My First Day at Nursery School [Paperback]

Becky Edwards (Author), Anthony Flintoft (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

"I want my mommy!" is this hesitant little girl's response to her first day at nursery school. But after she gets involved with glue-y projects, singing and dancing, painting, game playing and meeting new friends, she gradually changes her mind about nursery school. Children (and parents!) who are anxious about the transition to daycare or preschool will find this book both spirited and comforting. The clever front and back jacket illustrations hint at the happy ending and the interior art is playful and bursting with color.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

reSchool-Vibrant watercolor and pen-and-ink artwork and an accessible text make this picture book an adequate addition to first-day-of-school collections. After her mother drops her off and says a rather quick good-bye, the young narrator has only one thought: "I want my mommy." On the next page, she begins to explore the classroom, noticing that there is a playhouse with a blue tea set, pots, and spoons. Then she thinks about her mother again, but this time, she says, "I want my-." As the day progresses, this refrain becomes shorter and shorter, reflecting the child's growing interest in the activities and objects that surround her and showing that she is becoming comfortable with her new environment. Finally, when her mother arrives to pick her up, the girl declares, "I want to stay at nursery school." The appealing paintings depict a busy classroom, complete with inviting play areas and a multicultural cast of smiling playmates. Alternating between double- and full-page spreads and smaller vignettes, the varied layout keeps the action moving and reflects the frenetic energy level of preschoolers at work. The warm palette combined with the child's contagious enthusiasm will help to lift the mood of children reluctant to face that daunting first day.
Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

PreS.-Gr. 1. A little girl learns how much fun nursery school can be in this simple tale of first-day jitters. When Mom drops her off, the child notices some good things ("a friendly lady holds my hand"), but she still just wants Mommy. Soon, however, as she begins to notice more, her cries for Mommy decrease, changing from "I want my Mommy!" to "I want my . . . to "I want . . . ," until they stop altogether. At the end of a day filled with painting, dancing, music, and snacks, Mommy comes back, but now the child doesn't want to go home. She's joined the other triumphant beginning students and shouts, "I want to stay at nursery school!" Loose pen-and-watercolor illustrations convey the little girl's growing enthusiasm in this pleasant story that will reassure youngsters about their own first days. Diane Foote
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (August 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582349096
• ISBN-13: 978-1582349091
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 9.6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #447,364 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > First Day of School

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter loved it![..], December 2, 2002

By 

Diana L. Torres (Phoenix, Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My First Day at Nursery School (Hardcover)

My 3 year-old loved this book. We read it to her just before starting preschool. She sat intently while I read the book to her. It acurately displays the conflicting feelings young children have when going to school. The excitement of playing with other children and doing new things and the fear of leaving mommy or daddy. It helped my daughter adjust to preschool. She still has me read it to her even though she has been in school for a few months.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of Show, September 15, 2005

By 

Janet Gerber (New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My First Day at Nursery School (Hardcover)

My two-and-a-half year old just started preschool. I've looked at SO many books in this genre, and this one stands head-and-shoulders above the rest. What a lovely book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, August 22, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: My First Day at Nursery School (Hardcover)

This book is wonderfully written and illustrated. My two-year-old daughter wants to read it again and again. I definitely think it helps prepare children for nursery school. Each time we read the book, my daughter and I discuss the fact that she'll be attending nursery school soon, just like the girl in the book. I'm planning to purchase a book for a good friend, whose daughter is also about to start attending nursery school.