My youngest is off to Kindergarten next week! And I have been in denial most of the summer, I can't believe it's here already. So While I've been putting off back to school shopping, and telling myself I have more time with her at home, the days have been flying by and we are in the home stretch. Books have been helping to get her excited about "big kid school" and I wanted to share with you some books about the first day of school and starting Kindergarten.
K is for Kindergarten
Written by Erin Dealey
Illustrated by Joseph Cowman
As you can gather from the title this is a book that goes through the alphabet with words starting with each letter about how fun kindergarten is. You can find this book in the non fiction section. While you can read just the story part to your child about how "D is for following directions," and "J is for jitters," this book also offers some great activities on the side panel of each page. These activities offer many conversation starters so you can get your little one to open up and ask any question and have the whole family talk about their first day at school. Other activities offer crafts and ways to have your child prepared for kindergarten.
If your little one isn't going to kindergarten this year, I'd suggest getting this book to read throughout this year to start getting them excited and preparing them for what school will be like. Another great program you should look into near you is Head Start and the local library and see if they offer a pre-K story time or a Cruise into Kindergarten program.
Back to the book. Moms you will love letters Q and R both for different reasons. The activity for Q is to see if you can play the Quiet Game, set a timer and see if you can read a book or do something without talking for 5 minutes! R talks about the restroom and washing your hands after.
The illustrations are almost magical which helps little ones get excited about this new place they will be off to without their adult with them. I love the colors and diversity that is shown throughout the book. Joseph Cowman did a wonderful job showing all the different types of kids that will be at school, tall, short, glasses, all different races, and I love that he included a child in a wheelchair and leg braces. This is another great talking point. If your child has something that makes them feel different this is a great way to show them that they aren't alone, there are other kids like that and maybe they will find a new friend at school that is like them. It's also a way for parents to talk about different handicaps and explain how children are different and how to treat others.
David Goes to School
by David Shannon
We all know the book No, David, this is David going to school with the same issues. I picked this book because it gives you an opportunity to talk about how you behave in school. "Wait your turn, David!" This is a wonderful way to show children how they need to behave. The illustrations show how the line could be long and how other kids feel if you cut. I love the way David Shannon put the text you read on the beginner writers paper you know the one with the dotted line in the middle. Kids who are learning to write on the same type of paper are going to recognize it and say, "I use that paper, see what I can write!" As much as you don't want to laugh and show your children misbehavior, it's something all kids struggle with. All children are full of energy and won't want to come back inside after recess or might have trouble being quiet at the right times. Think of yourself on a beautiful day and you go out for lunch and the day is just so pretty you don't want to go back inside to work, or how when there's a meeting starting but you and a friend are in a really good conversation that's IMPORTANT (by important I mean the latest gossip) and all of a sudden you realize everyone else is quiet except you. These are all thing that children deal with as well but they are still learning control and how to behave. I think this is a great book to show them how they should behave, by using David and his classmates. This book really wouldn't work without the illustrations showing how his behavior is affecting the other students.
The wonderful thing about David Goes to School, is that it can be referenced throughout the year and in other grades as well. It's not just a first day of school book.
The Night Before Kindergarten
written by Natasha Wing
art by Julie Durrell
Natasha Wing is known for her Night Before series, where she takes the well known Night Before Christmas and twist it for any occasion. This time she beautifully tells about getting ready for kindergarten and that first day.
"Erasers and crayons and pencils galore were stuffed in their backpacks and set by the door. Outfits were hung in the closets with care, knowing that kindergarten soon would be there."I think she's a brilliant in her way of taking the traditional and ordinary and blending them together to write something amazing. She captures all the feelings of the night and first day of school and makes it feel like Christmas which kinda makes it hard to not be excited for! Not to give the ending away but when the children are dropped off at school and the parents cry, I know that's going to be me! My baby is leaving me for school where she'll be for six hours! Yup, I'm already teary eyed.
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Now if you're like me and don't have the erasers, crayons, and pencils galore (or any other school shopping) yet, all I can say is I'm happy Amazon has 2 day shipping for Prime members! If you are unsure what is needed check out Good Housekeeping's Back to School Supplies for Kindergarten to College. And I have some quick links here for you as well of things that have been commonly requested on my oldest over the last 4 years.
I hope all of you parents enjoy your last days home with your little ones as much as you can, and that all kids have wonderful first days of school!
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| my oldest on her first day of Kindergarten |
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| Good By Summer, Hello School year |
And if you are a teacher, or have a friend who is a teacher don't forget to let them know we understand that kids and parents aren't the only ones stressing over the first day of school. Here are some gifts for them:
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