Review by Booklist Review
Ages 3^-6. The author/illustrator of When Vera Was Sick (1998) creates another book based on her childhood experiences. Vera gets ready for the first day of school and leaves with her older sisters. But when she arrives and sees so many children, she feels nervous and shy. Not knowing what to say or do, she loses herself in watching a caterpillar. When the school doors close, Vera finds herself alone, gets confused, runs home, and hides under her bed. Mother eventually discovers her, and Vera is able to make a fresh start. Rosenberry's gouache illustrations focus on important details, such as a red dress waiting on the chair next to Vera's bed and the school supplies inside her backpack. But in every detail of this book, from Vera's trepidation and the name tags visible on her desk and cubbyhole to her first smiling exchange with a potential friend, Rosenberry's Vera epitomizes Everychild on the first day of school. The multicultural classroom is as natural as can be, and Vera, in her bright red dress, shines like the special child she is. A winning exploration of a universal experience. --Kathy Broderick
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Vera's eager anticipation of starting school drains away at the intimidating sight of all the new kids. But the day turns out better than it begins in this reassuring companion to When Vera Was Sick," noted PW. Ages 4-7. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Vera is excited because it's her first day of school in this picture book by Vera Rosenberry (Holt, 1999). After walking to school with her older sisters and agreeing to meet them at the buckeye tree at the end of the day, Vera is left alone on the playground to wait for school to begin. But the playground is crowded and the school seems far away so Vera sits down to think. She's intent on watching a caterpillar that she misses the school bell and is late for class. Not knowing what to do, Vera goes home and hides under her bed where her mother finds her. After a hug and an explanation, Vera's mother walks Vera back to school where she meets her teacher and her class. After school, Vera meets hers sisters as planned and they walk home none the wiser. Rosenberry's text and brightly colored gouache illustrations are well served by Laura Hamilton's gentle narration that expresses all of the excitement, doubt, and accomplishment that every child feels on the first day of school. Some sound effects enhance the story. One side of the cassette has clear page-turn signals. A good choice for parents to share with children preparing to go to school for the first time or for teachers to use with a class on the first day of school.-Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
(Preschool) Young readers who suffered through Vera's chicken pox last season When Vera Was Sick (rev. 9/98) will be delighted to learn of her full recovery and her excitement about beginning school. Vera is awake for the first day before the sun comes up, her clothes readied on the chair by her bedside, her book bag draped over a bedpost. None of the other children seem to experience hesitation when the schoolyard comes into view, but Vera sees ""more children than she had ever seen before."" Nuzzled back up to the friendly buckeye tree at the edge of the school property for support, Vera hears the loud ring of the school bell as the ""big green doors"" close, so she goes home, defeated. Rosenberry's play-ful, brightly colored gouache illustrations capture the jubilation-turned-dismay of skinny-armed and -legged Vera. Her round-faced characters wear their exaggerated emotions expressively on their faces as well as intheir posture. Vera's surprised mother (who discovers the weepy Vera under her bed when she comes to vacuum) saves the day by explaining to her teacher, ""She was not able to come to school this morning, but she is here now."" Disaster averted, Vera tells her eager older sisters that the first day was fun, ""but I think I will like the second day even better."" A final ring-around-the rosy picture of Vera and her new classmates highlighted against the stark white of the page expresses this exhilarating truth. s.p.b. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
