We're Going to School

by Tammi Salzano, Morena Forza (Illustrator)

This uplifting, diverse picture book celebrates the first day of school and the many activities that are shared on this special day.

Starting a new school year brings a variety of emotions for children, especially if it’s their first time experiencing formal schooling. We're Going to School presents a day in the life of several children from diverse backgrounds, who engage in many of the same activities on this special day—the sometimes chaotic preparation to get dressed, have breakfast, and leave the house on time; the experience of meeting new teachers and new friends, and learning new classroom rules; and the fun and satisfaction of completing a task correctly. Children will be reminded and reassured that even though new experiences can be scary sometimes, they soon become familiar occurrences, which paves the way for enjoyment.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Friendship, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 4, 2023

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first day of school or a new school year is always filled with a sense of anticipation, no matter the age of the student. But for little ones especially, this new experience can be a bit intimidating because of the unknown. Parents and caregivers might want to use this title to alleviate some of those fears since it lays out the routine in a school day. Starting with the usual morning rituals of waking, eating breakfast, and getting dressed and then traveling to school, the book shows the slight anxiety parents have at leaving their children for the day. This contrasts with the exuberant energy and delight with which they greet them at the end of the day when their charges are full of stories about how the day went. In between, the children in these stories choose a name for the class hamster, enjoy art and music classes, eat lunch, go to recess and the bathroom, and start making new friends. After lunch, they listen to a read aloud and then select the books they want to take home to read. All this sounds idyllic and will certainly cause some youngsters to look forward to the next day. Still, I wondered about how often music and art classes are actually available to elementary students in these days of high-stakes testing and narrowed curriculum. Sadly, that's probably not likely. The students in these pages are happy, eager, and engaged as well as more or less on task even when there's a mess or two that needs to be cleaned up. What adds to the personal nature of the book is a page entitled "My First Day of School Memories," where the reader can record his/her/their thoughts about that all important first day of school. Ah, to be young again, and to have all those new experiences awaiting me!

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first day of school can be fraught for the most seasoned student. But what if it’s your first EVER day? This book provides reassuring information about what school (it looks like kindergarten) will actually consist of. Readers can follow several families as they get ready at home, arrive at school, and experience their first day. Simple declarative sentences tell what happens and the sweet Helen Oxenbury-like artwork shows how it plays out. One of my favorite things here is the tone of excitement created without the overuse of exclamation points. Another positive is the understated diversity of the kids and their families – one of the “profiled” kids has two dads, another has two moms, and one uses a wheelchair. Their families cover a range of skin tones, and the school population adds to the happy multicultural mix, showing a Sikh family, a biracial family, a kid with only a grandmother and teachers of color.

Reader will vicariously experience the classroom day – naming the classroom hamster, music and art classes (where messes are okay), lunch and recess (with an adaptive swing for the child in the wheelchair), meeting the custodian, new friendships and story time. School is shown to be a warm, welcoming and friendly place. Which is just what we want for our children.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course there are sweet,feelgood, cliches about first day at school

What interests me more is one overriding thought.

Here on this Learning Planet, from a spiritual perspective, all of us humans are going to school. Earth Schoo. And that is not cliche.

RATING THIS BOOK

Unless I absolutely love or loathe a book, my policy is to rate it in terms of my imagined response of the intended readers.

Seems to me, this book is sweet. Gentle encouraging.

FIVE STARS for a lovely book -- though to me. a book that is rife with cliches.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brief summary: Young readers will wake up early with various kids returning to school. Once inside the school, the day begins with introductions, new routines, and friend-making.

This book would be suitable for preschool or kindergartners who have never been to school to get a general idea of what happens on the first day.

Rating: 3/5 📗📗📗

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.