{"id":30861,"date":"2016-09-05T21:13:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-06T01:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30861"},"modified":"2016-09-05T21:13:00","modified_gmt":"2016-09-06T01:13:00","slug":"review-of-schools-first-day-of-school-by-adam-rex-pictures-by-christian-robinson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30861","title":{"rendered":"Review of School’s First Day of School, by Adam Rex, pictures by Christian Robinson"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"schools_first_day_of_school_large\"<\/a>School\u2019s First Day of School<\/em><\/p>\n

by Adam Rex
\npictures by Christian Robinson<\/p>\n

A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, New York, 2016. 36 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Okay, I wouldn\u2019t have thought it possible, but here is a new twist on the First Day of School theme.<\/p>\n

On the title page, you see construction workers and the school being built. Our story begins:<\/p>\n

That summer, they dug up the big field, and poured the foundation, and set brick on top of brick until they\u2019d built a school.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At first, the school doesn\u2019t know what\u2019s in store for it.<\/p>\n

Most days a man named Janitor came to mop the school, and buff his floors, and wash his windows. \u201cThis is nice,\u201d the school said to Janitor. \u201cJust the two of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWon\u2019t be just us for long,\u201d said Janitor. \u201cSoon the teachers will come, and then you\u2019ll be filled with children.\u201d<\/p>\n

The school creaked. \u201cChildren?\u201d
\n\u201cAll kinds<\/em> of children. They\u2019ll come to play games and to learn.\u201d
\n\u201cOh,\u201d said the school, \u201cwill you be here?\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019ll see me after the school day is over,\u201d said Janitor. \u201cDon\u2019t worry \u2013 you\u2019ll like the children.\u201d
\nBut the school thought that Janitor was probably wrong about that.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

When the children come, there are more of them than the school could possibly have imagined. The school\u2019s feelings are hurt, though, when some kids cry and don\u2019t want to come in. And others say they hate school.<\/p>\n

Later he squirted the puffy-haired kid in the face, then felt bad about it afterward.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

(Now kids who get squirted by a drinking fountain may think about what they\u2019ve said about their school!)<\/p>\n

The school listens in on classroom lessons and is embarrassed when its fire alarm goes off. During lunch, a boy tells a funny joke, and another boy laughs so hard that milk comes out of his nose.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I\u2019m covered with nose milk,\u201d thought the school. He had to admit that it was a pretty funny joke, though. Even the girl with freckles liked it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This book is a perfect match for Christian Robinson\u2019s childlike illustrations. It\u2019s easy to talk about what anxieties a school might have as compared with anxieties a child might have.<\/p>\n

I will go so far as to say that this lovely book is destined to be a classic for kids anticipating going to school. Maybe the school is anticipating their arrival, too!<\/p>\n

adamrex.com<\/a>
\nmackids.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/schools_first_day_of_school.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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