You're Wearing That to School?!

TITLE:  You're Wearing That to School?!
AUTHOR:  Lynn Plourde
ILLUSTRATOR:  Sue Cornelison
PUBLISHER:  Disney Hyperion
COPYRIGHT:  2013

Penelope the hippo gets advice about beginning school from her little mouse friend Tiny.  He thinks she has all the wrong ideas about what to wear, what to take to show and tell, and more.  Will Penelope listen to Tiny's advice or do things her own way?

This is a fun book with cute characters to read at the beginning of the school year or to your child who is beginning school.

This is AR level 2.1.

Ready and Waiting For You

TITLE:  Ready and Waiting For You
AUTHOR:  Judi Moreillon
ILLUSTRATOR:  Catherine Stock
PUBLISHER:  Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
COPYRIGHT:  2013

Guess who is waiting for you as you head to school?  There are many people ready and waiting for you including the bus driver, principal, custodians, and others.

Young children will enjoy the bright, colorful illustrations of this book.  It would be appropriate to read before your child begins school.  It has fold out pages that reveal who is waiting for them at their school. This book would also be appropriate to read in the classroom at the beginning of the school year to introduce the titles of various school personnel.

The Day the Crayons Quit

TITLE:  The Day the Crayons Quit
AUTHOR:  Drew Daywalt
ILLUSTRATOR: Oliver Jeffers
PUBLISHER:  Philomel Books
COPYRIGHT:  2013

At school Duncan is going to color, but he finds a stack of letters from his crayons.  The crayons each tell him why they are quitting and what he needs to change.  Some feel over used (like red for all the holidays). Some feel under used (like pink since it is more of a girls' color).

I love crayons so the title and front of this book caught my eye.  This was a fun read to imagine crayons coming to life and writing letters.  It would be great to use in a classroom and have children write their own letters.

This is on the 2014 Bluebonnet Award list.  It is AR level 3.8.

Jake's 100th Day of School

TITLE: Jake's 100th Day of School
AUTHOR:  Lester L. Laminack
ILLUSTRATOR: Judy Love
PUBLISHER: Peachtree
COPYRIGHT: 2006

Mr. Thompson's class is preparing for the 100th day of school.  Each child is going to bring a collection of 100 things.  When Jake gets to school, he realizes he forgot his collection at home.  The principal helps him find a solution.  The class has a special 100th day visitor also.

This is a nice book to read to prepare for or celebrate the 100th day.  I thought the  students had good ideas of things to bring in a collection to share with the class. 

Blabber Mouse

TITLE:  Blabber Mouse
AUTHOR:  True Kelley
ILLUSTRATOR:  True Kelly
PUBLISHER:  Dutton Children's Books
COPYRIGHT:  2001

Blabber Mouse likes to talk.  He talks all the time to his friends and about his friends.  He ruins surprises by telling secrets and moving endings.  His friends want to help Blabber stop being such a big mouth.  Will they be able to teach him a lesson?

I enjoyed this book and the cute mouse illustrations.  The message of this book is great for early elementary aged children.  It would be good in a character education class.

Natalie School's First Day of Me

TITLE: Natalie School's First Day of Me
AUTHOR: Dandi Daley Mackall
ILLUSTRATOR: Lys Blakeslee
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2009

This is the newest book in the "That's Nat!" series by Dandi Daley Mackall. Natalie is getting ready for kindergarten and her mind is filled with "what ifs" about the first day. This book is appropriate for early readers and young primary aged children will enjoy this story.

I found this book very appropriate for myself to read also as the mother of a boy who is heading to kindergarten. It made me see things through his eyes and the "what ifs" he may have about the first day. I would recommend this book for parents to read with their children who are going to kindergarten.

Little Brown Bear Won't Go to School!

TITLE: Little Brown Bear Won't Go to School!
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Jane Dyer
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown and Company
COPYRIGHT: 2002

Little Brown Bear doesn't want to go to school. One day he goes out to look for a job. After trying out several jobs that he cannot do very well, he goes back to the class and decides to join the others in the fun they are having in school. The illustrations are fun and bright. This book would be enjoyable to children ages preschool through primary grades.

My son and I loved this cute story and will be looking for more books by this author.