Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Hilarious, fun book to soothe first-day-of-school nerves.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
FIRST DAY CRITTER JITTERS opens with young animals sharing their worries about school. Parrot is afraid the tendency to repeat what others say will annoy new friends, Mole can't imagine being able to see the chalkboard, and Snake can't figure out how to carry a backpack. After a jittery ride on the school bus, a surprise awaits them in their classroom: a nervous armadillo teacher who rolls into class and takes a while to unfurl. In their rush to comfort their teacher, they discover that together, they can have a great first day of school after all.
Is It Any Good?
This funny, charming picture book capitalizes on each animal's hallmark attribute to reveal worries most young kids share about the first day of school. Kids will giggle and see themselves in the story as Sloth worries about being late to school ("I probably should have left yesterday"), Kangaroo longs for another year in mama's pouch, and Bunny fears that the need to hop, hop, hop will get them in trouble. The twist of the nervous teacher is a reassuring bonus, and the ending is as rewarding as it gets. With John's typical lively dialogue and Climo's expressive yet uncluttered illustrations, this book is especially great as a read-aloud. Perfect for families and classrooms, this is a standout in the back-to-school genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the first-day-of-school anxiety the animals feel in First Day Critter Jitters. How do you feel about the first day of school? How do you deal with feelings of nervousness or fear? Who can help you?
What words would you use to describe this book? Why did you choose those words?
What lessons can you learn from this book? How might you apply these lessons to your life?
Book Details
- Author: Jory John
- Illustrator: Liz Climo
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Dial Books
- Publication date: July 7, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: December 16, 2020
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