Happy School Year! (by Susan Milord)

All over town kids get ready for the first day of school. Many are nervous and scared. But a First Day Celebration reminds them of their dreams and wishes, and nerves turn to excitement as they sing "Happy School year to us."

Most of us remember our first day of school, and exactly how we felt. Of course, facing firsts of any kind makes most of us feel nervous, and excited, all at the same time. And we often feel like we are the only one to feel so jittery and scared. But, what can we do about it? In HAPPY SCHOOL YEAR! the school staff has come up with a solution. By celebrating the new year, much like a birthday party, with cupcakes, candles, and special wishes, they bring students together with parents and staff into one big community. And together, they celebrate the adventures to come in the new school year, and they also show that school can be a fun-loving and supportive place.

All ages and ethnicities are represented here as are different ways of approaching life. Some kids spring to life in the morning, dress themselves, and scurry into breakfast with their families; others burrow deeper under the covers and need a little help getting underway. Also, different kids feel differently as they arrive at the school. Older, experienced kids look eager and excited, while the new first graders seem nervous and a bit overwhelmed. And their expressive eyes, though simply dots under eyebrow lines, clearly and simply tell the tale. Everyone is getting ready for the first day of school, and no one knows exactly what to expect.

Author: Susan Milord
Illustrator: Mary Newell DePalma
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: July 1, 2008
Number of pages: 40
Hardcover price: $15.99
Read Aloud: 4
Read Alone: 7