By Dandi Daley Mackall

Readers follow a little girl about to start school from early morning to the end of the school day. Getting dressed, she appears excited and enthusiastic about this new experience. By the time she is in the car, she asks: "Feeling funny in the car- `Don't you think we've gone too far?'" Once she enters the classroom, her fears subside as she meets her teacher and classmates and the class pet, and participates in group activities. The rhyming text gives the story a sweet, singsong quality that makes this a lighthearted romp to share with youngsters just entering preschool or kindergarten.

By Jane Yolen & Mark Teague

A new cast of brightly colored dinosaurs appears in this charming back-to-school story. The text's easy rhyme and rhythm will be familiar to those who have read other books in this series, and Teague's charismatic and naughty dinosaurs will continue to delight youngsters with their antics and exuberance.

By Laura Numeroff

In a rollicking romp, Numeroff and Bond send the energetic, exuberant star of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and If You Take a Mouse to the Movies into the classroom. After pulling on his overalls, the diminutive character makes his first request and then demands a snack, notebook and pencils before climbing into the boy's backpack. Once at school, the mercurial mouse happily bounds from one activity to the next: he spells "a word or two" on the blackboard, conducts a science experiment, builds "a little mouse house" out of blocks and fashions furniture for it with clay. Realizing he needs something on his new bookshelf, the ambitious critter collects paper and pencils and creates his own book, which he then wants to take home, in "your" lunch box. As animated as the whiskered student it depicts. Its school setting, tried-and-true tone and popular protagonist mark this title as a winner.

By Sonia Levitin and Jeff Seave

A book of etiquette and practical advice for those little kangaroos (or humans) who are going to school for the first time. Levitin presents various situations that can be sweetly eased by knowledge of and judicious use of good manners. In many cases, readers' input is solicited. "What kinds of toys do not belong at school?" "What if Kangaroo needs to go to the bathroom?" The explanations of things that worry those who face unfamiliar circumstances are reassuring and soothing.

By Edith Baer

With the opening couplet, "One by one or two by two--/ come along, it's fun to do!," children are treated to a lively, lyrical peek into the world beyond Hometown, U. S. A. Each page shows and tells how children from very different cultures travel to school. The scope is broad, ranging from the desert sands of Egypt to Switzerland's snowy peaks. The exuberant watercolor washes complement each page's rhyming text, overflow with joy and motion, and add a visual zest that keeps the pages turning. The final bonus is two-fold. One single page lists the children's names from the story and tells where they live, e.g., "Niels and Solveig live in Norway." Following this is a world map with the children's countries shown. What fun to share the enthusiasm and questioning this book will generate. This book deserves a prominent place at home, at schools, and in the library because the total result is an ultimate example of excellence in education.

By David Shannon

David, the out-of-control monster-child from David Shannon's Caldecott Honor Book of No David! is back... and ready to disrupt the class. In David Goes to School, young David shows up late to class, goes whacko at the chalkboard, chews gum in class, yells answers out of turn, pulls pigtails, stares out the window, cuts in line, has a food fight ("I don't care who started it!" says the teacher), lingers at recess, and draws on his desk. Colorful, hilarious, childlike illustrations examine our strangely appealing demon-boy at eye level, which is especially disgusting as David stretches an enormous mass of bubble gum from his pointy-toothed maw. After an intense day of exuberant misbehaving, however, he stays after school and washes all the desks until they sparkle. The day ends with a gold star and a pat on the head... something that any child (or adult) would find satisfying.

By Catherine Anholt

Nervous about starting school, Billy spends time talking to the birds that gather around the feeder in his yard. There he finds the "smallest, grubbiest, weediest, most dusty" sparrow and nurses it back to health. Before going to school, he releases it, saying, "You have to learn to take care of yourself-just like me." That day he makes a friend, tells his classmates about the bird, and ends up with the biggest smile around. The story finishes on an optimistic note for both the boy and the bird. This is a good book to dissipate children's fears about starting school and to show that the classroom can be just as enjoyable as home.

By Vera Rosenberry

Vera is so eager with anticipation for her first day of school that she wakes up early enough to watch the sunrise. After putting on her new dress and checking her book bag for supplies, she wakes up her sleepy older sisters. The three girls cut across their grouchy neighbors' property on their walk to school and the Baileys threaten to call the police. Then, Vera is left on the playground after the bell rings and the school doors slam shut. She walks home by herself and tiptoes up to her room, unbeknownst to her mother who is bathing the baby. Happily, Vera's first day ends successfully after Mother discovers her under the bed and walks her back to the classroom. Rosenberry accurately portrays a child's mixed feelings thrilling yet scary on her first day in school. Brightly colored gouache illustrations fill the pages with expressive, spirited youngsters and appealing images. Reassuring fare for the beginning of the school year.

By Julie Brillhart

It is Molly's first day of kindergarten and she is worried about riding the bus with all the big kids. Mom reassures her and sends her off with her bear and a hug, but she drops the stuffed toy before she finds an empty seat. After a few tosses in the air, it ends up in the lost-and-found box, where it is rescued by one of the older children and returned to Molly. Illustrated rules for riding the bus and a page that labels the driver's section conclude the book. Brillhart's story is a little different from the usual "first day of kindergarten" offerings, since it ends at the front door before classes begin.

