Customer Reviews

The Night Before First Grade (Reading Railroad)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's hard to write a book about first grade jitters. Many of the books out there make the first day seem just perfect, when it often isn't. What I like about The Night Before First Grade is the way in which the author recognizes the potentially frightening aspects of the first day of school and resolves them in a realistic manner.

For example, when the protagonist arrives at school, she learns that there are two sections of first grade and that her best friend will be in the other section. Bravely waving goodbye to her friend, she discovers new interests in her classroom. The lunchroom is busy and a bit scary, but she weathers it nicely.

The text is in a rhythmic prose style, patterned after "The Night Before Christmas." I was a bit skeptical at first, but it works, and young readers will appreciate the consistent beat of the narrative. Deborah Zemke's illustrations are upbeat and slightly funky - just like first grade!

I gave all of my kindergarten students this book on the last day of school. In September when they arrived as first graders, they were all telling me how much they loved the book over the summer. One parent e-mailed me and told me how helpful she found the book to be over the summer while they were preparing for first grade. I would recommend this book highly!

Excellent! I was a little skeptical at first, but this book is wonderful. My 6 year old has read the book on her own and the illustrations were very helpful to assist her in identifying some new words on the page.

She has enjoyed the book so much that she has decided to include the book in her summer book report reading list. It is just the correct length for a child entering first grade. My daughter's school only has 1 of each grade, but it has helped her realize to give things a chance. She realizes there will be new children and she may not be seated right next to her friends but there are many other things for her to explore.

First grade can be scary. It's entering what my daughter's school calls 'the upper grades'.

Overall, the book is one that both children and parents will enjoy with it's great ending.

I bought this for my daughter before she started first grade. It's very sweet and easy for her to read. I would recommend it to others.

Good story with plenty of play on words!
Kids will enjoy this, and makes for a goos converstaion starter about preparing for going back to school!

Oh, what an adorable story. Told in a rhyming fashion, with a couple of miscues and using a couple of the same lines from T'was a Night Before Christmas, Jenny is preparing for first grade and is excited for her new adventure. Unfortunately, this excitement turns to anxiety as she learns that her best friend will be in a different classroom. Being the brave first graders that they are, they go their own separate ways only to discover that after making new friends first grade will be twice as fun.

For ages 4 and up, this will be a good book to read together before the beginning of a new school year to help alleviate the anxiety of going into a big kid class.

Although my great granddaughter has not had the opportunity to read this book yet, I am sure that she will be able to read every word and will really enjoy it.

I just ordered this and my daughter has already received and read it several time....Super Fast Shipping!!!!

This book would be fantastic for the first day of first grade or the last day of kindergarten. In a first grade classroom the students can compare and contrast their experience with that of the student in the book. I love this book.

If today was your first day in First Grade, then, this is the book for you. If today reminds you of your first day in First Grade many years ago, you can look back and reflect on this time when you probably wanted to hang on with your best friend from Kindergarten. Sometimes, you might be with that friend, but more than likely, you two will be separated, and find your selves getting together outside of that classroom. You see, there are always more than one group of children in a particular grade at a school. It just happens; and, maybe, you will be together in a class, another year.

I remember my first day "teaching First Grade" and the 50 students who walked their way into my life. There were kids who knew each other in Kindergarten and actually spent First Grade together; then, there were kids who met new friends, as did their friends, and together, that brought several children together.

Right now, if you are reading this, you probably spent today as the first day in First Grade, and your life is taking on new meaning. You will enjoy the adventure in your own life, as well as the adventure in this story. I will not tell you what happens in either place. This way, you can enter each new day with interest and excitement, and "you will be making new memories", just as the first graders in this wonderful story.

So, "Happy First Day in First Grade", all you new first graders!"