Eliza's Kindergarten Surprise

by Alice B. McGinty

Eliza has to go to school for the first time ever. But she doesn’t want to leave Mommy. Mommy understands. She places a kiss on her fingertips and gently slides it into Eliza’s pocket. But Eliza’s pocket still feels empty inside. Then, at school, she sees things that remind her of her mother. She gets an idea and makes a mommy doll as a surprise for Mommy! Child-friendly illustrations using acrylic paint by Nancy Speir add charm and appeal as Mommy shows Eliza a surprise, too.

Genres: School, Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 30, 2007

About the author

Alice Blumenthal McGinty is an American writer of children's books.
McGinty was born in 1963 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended Indiana University and the University of Illinois. McGinty is Jewish. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Reviews

[Sarah Westgate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Realistic Fiction
This book is targeted for Kindergarten. One unique feature of this text is that it could be used on the first day of school to help children cope with the first day and missing their parents!

[AFP · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sweet story about first-time jitters leaving mom to go to school. Eliza isn't certain that school is right for her and misses her mommy terribly, until she discovers that school is about discovering and making things. Very good for my little nervous Nelly specifically.

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

do you really expect me to believe a first day of school kindergartener made a model of her mother out of trash and paste? cracking up over here.

[Felicity The Magnificent · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book Eliza went to kindergarten for the first day. She didn't want to go to school. Her Mom kissed her warm on her cheeks, and then she put a kiss in her pocket. Eliza's teacher brought her in and showed her her very own cubby. She brought Eliza to circle time for morning songs. Eliza didn't sing morning songs. Instead she looked down on the carpet and there she found two blue buttons shiny like Mommy's shoes. And then it was recess time. Eliza looked in her pocket but she didn't see those two blue buttons. Ruth asked her if she wanted to play tag. Eliza said no. She crawled inside a tunnel to hide, and there she found a pebble, smooth and bright like Mommy's skin. And then it was time to go inside, and it was snack time. Eliza didn't want to eat. She poked holes in her crackers. There she found a napkin, red and white and bumpy, like Mommy's dress. And then it was art time. Eliza pushed all her stuff for making a scarecrow, and shouted, "I want my Mommy!" And that's when she saw the clothes pin, shiny and golden like Mommy's hair. She put it in her pocket and that's when she saw all of the stuff together. And when she saw the stuff together, she knew just what to do. She made Mommy. She showed her teacher, and then she kissed Mommy and put her into her pocket. She sang songs at circle time, she played tag with Ruth at recess, and then before she knew it, it was time to go home. She showed Mommy what she made, and Mommy showed her a picture of Eliza. She said good-bye to Ruth and her teacher. - by Felicity

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming story of Eliza's first day in kindergarten

I loved this little story about Eliza's first day in kindergarten. It gets the feelings right on both the child's side (and the parent's because it is traumatic for us Moms and Dads to send our babies to school for the first time too).

The story was simple yet expressive. And the illustrations were bright and excellent.

My twin grandchildren are too young to worry about school yet but Nana will be reading this story to them in a few years, hoping to relieve some of those first-day jitters. And maybe making a Mom and a Dad doll for them to carry

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For children that have never been to preschool, kindergarten sure can be a scary place.

Eliza’s mommy has taken care to make Eliza feel safe during her first day by giving her a kiss to keep in her pocket. Still, Eliza is too sad and empty feeling. As the day goes on, this inventive young child puts thing into her pocket that remind her of her mother. There are buttons and a pebble and during art class, she has an idea. Soon, she is not so lonely anymore and by the end of the day, she has a wonderful surprise for her mom.

This is a great book to help your young one to see that going to school does not mean that they are leaving you and that they can always carry you with them

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute book about a little girl who's scared to go to Kindergarten. As she goes through her day doing the activities with her class she collects little things that remind her of her mom and stores them in her pocket. When her class is supposed to be making scarecrows out of cloths pins she takes her collection out of her picket and makes a Mommy doll. With her mommy doll she has the courage to face the rest of the day and find happiness with her classmates. My daughter loved this book and now we are making "Mommy dolls"!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eliza is really nervous to go to school. On her first day of kindergarten, Eliza has a rough time leaving Mommy for the first time. Even though other kids and teachers try to help her Eliza still misses Mommy. Eliza finds away to make it so it feels like Mommy isn't so far away. The illustrations are bright and cheerful and the story is heartwarming. Cute and sweet story to help children who are struggling with time apart from a parent, especially when starting school.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute, about a little girl who comes up with her own coping strategy when she goes to school for the first time. Really good to read to children who are struggling with the separation from their parents

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was skeptical that this title may be too much like "The Kissing Hand" but then it took a totally cool turn. Eliza misses her mother on her first day of kindergarten and with a bit of patience and creativity, she finds a way to have her close to her heart. Sweetly delivered.

[Julie Heidingsfelder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book: realistic fiction. I actually checked this out because my son was saying he was scared to go to kindergarten someday. This is a touching story of how Eliza's mom lets her know she is always with her.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good story for a kindergarten class where they are feeling a bit homesick. It would pair well with an activity afterward where the children made a little trinket to remember who or whatever they are remembering at home.

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable and a hell of a lot better than the mawkish "Kissing Hand" people rave about. And it might give parents and kids the idea to make their own "kindergarten surprise"!

[Christine Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

On her first day of school, Eliza fills her pocket with objects--buttons, a pebble, a napkin, and a piece of yarn--that remind her of her mother, whom she misses very much. www.hcpl.net

[Courtney Hendley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

My daughter enjoyed reading this. It made her think of her going to kindergarten soon. I had to read it multiple times!