Elem. – The Brilliant Ms. Bangle

Devins, Cara. The Brilliant Ms. Bangle. Feiwel and Friends, 2023. 978-1-250-24770-4. $18.99. 32 p. Grades K-3.

On the first day of school the students of Bedford Elementary excitedly enter the building. They are eager to share their summer adventures with each other and to get the new school year started. Principal Lyle announces that Ms. Stack moved over the summer and there is a new school librarian. The students are distraught. They loved Ms. Stack and are sure that no one could ever be as kind or as much fun as she was. The students band together to form a plan to scare the new librarian away so that Ms. Stack will return. When the class gets to the library they meet the new librarian, Ms. Bangle. She is very different from Ms. Stack. She is funny, loud, and energetic. She is nothing like Ms. Stack. Some of the students have to resist laughing at Ms. Bangle’s jokes, but the class stands firm in their resolve to stick to the plan. As Ms. Bangle begins class, the students refuse to answer her questions. She tries to begin a read aloud, but one brave student interrupts and explains that the class loves Ms. Stack and wants her back. Ms. Bangle wisely understands that she cannot ever replace a beloved librarian, so she says she didn’t really want to read to them anyway and has some other things to take care of. She offers to stop teaching if the students will do some library tasks for her. Ms. Bangle asks the class to shelve books, catalog new books, review lesson plans, and take some empty boxes to the basement. The students agree and quickly get to work. Ms. Bangle sits down to call a friend and hem some pants. The children soon discover that being a librarian is a complex job. The book truck is heavy, and book sorting is tedious. Confused by standards, objectives, and frameworks (and deeply scared to go to the basement), the students eventually realize they would much rather read with Ms. Bangle. Ms. Bangle happily grabs a book, and the class settles in to listen to a fabulous read aloud. 

THOUGHTS: This title is a must have for new school librarians replacing a much loved librarian who has retired or moved away. K-Fai Steel’s amusing illustrations highlight the many emotions the loyal students go through as they meet their new librarian. Delightful and funny, but very realistic, one can’t help but cheer for clever Ms. Bangle who manages to simultaneously emphasize the many jobs of school librarians while also charming her new students into giving her a fair chance. 

Picture Book

Elem. – Mr. S

Arnaldo, Monica. Mr. S. Katherine Tegan Books, 2023. 978-0-063-00395-8. $19.99. 40 p. Grades K-3.

As the kids in Room 2B enter their classroom on the first day of school, they become aware that something is missing. There is no teacher present. The chalkboard has the words “Mr. S” written on it. There is a sandwich on the desk with a steaming cup of coffee, but no sign of a teacher anywhere. Half the class is excited, the other half is scared. The class is on the brink of chaos when a ruler falls to the ground startling everyone. Who could have dropped it? Amazingly that sandwich on the desk is somewhat life-like with its olive-eyes and tongue shaped lunch meat slipping out between the slices of bread. Could the sandwich possibly be the teacher? Half the class is convinced it is, half isn’t sure… but one student points to the clue on the board. The sandwich must be Mr. S. And so the students of Room 2B get to work. As they progress through their school day, a whole second story is happening on the other side of the classroom window. Though never mentioned in the text or noticed by the busy class, a car has been hit by a tree in a storm. A distressed man in a suit and tie attempts to rescue the car, but the car gets hit by lightning, and starts on fire. The oblivious students inside continue on with art class, music class, and story time all under the tutelage of their sandwich-teacher. The fire department arrives to put out the flames, but the students inside miss the entire event. When the door to Room 2B bursts open, the students are startled to see a smoky and soaking-wet man in a suit enter and announce that he is… Mr. Spencer… their principal. Mr. Spencer introduces the confused students to their teacher Mr. S. who is indeed a sandwich. The children are delighted to see that they were right all along.

THOUGHTS: This is a hysterical beginning of the school year read aloud and a great way to introduce early elementary students to mystery books. Full of clever visual clues and amusing classroom antics, the story happening outside the window is never mentioned in the text, but keen readers will believe they are seeing clues that will help to solve the mystery.  

Picture Book 

Elem. – Puppy Bus

Brockington, Drew. Puppy Bus. Abrams Books, 2022. 978-1-419-75191-2. 40 p. $17.99. Grades PK-2.

Puppy Bus begins with a young boy who reluctantly climbs on the bus for his first day at a new school after a big move. He takes his seat… and quickly realizes that he has climbed onto the wrong bus. He’s on the PUPPY BUS!  And where does the puppy bus go!? Puppy school! What to do!? Go to class! But class is strange and confusing, and the food is terrible! The boy begins to miss his old friends and family…and wants to go home–until a friendly puppy offers friendship. Puppy school might not be so bad after all! 

THOUGHTS: Unique to this book is the storyline that the main character is starting a new school after a move (rather than it being the first day of school). This welcome addition to shelves of school stories will bring smiles to young readers’ faces and make the task of going to school seem just a little less daunting (at least they serve people food at school!). Recommended, particularly for schools looking to refresh their school stories shelves and for those looking for a fun welcome for their move-ins!

Picture Book          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

Elem. – Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School!

Finson, Carrie. Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School! Illustrated by Erin Krann. Random House, 2022. 978-0-593-30566-9.  Unpaged. $17.99. Grades PK-3.

