I really loved this book because of how relatable it is for children and adults of all ages. The book is about a little boy named Aidan and he is really nervous for 1st grade. He starts acting odd to his parents by not eating as much and refusing to buy new shoes because his "old ones were just fine." He starts overthinking about what he is expected to know by first grade and worries his friends won't be there to help him. This book is perfect for someone going through a change in their life and is nervous about making that transition. I would give this a 5 out of 5 stars because of how well written the book was as well as the cute illustrations that go with it. ( )

Summary

Aidan had become very moody and cranky and his parents were concerned. Aidan told them and told himself that nothing had changed about him. The truth was that he worried about what would happen when he went in the first grade. Most of all he worried about whether his friends would still be in his class because he had not seen them all summer. He worried about what the teacher would be like and what he might be asked to do in class. He even worried whether he would understand anything the teacher says. The more he worried the more scared he became. Things changed for Aidan when his friends began to return from their vacation. When he expressed his fears to them they were able to offer him comfort about what first grade would really be like. Aidan was no longer scared to go in the first grade.

Critique

This is a great book that expresses what many children feel at different stages of their school lives. There is usually something they hear about the next grade they will move on to, or some other aspect of school that makes them nervous and afraid. It is a good book to use in the early grades as a opener to reassure your students that they can lay their fears aside and that teachers are there to help them with the problems they encounter at school.

Prompts

P3. Look at the illustration. Do you agree with the boy's mom that he has first grade jitters or do you agree with the boy that nothing has changed about him? As we read the story, look for evidence to support your answer.

P31. Compare the way that Aidan was feeling on pages 3-21 to how he is feeling now. How do you know that he is feeling different? What did he say to show that?

Craft Element

The book has very expressive illustrations. Ask students to describe the feelings(emotions), or mood of the characters by looking at the illustrations.

A little boy is nervous for his first day of school, but who isn't? This book takes you on a journey through any kids mind as they prepare for the dreaded first day of school. What if the teacher is mean? What if my friends don't show up? What if I'm not smart enough? These are all things he questions, that is until his friends reassure him that everything will be okay. In the end the young boy realizes everything he questioned will be okay in the end.

Teaching Ideas: read on first day of school ( )

The little boy is worried because he doesn't know how first grade will be. He starts to act out and his mother tells him he has the first grade jitters. His friends from Kindergarten calls and wants to come over and play. One of his friends told him that she met their teacher and she is very nice. The little boy feels much better now that he know his teacher isn't bad. ( )

This book is about a little boy, Aidan, who is nervous about starting first grade. He has all kinds of questions running through his mind about first grade. At the end his jitters about first grade are gone and he is excited about first grade.

This is a great book to read to your Kindergarten class at the end of the school year to calm their fears about first grade. Also it can be read to first graders on their first day of school. ( )