School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex

The back-to-school narrative is flipped on its head in this colorful picture book as School, himself, is the main character!

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex and illustrated by Christian Robinson. Roaring Brook Press, 2016. 40 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Books, Ages 4-8

Recommended For: Ages 3 and up; anyone who might be nervous about a first day at school!

I was full of kids…. And I heard a joke, and I accidentally had a fire drill but everyone was nice about it, and I listened to a classroom and I learned about shapes.

When School’s doors open on the first day of school, he is in for a big surprise as hordes of children surge into his doors, busily go about their school day (messing up his clean halls!), and then abruptly leave again. School has just been built during the summer, and he is unused to the cheerful chaos school–especially the first day of school–entails. Humor and poignancy blend expertly in the text while the bold, cheerful illustrations capture the “school” feeling wonderfully.

Children who have just started school for the first time this year will appreciate hearing about an “alternate” perspective! But even those who are experts at the whole school thing will find this book funny and heart warming. An excellent choice to spark discussions amongst kindergartners and early elementary students about nerves, being nice to new people, and thinking about life from someone else’s perspective!

Cautions: none

Overall Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)

Worldview Rating: 4.5

Artistic Rating: 4.5

cover image from amazon