Celebrating the beginning of school! More books to share (ages 3 - 7)

I'm excited as can be for the start of the new school year. Here at Emerson, it's so much fun to see returning students who've grown over the summer. Some are feeling a little shy as they start the new year, wondering what it has in store, who will be their friends, what their teacher will be like. Others are excited to tell me about the books they've loved reading over the summer or seeing old favorites. Here are two books I'm excited to share with teachers and parents as they celebrate the beginning of school.

Eddie Gets Ready for School
by David Milgrim
NY: Scholastic, 2011
ages 3 - 7 available at your local library and my favorite bookstore

Eddie is super-excited to get ready for school and he's zooming around his house. David Milgrim captures the energy and enthusiasm of this little boy perfectly. Using a checklist that's engaging and accessible, Milgrim creates a book that's perfect for preschoolers and for 1st/2nd graders learning to read. Eddie starts off right:

"A checklist for getting ready all by myself!
Wake up
Have a healthy breakfast
Feed Mr. Chips"

But soon he's watching cartoons, drinking root beer, and then smiling as his mom stands with hands on her hips. Kids will enjoy the humor in the illustrations and Eddie's shenanigans. We'll definitely be sharing this with our Emerson kids, especially as they learn to write their own "how to" lists in 2nd grade!

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
story by Eric Litwin
art by James Dean
NY: HarperCollins, 2011
ages 3 - 7
available at your local library and my favorite bookstore

Pete the Cat is one stylish dude. He's definitely ready for school and has a song to go along with the new year. I love listening to his song on this free download. Once I listened to the song, each time I read the story I heard it in my head - the rhythm and tune is perfect for kids to sing along.

"I'm rocking in my school shoes,
I'm rocking in my school shoes,
I'm rocking in my school shoes."

He visits the library and is reading in his school shoes. In the lunchroom, Pete knows it can be loud and busy. "Does Pete worry? Goodness, no!" He just sings his song, "I'm eating in my school shoes, I'm eating in my school shoes, I'm eating in my school shoes." Our kindergarten and 1st grade classes are going to love how Pete goes through the routine of school, visiting each part from the classroom to the playground to bus ride home.

Head over to Mr. Schu's Watch. Connect. Read. to view the fun booktrailer and listen to the song on YouTube if you'd like. Once I did, I knew this was perfect for our school!

I bought both of these books from my favorite local bookstore, Mrs. Dalloway's Books. What a perfect way to start the school year! For more back-to-school books, head over to Parents Press to see my recent Bookshelf article on school stories. Also head over to Mr. Schu and Alyson's suggestions for back to school picture books.