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IT'S YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, BUSY BUS! by Jody Jensen Shaffer

IT'S YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, BUSY BUS!

by Jody Jensen Shaffer ; illustrated by Claire Messer

Pub Date: July 3rd, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4814-9467-0
Publisher: Beach Lane/Simon & Schuster

A new bus is inspected on his first day.

Ben, the bus driver, opens the bus barn’s doors and says good morning to all the buses: Bossy, Zippy, Bouncy, Big, and the newest and smallest member of the fleet, Busy Bus. Busy Bus is very excited, and while Ben inspects his tires, tops up the gas, and adjusts the mirrors, “Busy Bus hopes the children will know they’re safe.” Ben moves inside to check the lights, stop arm, emergency door, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit while Busy Bus wonders if the children will “have fun” riding with him. Ben turns the motor on and checks the gauges and switches and wipers and brakes, but, inspection complete, Busy Bus has a sudden case of nerves: “What if I get homesick?…What if I don’t make any friends?” But one last touch from Ben steels the bus’s courage to go out and do his job. “Busy Bus is going to have a great year!” And hopefully readers will, too, though this book won’t do too much to calm their own fears or keep their interest if they are not into vehicle inspections. Still, the lino print and black ink illustrations with digital color are cute and cheerful, and readers will learn the parts of a bus. Ben presents white.

For vehicle enthusiasts just starting school.

(Picture book. 2-6)