Kindergarten Diary [Hardcover]

Antoinette Portis (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Starting kindergarten can be a little scary. But Annalina shows us there are lots of new and exciting things to look forward to—meeting your teacher, playing on the monkey bars, feeding the pet tortoise, and making new friends. Experience the ups and downs of the first days of kindergarten through Annalina's very own diary (as told to Antoinette Portis) and discover why the kids in room 2K are just fine!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K Imaginative, spirited Annalina narrates a month of days in her life, beginning with the day before she starts kindergarten. What makes this book special is that the author doesn't deliver a long list of Annalina's misgivings, which often give young readers extra fodder to stress about. This child simply says that she likes preschool and thinks Big School might be filled with Big Kids (What if they're mean?). The next thing readers see, there she is in room 2K, where a diverse group of children smile, wave, and look a little sleepy. Hardly anybody cried. In the following entries, the youngsters learn that the teacher isn't scary, that kindergarteners have their very own playground, that sharing is not only possible but also fun, and that nice things happen every day. The background for each page resembles the paper children use to practice their first writing white with widely spaced, light blue straight and dotted lines. Realistic and gorgeously patterned collage items outlined in black are mingled with simple paintings to create an explosion of color, shape, and texture. The narrative and illustrations are gently funny and filled with little details and jokes, enabling children to find something new with each reading. Kindergarten Diary holds its own amid an impressive assortment of cheery salves for pre-K nerves. Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY
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From Booklist

The author-illustrator behind Not a Box (2007) begins this book with another negative—I don't want to go to kindergarten! I only like preschool. But by the end of the story, which covers the month of September, Annalina, the narrator, has settled in, already thinking about first grade. Portis charmingly portrays both the fears Annalina has before starting school (mean and tall kids, a scary teacher with hair like Medusa's snakes) as well as the fun she didn't know would be there. Foremost are friends and their make-believe play on the monkey bars, but there's also writing lessons, show-and-tell, the class' pet tortoise, and her first taste of homework. Although many current kindergartners face more rigorous academic demands from the start, young readers will enjoy seeing elements of their day in Annalina's. Portis' illustrations are a fun mix of the cartoonish and realistic, including lined paper throughout the book and photographic images of certain objects. It's a welcoming world for children who are somewhere in between little kid and big kid. Preschool-Grade 1. --Abby Nolan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061456918
• ISBN-13: 978-0061456916
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #878,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to ease those pre-kindergarten nerves, July 6, 2010

By 

J. Prather (IN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kindergarten Diary (Hardcover)

I am a big fan of this author. Her books consistently show just how tuned in she is to the concerns and imaginations of children, and this book is no exception. The illustrations are fantastic. The kids are all friendly and cartoon-like, made in the author's trademark dark lines. She has also thrown in some real pictures to add to the fun. I love that the famous stick is shown in many pictures! All the kids are very expressive, from the kid who looks like he's falling asleep on the first day of school, to the girl who's sobbing, and the boy who's trying really hard not to.

It doesn't take Anna long to find out that the teacher isn't scary, they have their own playground, and they get to do homework like big kids! She learns the fun of sharing and makes a giant cow tower, changes her name to Anna from Annalina because it doesn't take so many letters, and learns how with enough practice she can get across those giant monkey bars. The illustrations of Anna's imaginings on the playground are particulary effective, and her picture of her small size compared to the giant first grader was particular poignant.

This book is loads of fun, with lots to enjoy while it sneaks in the message that Kindergarten is really going to be OK. Another great effort from this author and a big recommend for preschoolers and kindergartners.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly captures a kindergartner's experience!, November 18, 2010

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Kindergarten Diary (Hardcover)

My daughter started Kindergarten this fall and loves every minute of it! We discovered this book quite by accident at our local library and since then she has asked for it so often that I've decided to get our very own copy. Author/illustrator Antoinette Portis perfectly captures the anxieties of preschoolers about to begin kindergarten and goes on to illustrate how these kids cope with kindergarten - learning to play and share with friends, playground politics, being nice to each other, and making friends - all in all, the wonders and joys of kindergarten!

The main character is Annalina (who wisely decides to shorten her name to "Anna" until she learns how to spell her name in full!) and the story follows Anna's adventures in Room 2K, taught by nice Ms. Duffy. Anna befriends David M. and Zoe and the trio become great friends. It's fun to read about Anna's exploits, including her attempts to look perfect for picture day at school, which don't quite turn out the way she wants.

This story really captures the kindergarten experience as can be attested to by my daughter. It is a wonderful prep book for anxious preschoolers about to take that big leap into formal schooling. Recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kindergarten Diary, October 11, 2010

By 

Beverly L. Archer "Booklady123" (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kindergarten Diary (Hardcover)

The reader gets to spend a month with Annalina, a young girl who does NOT want to go to Kindergarten. She only likes Pre-school. What makes this book different many other books about the anxiety of starting school is that the author doesn't spend a great deal of time focusing on Annalina's fears. This can often give young readers things to fear that they had not thought of before. Rather, the author focuses on the day to day activities in Kindergarten. As Annalina learns that the teacher isn't scary, that Kindergarteners have their own playground, that sharing can be fun and that nice things happen every day, the reader has moved with Annalina from being apprehensive about Kindergarten to liking Kindergarten and even looking forward to First Grade. The background for each page resembles the paper children use to practice their first writing white with widely spaced, light blue straight and dotted lines. Realistic and kid friendly patterned collages are combined with simple paintings/drawings to create delightful colorful illustrations full of shape, color and texture. This is an excellent book for children (and parents) just starting Kindergarten. I wish I had found this gem at the beginning of the school year.

Reading level ages 4 to 8. (Preschool - K)