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Happy School Year!

(2008, Fiction - School, Written by Susan Milord, Illustrated by Mary DePalma)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 3, age appropriate for kids over 4; suggested age 4.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    A great way to address kids' first-day jitters.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 4 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Kids help one another, parents and teachers help kids, everyone is friendly and smiling; multi-ethnic and multi-aged.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Happy School Year!

Parents need to know that the upbeat message of this book speaks directly to kids, with no silly frills or tricky messages. This is a good book to springboard into a discussion of first-day jitters and what kids might expect when they go to the first grade, or any new grade, for the first time.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how they feel about going to school on the first day, at any age. Are they excited? scared? Do they feel like the kids in the book? Do they spring out of bed or hide under the covers? How do different kids get ready? How do you get ready at your house? What do you think about the celebration? How did it change the way the kids felt? Why? Do you think your teacher will do something special on the first day? What do you think it will be like? What are your special wishes for the school year?

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