Little Tortoise is excited (and a little nervous) for the first day of school. Armed with her racing helmet and intent to be on time, she heads out the door with determination. She starts strong, but soon her classmates start zipping past her… And then she gets lost, (literally) in the middle of the book. Discouraged, Little Tortoise is close to giving up by the time she FINALLY reaches school. Fortunately, her teacher, Mr. Sloth, is late too, and lends a helping hand and some much-needed encouragement.

THOUGHTS: Hurry Up, Little Tortoise, Time for School! will take a welcome spot in my “Welcome Back” display in September. Its strength is the creativity in illustrations when Little Tortoise disappears into the gutter in the center of the book… and then re-emerges a few pages later. I appreciate that one of the first books many readers will gravitate to during back-to-school time has such an unexpected surprise that quickly shows readers to expect the unexpected. Not lost on the reader (especially adults reading to children) will be gentle messages about differences, perseverance, first-day jitters, and the encouragement adults can and do give children every day.  

Picture Book          Hannah J. Thomas, Central Bucks SD

Elem. – That’s Not My Name

Syed, Anoosha. That’s Not My Name. Viking, 2022. 978-0-593-40517-8. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-2.

In That’s Not My Name readers meet Mirha who is extremely excited for her first day of school, but it doesn’t turn out the way that she thought it would. No one can pronounce her name, and she is too shy and unsure to correct anyone. Mirha thinks maybe she should change her name into something that everyone can pronounce, and she goes home and tells her mom that she wants to do just that. Her mother teaches Mirha where her name comes from and tells her that she should be proud of her name, and Mirha decides that she will correct everyone at school the next day. Mirha ends up making a new friend, and learning how to tell people who pronounce her name incorrectly, “that’s not my name,” and learning about her classmates and what their names mean.

THOUGHTS: This is a wonderful read aloud for the first week of school to teach students about empathy. This would also be a great read aloud before an ice-breaker type activity. 

Picture Book          Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy

Elem. – Becoming Vanessa

Brantley-Newton, Vanessa. Becoming Vanessa. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2021. 978-0-525-58212-0 p. 40. $17.95. Grades K-3. 

The first day of school still gives most of us butterflies in our stomachs. We most likely remember the anticipation, the excitement, and the desire to put our best face forward in making a good impression. Vanessa, the main character in Becoming Vanessa, written by Vanessa Brantley-Hewton, feels all of these emotions on her first day of school as well. Vanessa puts on her fanciest outfit and her best smile for her first day of meeting her new classmates; however, she receives the attention she wasn’t expecting. Vanessa definitely stands out and begins to feel that her clothes are too bright, her boa has too many feathers, and her shoes are too shiny. Her classmates don’t seem to appreciate her bold outfit choice as much as she was hoping. Vanessa’s self-confidence begins to dwindle, and she begins to believe that she should blend in with her classmates and not stand out. 

After a tough day at school, Vanessa has a conversation with her mother that helps rebuild her confidence and gives her a new perspective on how to be herself AND share her fabulous self with others. Becoming Vanesa is inspired by the author’s real childhood and is full of self-love. 

THOUGHTS: Vanessa Brantley- Newton has become a favorite author (and illustrator too!) of mine! She is the author and illustrator of Grandma’s Purse and Just Like Me, two other fabulous picture books for young readers. Her stories burst with positivity by lifting up young girls around the world with her stories and placing girls of color at the center of the story. I cannot wait for more beautiful work from her! 

Picture Book          Marie Mengel, Reading SD

Elem. – A Thousand White Butterflies

Betancourt-Perez, Jessica. A Thousand White Butterflies. Charlesbridge. 978-1-580-89577-4. 32 p. $16.99. Grades K-3. 

Isabella has just moved to the United States from Colombia. She’s about to begin school, but an unexpected blizzard cancels her first day. She feels trapped by all the unfamiliar snow, and she misses her friends and her Papa who is still in Colombia. While looking out the window, Isabella sees a girl slip and fall into the snow outside. She bundles into her puffy coat and boots and hurries outside to see if the girl is alright. The pair end up spending the afternoon making snow angels, snowballs, and a snowman. Despite the language barrier, they laugh and play and make the most out of their surprise meeting and unexpected day off from school. Two Author’s Notes describe how the co-authors met and the real-life inspiration behind this book. Additionally, a “More Info” section defines “immigrants” as people who leave their original country to live permanently in a new place. It also includes a brief history of immigration to the United States. Lastly, a glossary defines each Spanish word or phrase used in the story. 

THOUGHTS: Hope, resilience, and friendship are central themes in this immigration story, as is the idea that children are able to make connections with each other despite language and cultural differences. These ideas will make good talking points during morning meetings or when welcoming a new student into a classroom. Share this title with guidance counselors and ESOL teachers. 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD

Elem. – 1, 2, 3 Off to School

Dubuc, Marianne. 1, 2, 3 Off to School. Kids Can Press, 2021. 978-1-525-30656-3. $17.99  unpaged. PreK-3.

This whimsical picture book conveys the excitement of the first day of school. Pom, a young girl, wants so badly to start kindergarten, though she will not be a student herself until next school year. Off she goes to explore how the school day goes for different animals in the forest including the frogs for their music lessons and the wolves in library class. Early elementary students will find much to pore over as dozens of animals on each page are engaged in observations and conversations about their school day activities. The detailed illustrations are reminiscent of Richard Scarry’s children’s books.

THOUGHTS : A good choice for first read aloud of the school year. 

Picture Book          Nancy Summers, Abington SD