Today at School: With Yesterday and Tomorrow

by Jessica Young, Renée Kurilla (Illustrator)

Overview

Award-winning author Jessica Young and New York Times bestselling illustrator Renee Kurilla crafted a heartwarming story about the first day of school, told from the perspective of three timely characters: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

Yesterday and Tomorrow do everything together. Now that the first day of school is here, Yesterday and Tomorrow are unsure about what the day will bring! Until sure enough they discover the power of living in the present with the help of their new friend, Today. From the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Just Because, here is a gentle and uplifting picture book for anyone facing a new experience.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593812778
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	06/10/2025
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	21 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jessica Young is an award-winning author of books for young readers, including Two Homes, One Heart; I’ll Meet You in Your Dreams; My Blue Is Happy; Play This Book; the Haggis and Tank Unleashed series; and the Fairylight Friends series. A former art teacher, she loves sharing the creative process with students. She’s a lot like Tomorrow, and she’s thankful to have great friends like Today! Jessica grew up in Canada and lives in Tennessee with her family. Find out more about her books and school visits at jessicayoungbooks.com.

Renée Kurilla is the illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestselling Just Because and has also written and illustrated her own stories, including It's Fall!; One Springy, Singy Day; and The Flower Garden, to name a few. She enjoys looking back on fond memories like Yesterday but is constantly chasing dreams like Tomorrow! Renée lives in Massachusetts with her husband, their daughter, and a puppy named Yoshi. Find out more about her books at kurillastration.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ "Young has written a gentle celebration of yesterday, today, and tomorrow for the novice or experienced school-bound child." —School Library Journal, starred review

"A sweetly purposeful back-to-school tale threaded with a message of mindfulness." —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2025-03-08
The first day of school brings with it a variety of emotions.

Tomorrow and her sister, Yesterday—a blue bird and a brown bear, respectively—are preparing for the first day of school. Tomorrow is eager for the start of the new year, anticipating the fun they’ll have, while Yesterday tries to slow down and remember what was. As the day progresses, the siblings get into an argument (“You might need to slow down. You’re always rushing.” “If you’d hurry up, I wouldn’t have to”) that’s quickly resolved with the introduction of Yesterday’s new friend, an orange fox named Today. During recess, Today takes them to the top of a hill overlooking the town and shows them the beauty of living in the moment. Spotlighting common classroom experiences such as circle time, art class, and show and tell, Young and Kurilla offer a relatable look at the varied feelings associated with back-to-school days. While adults may find the book a bit didactic, many little ones will see themselves in both nostalgic Yesterday and eager Tomorrow. Kurilla’s enthusiastic, digitally rendered art is colorful and child-friendly, if a bit busy at times; the all-animal cast are all round shapes and soft lines, and the illustrator uses color-coded speech bubbles to make clear who’s speaking.

A sweetly purposeful back-to-school tale threaded with a message of mindfulness.(Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews