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Title: A great introduction to the first grade world!
Review: It's hard to write a book about first grade jitters. Many of the books out there make the first day seem just perfect, when it often isn't. What I like about The Night Before First Grade is the way in which the author recognizes the potentially frightening aspects of the first day of school and resolves them in a realistic manner.For example, when the protagonist arrives at school, she learns that there are two sections of first grade and that her best friend will be in the other section. Bravely waving goodbye to her friend, she discovers new interests in her classroom. The lunchroom is busy and a bit scary, but she weathers it nicely.The text is in a rhythmic prose style, patterned after "The Night Before Christmas." I was a bit skeptical at first, but it works, and young readers will appreciate the consistent beat of the narrative. Deborah Zemke's illustrations are upbeat and slightly funky - just like first grade!
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