Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Using declarative couplets that center emotional recognition, Sobel cheers on students experiencing a range of first-day feels. "Out of sight and stashed away,/ feelings visit us all day," reassure early lines that urge mindful awareness. From happiness and worry to bravery and embarrassment, the text describes a full range of emotions, usefully pointing to breathwork as a resource during moments of stress: "What's up, ANGER? Take time out./ Tame the flame. Breathe in. Breathe out." Adani's light-filled, spatter-textured artwork presents students of different skin tones in classic classroom and schoolyard scenes, visualizing emotions via bursts of color and animal avatars that peek out from behind students (an octopus, for example, proves emblematic of curiosity, and jellyfish of calm). An endnote discusses emotional expression and regulation. Ages 4--8. (June)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--A diverse group of children experience the wide variety of emotions the first day of school can bring. Using rhyming couplets, the author highlights some of the things that children might experience on their first day. Happy, sad, angry, worried, excited, and brave, along with a few other emotions, are briefly described, along with simple ways to respond to them. The stunning, colorful illustrations show children of various backgrounds and ethnicities going through a day of school. Emotions are highlighted in both text and pictures using various colors. Worried is blue, anger is red, curiosity is orange, and so on. The illustrations clearly depict the emotions through facial expressions, as well as through dreamlike colors and images surrounding the child the story is focusing on. Various animals and colors represent each emotion; for example, the child who is mad is surrounded by lightning bolts, exploding color, and a roaring tiger. VERDICT A first purchase. This is a great title for sharing with children to encourage vocalization of feelings, especially those related to the experience of going to school for the first time.--Heidi Grange
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The first day of school overflows with feelings. Children starting school experience conflicting emotions; the racially diverse youngsters in this book are no different. Throughout, they exhibit excitement, nervousness, fear, happiness, and anxiety. Sobel acknowledges these universal emotions, which stand out on the page in colorful capitals letters: "EMBARRASSED! / Oops! Paint in my hair!" "Hello HAPPY soaring by. / A joyful bird loves to fly." Lively digital illustrations depict a variety of realistic school scenarios: a child having a meltdown after breaking a pencil and losing a folder; children excitedly playing at recess. The author makes clear that we all experience a range of feelings and that our emotions matter; she also acknowledges that feelings depend on circumstances. The illustrations provide jumping-off points for discussion, so grown-ups reading this book aloud should encourage youngsters to talk about how starting school--or navigating any new life experiences--made them feel and what events triggered the feelings. Helpful backmatter includes questions that adults can ask kids as they read. The author includes comforting, mindful messages: Breathe deeply when you're upset, don't be afraid to try new things, and "take time out" when angry. Perhaps most reassuring: "Feelings are not right or wrong. / They find a spot where they belong." A validating and comforting look at big emotions. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
