Grover Goes to School

by Dan Elliott, Normand Chartier (Illustrator)

On the first day of school, Grover tries to please everyone but himself in order to make new friends.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Picture Books, School

40 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 1982

Reviews

[Sean Rabun]

I vividly remember this book making me cry as a kid. I think I identified with Grover. Maybe I still do.

[Matt Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grover is a G who shouldn’t take smack from anybody. He learned to set positive boundaries with his gang and stop people pleasing.

[Meghan Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Formative as a child. Still need the refresher as an adult. And it seems to absolutely wreck but deeply resonate with kids I read it with now. So this book is basically 7/5.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This children's picture book tells the story of one of Sesame Street's most beloved characters, Grover, on the first day of school. Being such a momentous milestone in the lives of most children in today's modern developed world, it proves to be a perfect introductory reader for young children in the process of starting elementary school.

In the story, Grover is very nervous as he ties his shoes and walks to school, knowing he'll be the only child from his street. As his teacher, Mr. Lester, goes around the class asking the children their names Grover very shyly announces his, adding, "I want to be friends with everybody!"

Thus, author Dan Elliott presents one of the conflicts apparent in young school-aged children's lives: the desire to be accepted by all, yet the need for each individual to nonetheless stand up for oneself. Grover is ignorant of the latter, and goes around trying to please or acquiesce to his classmates demands, ending up with an old toy truck in exchange for a new box of crayons his mother had given him and missing out on treats and turns at play because of his altruistic & somewhat subservient character.

By the time lunch rolls around and another classmate cajoles him (with hardly any effort) into trading his jelly sandwich for a baloney one despite the fact he dislikes baloney, it is straw enough to break the camel's back and Grover begins to wail.

At this climax of action, another student named Molly consoles & comforts him, then teaches him to play jacks. Later on, when a boy named Bill asks to trade pencil boxes, Grover says 'No' for the first time, realizing his is in better shape and he doesn't need to please everyone (at least not by giving them his belongings). Then he & Bill play jacks.

At home, Grover runs in the door to tell his mother of the two new friends he made at school that day.

This is a great read for any elementary school teacher whose objective is to help students understand their roles as members of a community, especially if there are issues in the class regarding property, ownership & sharing. It teaches a great lesson in terms of not letting yourself be taken advantage of, one that most children are thankfully too innocent to know before entering school. Sadly though, many graduate high school without learning that lesson and go on to a life of being a rube.

The illustrations by Normand Chartier, an award-winning water-colorist and illustrator of children's books from Connecticut, are delightfully colorful and quite reminiscent of scenes from the Sesame Street TV show.

[Danna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as a grown adult, I cried reading about poor Grover trying to make friends! "As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons," says the Desiderata, and I was in my late 30s before I finally started to understand the "without surrender" part. When we surrender our own integrity, deny our own needs, or otherwise make ourselves small, we're actually not helping anyone or being a better friend. This simple picture book illustrates this concept so well! Thank you, Grover!

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells of Grover's first day of school. He is very nervous and afraid that no one will want to be his friend. Because of this, he ends up trading some of his things for things he doesn't want. In the end, he finds out that he can make friends without having to give away his things. I read this book over and over as a child.

[Alice Gallagher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me so sad when I was a kid. But it was the kind of sad you learn to love, a catharsis. Might be intense for very sensitive children, but it's all broken toys and broken crayons compared to a Mommy Grover's love.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-done book to help children prepare for going to school. It addresses the things that make many children nervous, such as meeting other children and making friends. It helped me when I read it as a young child.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top favorite children books! A must have for every library! Grover decides he will make friends by people pleasing, but he learns that it makes him unhappy. He learns it's ok to say no and that he can still have real friends.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The children enjoyed this book and it had a good message about how people will like you even though you don't agree with everything they want.

[Evangeline C · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this book the night before the first day of school every year. It was my dad's book when he was younger.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grover learns to say no and makes new friends at school.

[Alayna Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book I read with a kiddo about going to school, sharing with friends, making new friends and being brave!

[Lightwhisper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro infantil com as ilustrações já conhecidas da Rua Sésamo, e com a história de sermos verdadeir@s e fazermos amig@s sem medo.

[Elizabeth Kysa Sedivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book we find Grover going to his first day of school where he is the new kid. When anyone asks him something he says yes, if it is to trade some food, or if he could do this or that it did not matter in the beginning even if he didn’t want to he did because he thought then he would have friends for sure. He learns that he does not need to bend to everyone for them to like him and the new school and his new friends was going to make it a good school year. In the end another student asks to trade pencil boxes, and he said no! He was afraid at first the other student was going to get mad but he didn’t and they continued on being friends! Students may be able to relate and learn from Grover and what he did when he went to a new school and is a great lesson for anyone.

Elliott, D., & Chartier, N. (1982). Grover goes to school: Featuring Jim Henson's Sesame Street muppets. New York: Random House/Children's Television Workshop.

[Matthew Ledrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grover Goes to School. This book used to make me cry when I was a kid. It kind of makes me cry sometimes now. I really identify with the blue Muppet more than I do any other literary character… isn’t that bizarre?

Read the full review at TheBookCloset

[Liwayway · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favorite little kid book! The only book I own with a ripped binding!

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent children's book. So cute and helpful.

[Cws]

JEAR2-Ses

[Anita Smith]

This was one of my absolute favorite books as a kid. I still have it.

[Stefanie Difrisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I ever read in its entirety. I sounded out everything, I'm sure, but I was beyond proud when I said, "THE END!"

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this book as a child. I felt sorry for Grover. He was just being polite and those other kids took advantage of him. Little brats.