The King of Kindergarten (The King of Kindergarten #1)

The little king’s smiling brown face is refreshing and heartwarming. The other children and parents are a mix of races; the teacher and staff are mostly brown. Necessary nourishment, infectiously joyous. (Picture book. 3-6).

Copyright 2019 Kirkus Reviews, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-K—Joyful and empowering, this picture book celebrates the first day of kindergarten. A child wakes up on his first day of school with the knowledge that he is going to be the King of Kindergarten. On this special morning, everything takes on a royal shine, from brushing teeth to pulling on pants. Right after breakfast he's off for a ride on a "big yellow carriage" to school where he meets his fellow students with typical royal grace and charm. With the introduction of each part of this brand new day comes the assurance that nothing is too difficult for the King of Kindergarten. The vibrant and cheerful hand-drawn and digital illustrations feature a diverse classroom of children all helping one another. The text leads readers through a typical first day of school with lots of emphasis on being a kind and brave classmate and ruler. The young protagonist is backlit by a crown of a rising sun on several spreads; on others his imagined crown is seen reflected in windows or in chalk outlines on the ground. This marvelous story will give each reader an opportunity to see themselves as "the charming, the wonderful, and the kind King of Kindergarten." VERDICT Perfect for storytime or one-on-one readings, this book is an absolute first purchase.—Laken Hottle, Providence Community Library, RI

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

When a mother gives her son the titular nickname, it inspires him throughout his first day of school--the child imagines that a chalk-drawn crown is sitting on his head as he walks through the "towering doors" of the "grand fortress" and into his "Kindergarten Kingdom." It's a day filled with new friends, "a royal rest" (nap time), and acts of noblesse oblige (the boy shares an extra pudding cup with a dessert-less classmate). And when the teacher goes through all the classroom rules and the work ahead, Barnes (Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut) writes, "It sounds like a lot, but you're the King of Kindergarten. Piece. Of. Cake." Affirming text and energizing drawings by Brantley-Newton (Grandma's Purse), which skillfully balance bright colors, patterns, and textures, should put a spring in the step of any reluctant kindergartner: who wouldn't want to be thought of as "the charming, the wonderful and the kind" class sovereign? Ages 3-6. (July)

Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

* "It's the first day of kindergarten, and our protagonist is ready. . . . Describes in confident, loving, sometimes humorous terms what that day will be like. . . . Buoyant prose. . . . A beamingly positive intro to a new experience that gives youngsters a great framing for their best behavior; the winking touch to the grandiloquence keeps it from being sentimental and instead makes it jubilant, affectionately jokey cheerleading. Line and digital artwork provides lively, playful background textures and details. . . . There are plenty of reassuring books about starting kindergarten, but this delightfully moves beyond 'It will be okay and you might even like it' to a straight out 'You will crush this!'"—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review 

"Upbeat picture book. . . . Includes important milestones such as making friends, sharing, playing together, and going through the school day without any major issues, and Brantley-Newton adds clever imaginative details to these familiar scenes. The illustrations' bright colors reflect the book's positive tone as it conveys the joys of growing up, starting school, and learning school routines. This will make an excellent addition to early childhood classrooms, or as a tool to help future kindergarteners understand what a typical school day can look like. Best of all, this story is free of disasters and jitters, making it an affirming choice for children in need of a confidence boost."—Booklist