And Then Comes School (And Then Comes)

by Tom Brenner (Author) Jen Hill (Illustrator)

And Then Comes School (And Then Comes)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: And Then Comes

Joyful anticipation is in the air as a child observes cues that the first day of school is coming soon.

Cooler mornings, cicadas buzzing, apples ripening...Can shopping for school supplies be far behind? The evening before the first day means laying out your outfit, loading up your backpack, and filling a lunch box with your favorite things.

When the alarm goes off, there's Dad's extra-special breakfast (and, of course, some picture-taking), then the feeling of bubbly excitement as you and your friends climb onto a bus, ready to see your new classroom and meet your teacher.

Whether the reader is a child who is eager to return to school or a younger one trying to imagine what school is like, this upbeat and lyrical ode--the fourth in the And Then Comes series--holds sure appeal for returning students and first-timers alike.

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Kirkus

A back-to-school book refreshingly focused on the sensory feel of the familiar season.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3--This book stands out among back-to-school titles, as it describes the last days of summer leading to the first day of class. Lyrical prose softly paints a sensory picture of these days, as in, "the breeze carries the scent of ripening apples, and tall sunflowers, full of seeds, begin to droop." The family is relaxed and calm without any of the back-to-school rush typically associated with this time of year. A special first day outfit is picked out, pictures are taken, and with eager excitement, the main character sets out for school. As with the previous books in the series, Brenner uses a repeated pattern of "When" and "Then" to tell the story: "When the day before school finally arrives...Then run and play on this last day of vacation." Hill's soft watercolor illustrations follow the family's end-of-summer activities, perfectly matching the text. The family presents as white, but there is a diverse array of children and teachers at the school. VERDICT This is an ideal transition from one season to next, especially for children just beginning their school years. It is also a great example to use in narrative writing units.--Heidi Dechief

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

While the story might help prepare anxious readers for the new year, it mostly plays up the mood and energy surrounding the wind down of summer, making for a rather original take on the subject. . . . A back-to-school book refreshingly focused on the sensory feel of the familiar season. - Kirkus Reviews

Tom Brenner
Tom Brenner is the author of the companion picture books And Then Comes Halloween, illustrated by Holly Meade; And Then Comes Christmas, illustrated by Jana Christy; and And Then Comes Summer, illustrated by Jaime Kim. Tom Brenner lives on Vashon Island, Washington.

Jen Hill is the illustrator of numerous picture books, including Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller, Spring for Sophie by Yael Werber, and Diana's White House Garden by Elisa Carbone, as well as the middle-grade series the Unintentional Adventures of the Bland Sisters by Kara LaReau. Jen Hill lives with her husband and cat in Brooklyn.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781536209136
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
June 13, 2023
Series
And Then Comes
BISAC categories
JUV039090 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | New Experience
JUV035000 - Juvenile Fiction | School & Education
Library of Congress categories
Picture books
Schools
First day of school
Students

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