Whether kids are anticipating school with anxiety or excitement, this one’s a must-have.
What to expect from that first day of school.
“We wash our hands. We say hello, we sing, we snack.” Wanless responds to the titular query with a variety of activities, delivered in minimal rhyming text, before ending with a reassuring “And all too soon…it’s time to go!” The following two sections start again with the same question, showcasing all the ways that children play, create, and explore. Wanless concludes each with the same refrain, which serves as a reminder: Caregivers always come back. The text is the perfect length for little readers, and its repeated structure offers a comforting predictability. The rhymes keep the book bouncing along and give it a singsong feel ideal for children listening on a caregiver’s lap. Rendered in a pastel palette, snapshot images offer specific details yet are general enough to apply to a range of preschool environments. The common thread running through it all? School is safe, fun, and play-filled. Wanless depicts attentive caregivers, young children of varying ages, and welcoming classmates, who vary in skin tone and ability; different family structures are portrayed, too. One standout image shows a butterfly release as the insects swirl from below up and away, the children gazing up full of wonder—lovely reassurance that preschool will indeed be joyous.
Whether kids are anticipating school with anxiety or excitement, this one’s a must-have. (Picture book. 2-5)Pub Date: June 9, 2026
ISBN: 9781636551630
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Red Comet Press
Review Posted Online: March 23, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance.
A boy with wings learns to be himself and inspires others like him to soar, too.
Norman, a “perfectly normal” boy, never dreamed he might grow wings. Afraid of what his parents might say, he hides his new wings under a big, stuffy coat. Although the coat hides his wings from the world, Norman no longer finds joy in bathtime, playing at the park, swimming, or birthday parties. With the gentle encouragement of his parents, who see his sadness, Norman finds the courage to come out of hiding and soar. Percival (The Magic Looking Glass, 2017, etc.) depicts Norman with light skin and dark hair. Black-and-white illustrations show his father with dark skin and hair and his mother as white. The contrast of black-and-white illustrations with splashes of bright color complements the story’s theme. While Norman tries to be “normal,” the world and people around him look black and gray, but his coat stands out in yellow. Birds pop from the page in pink, green, and blue, emphasizing the joy and beauty of flying free. The final spread, full of bright color and multiracial children in flight, sets the mood for Norman’s realization on the last page that there is “no such thing as perfectly normal,” but he can be “perfectly Norman.”
A heartwarming story about facing fears and acceptance. (Picture book. 3-5)Pub Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-785-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an...
A little boy exults in his new role as big brother.
Rhyming text describes the arrival of a new baby and all of the big brother’s rewarding new duties. He gets to help with feedings, diaper changes, playtime, bathtime, and naptime. Though the rhyming couplets can sometimes feel a bit forced and awkward, the sentiment is sweet, as the focus here never veers from the excitement and love a little boy feels for his tiny new sibling. The charming, uncluttered illustrations convincingly depict the growing bond between this fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked, smiling pair of boys. In the final pages, the parents, heretofore kept mostly out of view, are pictured holding the children. The accompanying text reads: “Mommy, Daddy, baby, me. / We love each other—a family!” In companion volume I Am a Big Sister, the little boy is replaced with a little girl with bows in her hair. Some of the colors and patterns in the illustrations are slightly altered, but it is essentially the same title.
A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an older sibling can do to help. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-68886-4
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015
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