First Day Critter Jitters

by Jory John (Author) Liz Climo (Illustrator)

First Day Critter Jitters
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Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
cms Common Sense Media Review

It's almost the first day of school, and the animals are nervous. Sloth worries about getting there on time, snake can't seem to get his backpack fastened onto his body, and bunny is afraid she'll want to hop around instead of sitting still. When they all arrive at their classroom, though, they're in for a surprise: Somebody else is nervous too. It's their teacher, the armadillo! He has rolled in as a ball, and it takes him a while to relax and unfurl. But by the next day, the animals have all figured out how to help one another through their jitters. School isn't so scary after all.

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Publishers Weekly

The creators of Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? present another spry animal tale, commingling comedy and counsel while showcasing a passel of creatures braving the first day of school. Wryly and endearingly depicted in text and simplified art, each critter has a solid reason to be trepidatious: a sloth frets that it won't get to school on time ("I probably should have left yesterday"); a snake futilely spent the whole night trying to strap on its backpack ("Guess what: It didn't work, dude"); a joey misses its mom's comforting pouch; and a hibernating bear resists leaving its bed ("Can't I just dream about school, instead?"). Delivered in hand-lettered speech balloons, the animals' pithy reactions reflect each species' proclivities while deftly zeroing in on common childhood anxieties. John inserts an unforeseen foible into the mix (the armadillo teacher is equally nervous) before bringing the story to a reassuring and rewarding close. Ages 4-8. (July)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"[A] spry animal tale, commingling comedy and counsel while showcasing a passel of creatures braving the first day of school. Wryly and endearingly depicted in text and simplified art . . . Delivered in hand-lettered speech balloons, the animals' pithy reactions reflect each species' proclivities while deftly zeroing in on common childhood anxieties." —Publishers Weekly
Jory John
Jory John is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of many books for both children and adults. He is the author of Penguin Problems and Giraffe Problems, both illustrated by Lane Smith; The Bad Seed and The Good Egg, both illustrated by Pete Oswald; and Quit Calling Me a Monster! and I Will Chomp You!, both illustrated by Bob Shea, among many other books. Jory is a two-time E.B. White Read-Aloud Honor recipient and has won numerous state book awards for his writing. Jory lives in Oregon. You can find him at joryjohn.com or on Twitter @IamJoryJohn.

LANE SMITH has written and illustrated a bunch of stuff, including Grandpa Green, which was a Caldecott Honor Book; It's a Book, which has been translated into over twenty-five languages; and The Stinky Cheese Man. Four of his books have been New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of the Year. In 2012, the Eric Carle Museum named him an Honor Artist for "lifelong innovation in the field of children's books." In 2014, he received the Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement Award. Lane and book designer Molly Leach live in rural Connecticut. Visit him on the Web at lanesmithbooks.com.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9780735228559
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Dial Books
Publication date
July 07, 2020
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV035000 - Juvenile Fiction | School & Education
Library of Congress categories
Animals
First day of school

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