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9781442422483

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Twenty children from 19 different homes are getting ready for the first day of school in this illustrated story in rhyme. Some of the students-to-be are eager, others are nervous, but there are plenty of antics all around. Three have pancakes./Juice for eight./Two eat toast./One drops a plate. Some have butterflies;/they just nibble./One s distracted /dribble dribble. The children are from diverse backgrounds, and Gee skillfully infuses their faces with emotion in the digitally colored pencil drawings. With such a variety of experiences early in the morning, viewers will be able to identify with the characters depicted. It s also fun to follow the individual kids as they get ready, meet up with friends, and make their way to class. VERDICT An appealing look at one group of students who come together to form a class. Suitable for small group sharing, but most first-time students will want to pore over the engaging artwork.--School Library Journal August 2016

An original take on the first-day-of-school theme follows the 20 students thatmake up the titular kindergarten class as they get ready in the morning. Ashburn and Gee do their best to be inclusive in every way from the kids' skintones, ethnicities, and hairstyles to their personalities and behaviors. Four are eager, up since dawn. / Three just sit / and yawn / and yawn. /Some are grumpy. / Some keep sleeping. / They don't hear the clockbeep-beep-ing! Some laugh, some cry. Some have prepared ahead of time, with clothes laid out or new shoes or a new backpack, while others spend time looking for things or make do with hand-me-downs. Two fashionistas dress to the nines, while four wear shirts their moms picked out. From day-old underwear and nonmatching socks to an accident with a breakfast plate, forgetting to brush, and issues with younger siblings, Ashburn isn't afraid to confront mishaps head-on. But after some almost miss the bus, a few get rides, and others walkto school, they all end up together in front of a welcoming teacher. Gee's delightful tots are done in pencil and colored digitally, with a watercolor look. She captures each personality, and readers are sure to find at least one kid with whom they can identify. A reassuring peek that will assuage children's fears about their own first days and their classmates. (Picture book. 4-7)--Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW 6/1/16

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Boni Ashburn has lived in Connecticut, Ohio, Illinois, and Colorado, but now lives in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She is the author of Hush, Little Dragon, Over At The Castle, I Had A Favorite Dress, and several other books for children. Visit her at BoniAshburn.com. Kimberly Gee grew up in Lakewood, New Jersey, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from California State University, Long Beach. Prior to delving into her life-long dream of writing and illustrating children’s books, Kimberly parlayed her creative talents into a successful career in architectural design, illustration, and greeting card design and production. Kimberly currently resides in Claremont, California. She has two young children, Finn and Claire, who are her inspiration (and her models). Visit her at KimberlyGee.com.

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