Product Description

The first day of school means new shoes, fresh crayons, and a fancy lunch box. It also means leaving Mom and Dad behind, a notion that's likely to rattle even the most eager new student--and this little girl is no exception. Her classroom seems overwhelming, and the older kids are awfully big. But she soon realizes that a friendly teacher and some new pals can help even the most reticent student move past the jitters and into the fun!
Perfect for any child starting school, Dandi Daley Mackall's simple rhyming text and Tiphanie Beeke's cheerful illustrations will reassure children--and parents--who are nervous about a first day.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1260400 in Books
• Published on: 2003-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 32 pages

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K-Readers follow a little girl about to start school from early morning to the end of the school day. Getting dressed, she appears excited and enthusiastic about this new experience. By the time she is in the car, she asks: "Feeling funny in the car- `Don't you think we've gone too far?'" Once she enters the classroom, her fears subside as she meets her teacher and classmates and the class pet, and participates in group activities. The rhyming text gives the story a sweet, singsong quality that makes this a lighthearted romp to share with youngsters just entering preschool or kindergarten. The softly colored, reassuring art works well with the simple text that is set on pastel backgrounds. A useful addition for collections that receive many requests for school transition stories.
Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
PreS-K. Two tiny black dots and a rosebud-shaped squiggle turn a pink daub of paint into a child's happy face; rectangles of different colors become a tower of blocks; unrestricted lines, straight and curved, thick and thin, comprise a playground slide. Using spot art and full-page watercolors in a riot of color, a perfusion of shapes, and simple patterns, Beeke shows children enjoying all the activities they might experience at preschool or kindergarten. A childlike lilt adds a youthful sensibility to a little girl's description of her first day--from preparations ("Pencils sharp, crayons stacked, / ruler, scissors, paper packed) and the "swallow hard" anxiety of leaving home and facing strangers to the wiggling, painting, sliding, and storytelling that fill out a happy, full day. A cheerful, encouraging preview that realistically acknowledges both the feelings and the fun. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
DANDI DALEY MACKALL is the author of more than three hundred books for adults and children, including the popular Winnie the Horse Gentler series. She lives in Ohio.

TIPHANIE BEEKE has illustrated many books for children, including Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss. She lives in Strasbourg, France.

Customer Reviews

Educators Recommend
The narrator in First Day tells of her first-day jitters in simple, rhyming sentences. �Swirls of girls, / bands of boys, / talking, laughing, making noise. / I already miss my toys. / It's only my first day.�

Once in the classroom she plans her getaway (digging to China with a spoon, or taking a rocket to the moon). �I'd be outta here by noon,� she posits. But, like most children on their first day, the narrator finds that school is not quite as bad as she imagined it to be. Coloring sheets with teddy bears, building tall towers, a new lunch box, and recess all combine to make the day enjoyable. By story's end she asks, �How much better can it get on my second day?�

Accompanying the large-print text are watercolor and acrylic illustrations. Done in somewhat muted, warm colors, the childlike paintings are full of realistic details and smiling faces, giving the book a comforting, friendly feel.

This is a great choice for a first-day-of-school read aloud.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff.

Great for any child with school-time jitters
Dandi Daley Mackall's book, "First Day" is an entertaining and engaging walk through a nervous child's first day at school. Charming and amusing at the same time, this book puts children at ease and lets them know that what appears to be a daunting activity may very well turn out to be a wonderful adventure. Mackall's gift of rhyme makes this story sparkle. Her words always flow perfectly, making First Day an easy and enjoyable read. I would recommend this book for any child who has misgivings about the first day of school - or even for a child who's wholeheartedly looking forward to it.

Wonderful book!
I bought this book for my niece for her first day of school. She read it for a few weeks before she started and loved the book -- especially the pictures and the rhymes. When the first day came, she was a little apprehensive, like the girl in the book, but by the time she came home, she was sad that she had to leave and couldn't wait to go back.