Tag Archives: first day of school

Helping Your Child Start School, Part 3: Kindergarten

9 Jul

Where did the years go?  You were just bringing your child home from the hospital, and now they are walking into a building with big kids who bear a striking resemblance to giants compared to your little one.  This is the big Kahuna, starting kindergarten.  Before you know it, your child will be in first grade and you’d better have a college account ready to go.  Meanwhile, here are some books to help make the transition to kindergarten a smooth one:

Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten! By Yun Hyewon.

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A five year old boy comforts his mother as he sets out on his first day of real school.

Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis.

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Dexter is all ready for school.  However, his stuffed dog, Buster, is having some worries about how the day will go.

Kindergarten Diary, by Antoinette Portis.

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Annalina’s diary entries reflect her feelings as she goes from being afraid to go to kindergarten to loving being part of school, in just her first short month.

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? by Audrey Vernick.

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Kindergarten provides unique challenges for a young buffalo who is trying his very best to get along in school.

The Night Before Kindergarten, by Natasha Wing.

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Set in the form of a poem based on “The Night Before Christmas,” children get ready for school and are as excited by the new experience as if Santa was coming.

Kindergarten Countdown, by Anna Jane Hays.

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Rhyming text follows a little girl as she counts down activities and days to get ready for her first day of kindergarten.

Adventure Annie Goes to Kindergarten, by Toni Buzzeo.

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A little girl who loves adventure must learn to follow rules, but it is all part of the excitement of starting kindergarten.

All of these kindergarten kick-off books can be borrowed from the Hoboken library or from the BCCLS library system.

-Written by Lois Rubin Gross, Senior Children’s Librarian

This is the last post in a three-part series that complement special story times to be held at the Hoboken Public Library in August for children starting school for the first time.

Part 1

Part 2

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Helping Your Child Start School, Part 2: Daycare

2 Jul

Since Hoboken children have universal pre-school, this is an experience every child goes through.  For many children, this is a first separation from mom or dad.  For others, it is a step up from daycare.  Whichever the case, it is a giant step for children to attend “big kids’ school” for the first time in their lives, and they may be nervous about what is expected of them.  Here are some books to deal with pre-school jitters:

My Preschool, by Anne Rockwell.

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This book follows a little boy at preschool as he moves from saying hello to friends in circle time, to painting pictures, and to helping in class by passing out snacks.

Maisy Goes to Preschool, by Lucy Cousins.

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Join Maisy and all of her friends as they spend a busy day at preschool.

Jojo’s First Day Jitters, by Jane O’Connor.

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Nancy is helping her little brother, Jojo, get ready for preschool, and showing him what a difference having an experienced big sister can make.

It’s Time for Preschool, by Esme Codell.

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The author describes thirteen areas of behavior, emotional readiness, and learning that are part of preparing for preschool and part of the preschool experience.

Best, Best Friends, by Margaret Chodos-Irvine.

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Mary and Clare do everything together at preschool.  They are BFFs.  However, when Mary plans a birthday party, it puts a strain on the girls’ friendship.

Preschool Day, Hooray! by Linda Leopold Strauss.

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Rhyming text describes a typical day for a child at preschool.

First Day, by Joan Rankin.

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Little Haybillybun is not the only one worried about his first day of preschool. Mom misses her little one, too.  However, as she rushes to school to “save” him, she discovers that Haybillybun is having a wonderful time.

Don’t Go! by Jane Breskin Zalben.

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Daniel overcomes his first day of school nervousness at preschool as he plays in the sandbox, collects leaves with his classmates, and bakes cookies for snack.

All of these books, and others to prepare children for their preschool experience, are available at the Hoboken Library or through the BCCLS library system.

-Written by Lois Rubin Gross, Senior Children’s Librarian

This post is the second in a three part series, which complement special story times to be held at the Hoboken Public Library in August for children starting school for the first time. Click here for the first post.

Part 1

Part 3

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