Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Summary: Lena is ready for her first day of kindergarten, but her shoes aren’t. They’re afraid of going to school, and her socks feel the same way. Her dress is very outgoing, but it doesn’t get along very well with the shoes. It comes down to the headband to try to convince those shoes to go to school. The headband reminds them of other scary situations that turned out okay…even a lot of fun. “Often the best things happen when we’re nervous.” Finally, the shoes decide to be brave, and off they go. When they get to school and see the other kids, the shoes slow Lena down a little, but ultimately, they step onto the playground, where they are surrounded by other sneakers, boots, and shoes. 40 pages; ages 4-8.
Pros: A fun and imaginative on the first-day-of-school-jitters theme. Personally, I always like to line up my shoes at night so they will be comfortable and have a friend nearby, so I can understand where Lena is coming from. The illustrations, by the author of Juana and Lucas, are adorable.
Cons: I wish I had seen this book a while ago. It’s a little late to get a copy for the first day of school, but if you can swing it, it would be a fun read for preschoolers and kindergarteners.
A Kids Book A Day 