First Grade, Here I Come!

by Tony Johnston, David Walker (Illustrator)

From award-winning author Tony Johnston and David Walker comes the perfect book for first time First Graders!



Kindergarten? Done!



"I'm zooming off to first grade now.

I need about five friends

to play good games like hide-and-sneak

and where-the-sidewalk-ends."



Tony Johnston's playful stanzas meet with David Walker's joyful art to create a remarkable foray into first grade--with all its peaks and valleys. There's reading and counting, sure, but also show-and-tell, singing, crafts, and of course, recess!



Watch out everyone, 'cause first grade, here I come!

Genres: Picture Books, School, Friendship, Childrens, Back To School, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Tony Johnston has written many acclaimed books for young people. She and her husband lived in Mexico for fifteen years, where they raised their children. She now lives in San Marino, California.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this one would focus more on the experience of starting first grade, which for most kids is a pretty big shift from kindergarten (assuming your child attended the traditional half-day K and not the full-day). Instead it was this weird mashup of this little boy talking about having five friends and all of the things he and his posse will do together--but some of the activites are too young for a 1st grade classroom, like building spaceships out of boxes, the drums, etc. While there is still free play time in most classes this age, it's certainly not the norm. I was also confused by the page that talked about (and showed) the kids jumping in piles of leaves in the winter. Huh?

There are definitely better books on this topic.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure when the author last visited a first grade classroom, but the tone here would be more appropriate for first day at preschool or kindergarten (compared to the school I work in). For example, oatmeal carton drums are a favorite of our preschoolers!
However, the anticipation of friends in play and support (such as when one goes to the nurse for a scraped knee) makes a pleasant and reassuring read.
The illustrations show petit bodies with big heads and simple faces, but children will identify with the characters' actions.

[Mely · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was just a very odd book. I don't think this prepares a child at all for 1st grade. In fact, the characters in this book seem too young to be 1st graders; more like pre K. Some of the activities had no point even being in the book. Like jumping in leaves in winter?

[Courtney]

Had to test to make sure it was an adequate kiddo gift. :)

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute book with colorful pictures but really had nothing to do with going in to first grade in my opinion.

[Jillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute, but a smidge confusing. After spending the whole book gushing about what the narrator and the gang were going to get up to all year, the last page just throws it all out the window - we'll be friends with EVERYONE!
Which is great - don't be exclusionary, don't cut people off just because you've hit some sort of friend quota - but then what was the point of the book?
(Also, clearly they already know words like "rhinoceros, preposterous, and cassowary birds" if they're talking about learning them...)

Anyway, it's fun for getting the kiddos excited for first grade, but it stops there.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Text to Self Connection

This book reminds me of a former student in my Pre-k classroom, that exhibited high energy and a zest for life as this main character does. He had so much energy, that often I would let him be my special helper for the day! He loved doing all the activities that were planned and loved involving his friends with everything he wanted to do. Although the student was excited about going to his new big school(Kindergarten/Elementary), it was not the first grade like the character in the book. However, their personalities are exactly the same.

[Christine Turner]

Kindergarten? Done! I'm zooming off to first grade now. I need about five friends to play good games like hide-and-sneak and where-the-sidewalk-ends.
Tony Johnston's playful stanzas meet with David Walker's joyful art to create a remarkable foray into first grade - with all its peaks and valleys. There's reading and counting, sure, but also show-and-tell, singing, crafts, and of course, recess! Watch out everyone, 'cause first grade, here I come!

[Mary Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rhyming picture book for Kinders.

[Elizabeth]

back to school review column

[Alina Lu · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dislike this book because some words my dad doesn't know

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, melodic book with rhyming and silly words to say. This is a great book to get your child excited about school!

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite what I was expecting. A little babyish content and illustrations.

[Kayla Fleshman]

I was expecting a completely different book when I picked this up. I was excited because I thought this would be a book that would help someone who was nervous about going into first grade, but a lot of what the author talks about is unrealistic to a classroom setting. Most of the pages show children just playing all day and no actual learning is being done. I did however like the page that talked about helping the teacher decorate because that is a really good feeling about being in school. Feeling like you are part of the environment and that you contributed to making the classroom look aesthetic can be really awesome, so I am glad that aspect was included. Cute story but doesn’t align well with the title.

[Mario Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was actually quite interesting, even for me as an adult who does not read children's picture books at all. The reason I found it interesting was because it made me reminisce of my old elementary school days, in which I was as enthusiastic as the boy within the story seemed about moving up in grades. I also liked how well it rhymed and how well it depicted such an eager and happy boy that it eve made me want to be in his shoes for a moment as I read. The illustrations are perfect for early elementary school-aged children to have it read to them, as the words within the book seem to have some sophisticated words that perhaps earlier elementary school-aged kids have not heard yet.

[Clwseattle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked First Grade Here I Come! but it was not really about FIRST GRADE, it's about what friends will do together. It's big on imagination but it's also not what I'm looking to gift to my grand, a new first grader.
3.5 stars

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit odd, in terms of the activities the boy did.