First Grade, Here I Come!

Henry

by Nancy Carlson

After the first day of first grade, Henry's not sure how he feels about it. The teacher isn't like his kindergarten teacher, and the fifth-graders hog the monkey bars. But as Henry tells his mother about a new friend who likes soccer and about how he'll learn to read books, he begins to realize that maybe first grade won't be so bad after all.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, 1st Grade, Education, Back To School, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2006

Reviews

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son is really missing his Kindergarten teacher. This book helped in teaching him to appreciate all the new and cool things in his First grade classroom.

[Vamp 🧛🏻‍♀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book.I read it on YouTube and defiantly think it was amazing.It tells the story of new 1st grader,Henry, who was nervous about 1st grade.When his mom asks about how it was he says all the things of the day.By the end of the story,Henry finally learned that 1st grade wasn’t as bad as he thought.
Wonderfully written and amazing illustrations this book was one of the few I have no bad things to say about.The book was written like a book should be written and Henry talked like a 1st grader should,their grammar not perfect but clear.I very much enjoy and hope if you are looking to read this to your child you do.I really love this story.Nancy Carlson hit it out of the park with the way it was written.

[Kristen LeBlanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written and illustrated by Nancy Carlson, "First Grade, Here I Come" is a children's fiction book about a mouse named Henry who is starting first grade. The images in the book are more simple but still colorful to keep the attention of the child who reads the story. All of the characters are clothed and personified to give the reader a more relatable image so they can feel as if they are going to school with Henry. Henry goes on several adventures on his first day, has a new teacher who is a "Mr." unlike his kindergarten teacher, makes a new friend named Oswaldo, and lets the class guinea pig out on accident. When his mother picks him up from the bus, she asks Henry a ton of questions about his first day of school, which helps to lead the reader through the story with illustrations to match. Henry's mother response to his day was to the point, "First grade does sound different from kindergarten," and Henry's response shows how he has grown to like his new class even after just the first day, "Yeah, but it's not too much for me because...I'm a real first grader now." To make it more relevant, this book should be read at the end of kindergarten or as an introductory book for first graders. It can be included in any classroom library but is geared toward younger children and is not suitable for higher grade levels.

[Anna Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at a child's first day of first grade. He not sure about it because he really like kindergarten. But his mother asks him about his day, any by the end he decides he does like first grade. The pictures are colorful and detailed. Very good read.

[Mother Goose Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

After returning home from his first day of first grade, Henry recounts the events of his day to his mother. At first Henry isn’t so sure if he likes first grade but realizes that it is simply different than kindergarten.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

My soon to be first grader loved this book and it helped put his mind at ease because he really enjoyed kindergarten and his teacher.

[Brittnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little story for the first day of first grade

[Kelley]

Text to Self
Can to wait to read

[Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet book about going into first grade which is very different than kindergarten. Would be a great book to read the night before the first day of school!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! I am planning on reading it for the second day of school.

[Hannah Joly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for kindergartens preparing for next year so they can prepare and understand the difference between the transition

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

With one daughter in first grade and one in Pre-Kindergarten, we read both "Look out Kindergarten, Here I Come!" and this book back to back. I hadn't given it too much thought, but there are some definite differences between Kindergarten and First Grade and this book is great for highlighting them in a positive way. Our oldest thought it was fantastic that Henry's class has a guinea pig, since her class does too. And the fact that she also has a desk with her name on it, just like Henry, makes her feel very grown up. This is a wonderful book, for helping to describe what to expect but also to stimulate conversation about what happens at school, the things they like and don't like as well as get some feedback about their teachers and what they've learned.

[Ruhama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry is starting first grade this year, and has had a day of school already. His mom quizzes him about it, and he says something good and something bad about each experience or compares last year to this year. Like his teacher is a male this year, and he has a new friend. This is a cute picture book about assessing something new, particularly a new grade at school. There often is a big difference between kindergarten and first grade, so this may be perfect for those with a little anxiety about the switch. It also may be a good tool for caregivers to start discussion. The pictures are typical Nancy Carlson and are quite colorful. Everything wraps up neatly by the end.

