As indicated by the title, this story is about a brand new school, nervously anticipating the first day of being a school. The fresh perspective was definitely what made this book stand out from the other "first day" books. I loved Rex's storytelling style and the voice he gives to the school. It was fun for my daughter to wonder about how a school might feel on its first day. And for kids who are a little nervous about their first day, the idea of the school itself being nervous would be comforting to imagine. My favorite part was when School "accidentally has a fire drill" and feels so embarrassed, as if it's something it couldn't help, like having a potty accident. But when everyone is nice about it, School doesn't feel so bad anymore. It is such a genius way to address one of the many fears a kid may have about starting school!
I also thought the author did a wonderful job of accurately capturing a typical first day of school. Like when the kids in a class introduce themselves and two boys are named Aiden and one named Caiden. And when a boy laughs so hard at a joke during lunch that milk comes out his nose. And how a little freckled girl is so scared to start Kindergarten that her mom has to carry her in...but at the end of the day, she chooses to draw a glittery picture of the school and her teacher hangs it on the bulletin board.
Christian Robinson's illustrations are a mix of collage and acrylic paint, with bright colors and ample white space. The childlike, whimsical style perfectly fits the theme of the book. Altogether, I don't think there's a single thing I would change about this book. It's fresh, authentic, and imaginative with just the right balance of seriousness and humor. This will definitely be my go-to picture book to share with my kids and students on the first day of school!
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