Find out how butterflies in your tummy are a good thing in this fresh take on being nervous for the first day of school.When a little girl wakes up on the first day of school, the butterflies in her stomach feel positively giant-sized! She really wants her mom to stay with her, on this first day.
As she and her mom make their way to school, Mom explains how the butterflies are a
good thing. Everyone gets them (including parents) and they are a sign of something exciting happening—that we're about to learn and grow from a new experience and they can help us through it.
So with the butterflies as her guide, the girl soars into her first day.
Beloved children's songwriter Justin Roberts brings one of his most popular songs to the page, alongside beautifully tender illustrations by Paola Escobar, in a story guaranteed to help readers of all ages reframe their first-day nerves as first-day excitement.
On sale: May 30, 2023
Age: 3-7 years
Grade: Preschool - 2
Page count: 32 Pages
ISBN: 9780525516439
Reading level: Lexile: AD510L | Fountas/Pinnell: L
Justin Roberts, five-time Grammy nominee, has been called “the Judy Blume of Kiddie Rock” by
The New York Times, and
USA Today says he’s “hands down the best songwriter in the genre.” He has also been praised for his deft and heartfelt lyrics by
Entertainment Weekly,
NPR,
People Magazine, and the
Los Angeles Times. He is also the author of
The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade, illustrated by Christian Robinson, and
I'll Be Your Polar Bear, illustrated by Chuck Groenink. Justin lives near Chicago with his family.
Paola Escobar is a a graphic designer and illustrator from Colombia.
As a child she loved drawing the stories told by her grandmother about their family and culture and it was her dream to become an illustrator for children’s books.
She is the illustrator of the award-winning picture book
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré as well as many other critically-acclaimed picture books. She has worked with publishers across the world and is proud to have illustrated stories that celebrate cultural diversity and champion unsung heroes.
Paola lives very happily in Bogotá, Colombia, with her husband and their dog, Flora.
Praise for Giant-Sized Butterflies On My First Day of School:“This tender story will uplift young readers experiencing back-to-school anxiety, as well as the anticipation universal to new experiences of all kinds . . . A sensitive story sure to charm young and grown readers long past the first day of school.” —
School Library Journal“Each page is filled with rich colors and details, and we see that the other students are trailed by their own butterflies—welcome reassurance that everyone grapples with nervousness. . . Will help children conquer their jitters while preparing to go back to school—or anytime.” —
Kirkus Reviews“That fluttery feeling in the stomach when one’s about to try something new? Roberts offers a warmhearted reframe of that sensation in this look at a child’s apprehension about starting school . . . A reassuring pep talk that will have readers finding their own first-day wings.” —
Publishers Weekly
