First Day Jitters

Well, this is a superb book for children on the first day of school. The story tells about Sara Hartwell and how she does not want to go to school. She is worried that no one will like her and is extremely nervous about all the things people get nervous about on the first day of school. Mr. Hartwell with much fighting gets Sara to school as the princial is waiting on her to take her to class. When he shows her to the room you find out that Sara is really the teacher! It definitely a new perspective! This is a great way to start a discussion with students about how adults also get nervous and scared and share how they deal with those feelings. I use this book as a great story starter and have my first grade students write about what they have ever been nervous about and have them share and learn from each other's stories. Excellent job Julie Danneberg and Judith Dufour Love!

How would you manage a whole new class every year? In First Day Jitters, by Julie Dannenberg it happens. It's about a person who doesn't want to go to school. She wonders "Will they like me?" You find out. I liked this because it was a surprising book. I also liked it because it wasn't obvious what the surprise was. You know its not only kids that are scared. Find out the surprising ending, you never know what you might discover.

As a brand-new teacher (first grade), I thought this would be a great icebreaker and nerve-soother to read to my kids on the first day of school. None of them expected the surprise ending. The book helped both my criers and the rest of the class -- I talked to the criers about jitters, and how I had them, and how most everyone has them on the first day of school. I was able to use the book as an example to those better-adjusted kids, explaining that some people have worse first-day jitters than others. It was a great book to ease the kids into school again!

Julie Danneberg's "First Day Jitters" ought to be mandatory reading for all preschoolers and kindergarteners before they go off to school the first day. Sarah Jane Hartwell is snuggled down tightly under her covers, not wanting to go to her new school, while Mr. Hartwell urges and cajoles her into moving along. Mr. Hartwell drives her to school, where the principal, Mrs. Burton, kindly meets Sarah Jane at the car and personally escorts her into the classroom. And on the last page is a wonderful surprise that is guaranteed to put a smile on the face of any young child who's concerned about that all-important first day!Judy Love's vivid ink and watercolor drawings have a great sense of movement and are pleasingly colorful. She does an especially fine job of hinting at the surprise to come on the last page without giving it away via the illustrations.

I recently read this book at a teacher training class that I attended. This book really helped to put me at ease for the first day of school, as I am sure it will for children of all ages. Who doesn't get first day jitters? Children do (even if they say they don't), but why not read this book to show them that teachers get jitters too? This is a very funny story with a surprise ending. A must for every parent and teacher of young children!