The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes

Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton 5 stars A sweet companion book to The King of Kindergarten. MJ’s mom gives her a tiara to wear on the first day of school and tells her how to be a good queen. This includes brightening up the room, being caring and kind, and helping others. MJ does just that, making…

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The Worry Balloon by Mónica Mancillas

Illustrated by Betty C. Tang 4 stars The first day of school has arrived, but with it comes Isla’s worries. With her Mami by her side, Isla practices mindfulness, visualization, and positive thinking to battle her anxiety and blow the worry balloon away. Beautiful illustrations. Nice visual representations of how Isla’s feelings influence how she…

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That’s Not My Name! by Anoosha Syed

5 stars A wonderful book with lush illustrations and a powerful message. Whether you have a name that’s deemed hard-to-pronounce by others or not, this is a great read and learning opportunity. At first, Mirha is excited for her first day of school. But when no one pronounces her name right, she feels unimportant. With…

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The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes

Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton 5 stars An absolutely stunning book about the first day of kindergarten. I really liked the emphasis on confidence and enjoying the experience. Understandably many children’s books on this topic focus on the more negative aspects of fear, worry, and anxiety. This was a fresh perspective of tackling the day as…

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