in torture techniques, villainous classmates, and a cafeteria that serves “rabbit poo.” Jeanne Willis’s tongue-in-cheek rhymes and Tony Ross’s exaggerated cartoons are laugh-out-loud funny. Jack Prelutsky’s What a Day It Was at School! (Greenwillow, 2006) presents 17 humorous poems about delightful dilemmas and silly situations, all told from the perspective of an appealingly none-too-perfect cat. In A Country Schoolhouse (Farrar, 2004), Grandpa shares childhood memories of a three-room building with potbellied stoves, visits to the nearby outhouse, and the beginnings of a lifelong passion for learning. Illustrated with nostalgic watercolors, Lynne Barasch’s engaging story encourages kids to interview older relatives and explore their own family history. 

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