[babyhippoface · Rating 2 out of 5]

Henry the mouse comes home from his first day of first grade unsure of whether he enjoyed himself or not. As he shares both the good and the bad things about his first day while responding to his mother’s questions, he realizes he had more fun than he thought, and that he really is ready for first grade. Brightly-colored illustrations in typical Carlson style add energy to this simple tale, which may just be the perfect story to share to calm first-day anxieties. Personally, I don't like Carlson's style, so the pictures creep me out, but kids will like it anyway.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a little mouse named Henry who does not enjoy first grade at first. His problem was that he missed kindergarten and his teacher was different. Then as he begins telling his mom all about his new teacher and what first grade is like he realizes that he does actually enjoy it and look forward to the new things he is learning. This book would be perfect for kindergarteners. I would read it to them at the end of the year as I am starting to prepare them for first grade. It's a fun book that could help kindergarteners know what to expect in first grade.

[Sarah Kiesche · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the first day of 1st grade for Henry. In retelling his day, Henry discovers that even though 1st grade is very different from Kindergarten-there are lots of things that he loves. I like the sequencing of his day, although I think the book is a bit outdated as Henry is told he'll be learning to read in 1st. Great to read at the end of K to prepare students for their transition to the next grade.

[Jennesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!!!! It shows how there are some things that first graders fear and how they learn to adapt to a different environment. This would be a great first day book for first grade, obviously. The book demonstrates teamwork to help Henry read and once Henry got the help he needed he was reading in no time. This gives kids initiative to help others and allow others to help them when they are in need of help.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty cute book. I like that the story is told as a conversation between a mother and son about his first day of first grade. This would be a great book to read to first graders on their first day of school. It will help to alieviate any stresses about the change from kindergarten to first grade.

[Mary Sesar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Henry who isn't quite sure he is going to like first grade. Things start looking up for him after he meets a friend. I would use this book to help show children that just because the first time you do something doesn't work out, to keep moving forward and it will get better and easier for you.

[Taylor Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another book at about the first day of school. It is focuses on a mouse worried about the first grade because of how differnt it is from Kindergarten. In the end he realizes he liked first grade and is ready for the first grade. It would also be great to read on the first day of school, especially in the first grade.

[Shelby Usrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book to first graders in the beginning of school would help them understand the difference from kindergarten! It would also help them understand that things will work out and they are capable to get through it! This is such an adorable book that I would love to have to read to my kids!

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very cute I thought. The little boy is scared of change and going to the 1st grade after getting so used to kindergarten. But after he gives it a chance he learns how much fun 1st grade can truly be. He describes about his exciting first day of 1st grade. I think this would be a great book to start if the beginning of the year with a 1st grade classroom.

[Codie Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry is starting first grade. It is a lot different than kindergarten, but he has a lot of fun in his new class. I like this book because it shows that even though first grade is different from kindergarten, you can still have fun.

[Kelly Triplett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shows that it's OK to be fearful of the first day of school. It does a nice job of telling students that all classroom are not the same. Would be good for a summer read as students are preparing to enter the 1st grade or perhaps as students are finishing up their kindergarten year.

[Latifah Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for first day of first grade. It helps students compare and contrast Kindergarten and First Grade. After reading this you can ask students to write about their expectations of first grade.

[Makenzy Mascioli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be perfect for a first day of reading in school for first graders!! It tells how some things are different from kindergarten and how Henry was adapting to the changes, and after all, enjoyed 1st grade!!

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book serves its purpose; it would be a good choice for children feeling apprehensive about school, but not one I'd use for storytime.

[Rachel Flan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Use this book when reading to kids on the last day of Kindergarten or first day of Preschool

[Stephanie Tercero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would add this book to a school library.

[Bridget]

Have the audio version