First Day Critter Jitters

by Jory John (Author) Liz Climo (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

It's almost the first day of school, and the animals are nervous. Sloth worries about getting there on time, snake can't seem to get his backpack fastened onto his body, and bunny is afraid she'll want to hop around instead of sitting still. When they all arrive at their classroom, though, they're in for a surprise: Somebody else is nervous too. It's their teacher, the armadillo! He has rolled in as a ball, and it takes him a while to relax and unfurl. But by the next day, the animals have all figured out how to help one another through their jitters. School isn't so scary after all.

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Publishers Weekly

The creators of Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? present another spry animal tale, commingling comedy and counsel while showcasing a passel of creatures braving the first day of school. Wryly and endearingly depicted in text and simplified art, each critter has a solid reason to be trepidatious: a sloth frets that it won't get to school on time ("I probably should have left yesterday"); a snake futilely spent the whole night trying to strap on its backpack ("Guess what: It didn't work, dude"); a joey misses its mom's comforting pouch; and a hibernating bear resists leaving its bed ("Can't I just dream about school, instead?"). Delivered in hand-lettered speech balloons, the animals' pithy reactions reflect each species' proclivities while deftly zeroing in on common childhood anxieties. John inserts an unforeseen foible into the mix (the armadillo teacher is equally nervous) before bringing the story to a reassuring and rewarding close. Ages 4-8. (July)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"[A] spry animal tale, commingling comedy and counsel while showcasing a passel of creatures braving the first day of school. Wryly and endearingly depicted in text and simplified art . . . Delivered in hand-lettered speech balloons, the animals' pithy reactions reflect each species' proclivities while deftly zeroing in on common childhood anxieties." —Publishers Weekly
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780735228559
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Dial Books
Publication date
July 20, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV035000 - Juvenile Fiction | School & Education
Library of Congress categories
Animals
First day of school

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