Mae's First Day of School: A Picture Book

by Kate Berube

Overview

Mae’s First Day of School is “a reassuring, gently amusing picture book for children anticipating (or remembering) their first day of school” (Booklist)—featuring 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?

“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 . . . A sweet affirmation of jitters and comfort in numbers.” —Kirkus Reviews

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419752421
Publisher:	Abrams Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/12/2022
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 8.00(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

"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

"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 . . . A sweet affirmation of jitters and comfort in numbers."

Kirkus Reviews

"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."

Publishers Weekly

"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."

School Library Journal

"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 . . . A sweet affirmation of jitters and comfort in numbers."—Kirkus Reviews

"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."—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

"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."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

"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

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