Mae's First Day of School

by Kate Berube

Overview

From the author-illustrator of Hannah and Sugar comes a back-to-school tale about facing your fears, now in paperback with bonus tear-out lunchbox notes

As Mae's first day of school approaches, she decides she IS. NOT. GOING.

School is scary! What if the other kids don't like her? Or what if she's the only one who doesn't know how to write? Or what if she misses her mom? Mae's anxiety only builds as she walks to school.

But then she meets Rosie and Ms. Pearl. Will making new friends show her that they can conquer their fears together?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419752421
Publisher:	ABRAMS
Publication date:	07/12/2022
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	310,311
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 7.95(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kate Berube is a children’s book illustrator and writer and the creator of Tater Totter, a zine for children. She is the author-illustrator of Hannah and Sugar and Mae’s First Day of School, and lives in Portland, Oregon.

Editorial Reviews

"I'm not going" is a phrase parents dread this time of year, but a book as clever and friendly as this one may ease the situation…[Berube's] loose-lined art makes even scrunchy scowls seem delightful.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

06/04/2018
Mae insists that school is a no-go for her: “What if the other kids didn’t like her, and what if she was the only one who didn’t know how to write, and what if she missed her mother?” She hides in a big tree by the school door and is soon joined on a branch by like-minded girl Rosie and then by “tall lady” Ms. Pearl—whom, readers will quickly surmise, is none other than Mae and Rosie’s teacher. But instead of coaxing the girls down, Ms. Pearl folds her arms stubbornly and announces her intention to stay in the tree, too: “What if the kids don’t like me? Or what if I forget how to spell Tuesday? Or what if I miss my cat?” Berube (Hannah and Sugar) is an astute and funny portraitist of children’s anxieties, and the first day of school is tailor-made for her talents. Ages 3–7. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"While children reluctant to start school may feel unspoken anxiety, this reassuring narrative gives the characters time to express the specific fears, consider them, and dispel them. Rather childlike in its simplicity, freshness, and direct approach, the appealing mixed-media artwork uses strong lines to define the characters and settings, while color washes brighten the scenes and crayon-like marks add texture. A reassuring, gently amusing picture book for children anticipating (or remembering) their first day of school."

Booklist

"While children reluctant to start school may feel unspoken anxiety, this reassuring narrative gives the characters time to express the specific fears, consider them, and dispel them. Rather childlike in its simplicity, freshness, and direct approach, the appealing mixed-media artwork uses strong lines to define the characters and settings, while color washes brighten the scenes and crayon-like marks add texture. A reassuring, gently amusing picture book for children anticipating (or remembering) their first day of school."

Booklist

08/01/2018
PreS-K-When Mae wakes up on the first day of school she announces to her parents that she will not be going. Her unrelenting parents get her out of the house and all the way to the schoolyard; but the moment her mother's back is turned, Mae makes her escape up a tree. Sitting there in the shady branches she considers never going to school, maybe even never leaving the tree. She is quite surprised when another small person named Rosie climbs up and announces that she will not be going to school either. The two share some cookies and it becomes clear that they're afraid of the same things. It takes the arrival of a third unexpected tree climber, a tall lady named Ms. Pearl, to convince them all to venture into kindergarten. The text is lighthearted but realistic and the mixed media illustrations show a bright, beautiful day while Mae's prominent scowl and obstinate expression contrasts excellently with her mother's happy exuberance. Best of all, the story doesn't trivialize Mae and Rosie's fears and takes time to affirm the bravery necessary to take a big step such as going to school for the first time. VERDICT Reassuring and silly, this is a welcome addition to most collections.—Laken Hottle, Providence Community Library

School Library Journal

2018-05-14
There's nothing wishy-washy about Mae: She is "not going" to school!Despite her parents' best efforts, all Mae sees is "the things that could go wrong." The other kids might not like her, they all might know how to write (she does not), and she might miss her mother. As soon as she gets to school, she climbs a tree. Maybe she could live there. She's soon joined by Rosie, who is equally determined not to go to school: Other kids might not play with her, she might be asked to read (she doesn't know how yet), and she might miss her dad. Then Ms. Pearl climbs up, explaining that she's not going to school, either: The kids might not like her, she might "forget how to spell Tuesday," and she might miss her cat. Taking comfort from one another, the three descend to go to school. Berube's story takes its protagonist's fears seriously, and even though young readers are likely to anticipate the story's outcome, its respect for their emotions is clear. Repetition and patterning will help children participate in the telling and anticipate what will happen next. In the bright and splashy illustrations, Mae is depicted with pale skin and a thatch of black hair; Rosie has light brown skin and brown pigtails; Ms. Pearl has brown skin and a poof of tightly curled brown hair.A sweet affirmation of jitters and comfort in numbers. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews