Happy School Year!
By Patricia Tauzer,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
A great way to address kids' first-day jitters.
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Based on 2 parent reviews
happy senior year
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What's the Story?
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.\"
Is It Any Good?
This book makes 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.
Talk to Your Kids 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?
Book Details
- Author: Susan Milord
- Illustrator: Mary Newell DePalma
- Genre: School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Scholastic Press
- Publication date: July 1, 2008
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 7
- Number of pages: 40
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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