By Diane Degroat

Gilbert, a hedgehog, is excited but fearful about starting first grade. He walks to school with his friend, Patti, who is quickly drawn to another female student. As the teacher passes out the spelling and reading books, Gilbert decides that, …first grade was going to be hard! Besides, there are so many rules to remember. At lunchtime, he sits alone, but Mrs. Byrd puts Frank, a raccoon, next to him, and the two boys find that they have a lot in common. As the students pursue various activities, Gilbert discovers that they all have their own talents, and that no one is good at everything. On the way home, Gilbert and Patti agree that Mrs. Byrd is nice and that they have both made new friends, although Patti reassures Gilbert that he is still her friend. With its charming, detailed watercolor illustrations, this story has significant child appeal.

By Harry Allard and James Marshall

The kids in Room 207 take advantage of their teacher, Miss Nelson’s good nature until she disappears, and they are faced with a substitute teacher—Miss Viola Swamp. Miss Swamp piles on the homework, yells in very unattractive voice, and is just plain mean. The students decide something must be done to get Miss Nelson back, so they hire a detective to hunt her down and they resolve never to be bad again.

The Berenstains once again prove they have their paws on the pulse of America! Mama and Papa Bear are stunned when they receive a letter from Brother Bear's teacher. Even though Brother Bear sits down diligently every night with an open notebook, he has not been completing his homework assignments. After taking a closer look, Mama and Papa realize that there's a whole lot of competition going on for Brother's attention. He's watching TV, listening to his boom box, talking on the cell phone, and playing a video game. Join in the fun and learning as the subject of multimedia distraction is tackled with wit, wisdom, and aplomb.

By Mark Teague

Some kids spend their summer vacation at camp. Some kids spend their summer vacation at Grandma’s house. Wallace Biff spent his out west…on a ride, a rope, and a roundup he’ll never forget!

By Paula Danziger

Amber Brown is excited to be starting second grade—and a little nervous. But on the way to school with her best friend, Justin, Amber decides she’s ready for whatever happens. And second grade had better be ready for Amber Brown.

By Helen Recorvits

With subtle grace, this moving story depicts a Korean girl's difficult adjustment to her new life in America. Yoon, or "Shining Wisdom," decides that her name looks much happier written in Korean than in English. Still, she struggles to please her parents by learning an unfamiliar language while surrounded by strangers. Although her teacher encourages her to practice writing "Yoon," the child substitutes other words for her name, words that better express her inner fears and hopes. Calling herself "CAT," she dreams of hiding in a corner and cuddling with her mother. As "BIRD," she imagines herself flying back to Korea. Finally, she pretends she is "CUPCAKE," an identity that would allow her to gain the acceptance of her classmates. In the end, she comes to accept both her English name and her new American self, recognizing that however it is written, she is still Yoon.

By Maureen Macdowell

Butterflies flutter inside the tummy of a young girl as she prepares for the first day of school. At bedtime her mind races with countless questions - she is both nervous and excited as she tries to imagine what the first day will be like. The next morning her parents have her favorite breakfast ready, along with lots of love and hugs. With all the confidence she can muster, she bravely journeys off to the first day of school. Told in her voice, her story mirrors the feelings of anxiety and nervous exhilaration all children encounter the day before school. Children will be happy to find out that they are not alone and that everyone gets butterflies.

By Ellen Jackson

Large, eye-catching spreads introduce the school experiences of children from 11 different countries, including Kenya, Kazakhstan, China, and Canada. Each entry includes the student's name, age (ranging from six to nine), and place of residence. Then, in a chatty style, the youngsters tell about their first day, describing the activities and the ambience of the school as well as their particular locale's customs, foods, and family life. Bulleted lists present additional information. Stylized borders surround the text, and several colorful, realistic illustrations help bring each setting to life. A simplified world map shows the positions of the featured nations. A helpful list of Web resources includes sites for games, recipes, languages, and e-pals from around the world. Although there are many books about the first day of school, this multinational approach provides material for comparing and contrasting cultures.

By Marisabena Russo

Summer is over, and Ben has no interest in beginning second grade, no matter what assurances his parents offer. Big sister Hannah is full of disastrous memories and predictions. According to her, Ben will probably not know the answers to questions in class and might fall asleep on the bus, missing his stop. A lovely tug-of-war proceeds between his parents' support and his sibling's taunts. The first day turns out fine, though, and it's Hannah who nearly sleeps through their bus stop. Russo's gouache paintings are flat, yet full of expression and humor. Strong, full, bold colors, with rusts and oranges dominating, fill the pages; even though the style is spare, the details ring true. Character, emotion, and expression come through best of all. Russo masterfully combines funny, real family relationships with kindness and experience in overcoming fears. An all-around superior picture book.

By Erik P. Kraft

Siblings Lenny and Mel plan to spend their summer sitting around doing nothing, but their parents disapprove and try to engage the boys' interests. With Mom pushing them to do book reports and Dad taking them on a family vacation to a cabin that looks like a toolshed, the brothers are kept busy whether they like it or not.

By Kenneth Derby

Fifth-grader Anthony Madison, a.k.a. Tony Baloney, can't get enough of The Late Show with David Letterman. He loves the jokes, the silly routines, and most of all the top ten lists-and Tony will stop at nothing to get himself on the program. He's even devising his own repertoire of Stupid Human Tricks and top ten lists sure to put him next in line as Dave's replacement. But to get all the way from Kansas to the big time in New York City, he will have to pull out all the stops. Tony Baloney takes his friends, family, and teachers on an uproarious and wild ride to remember.

By Carl W. Bosch

Written in a "Choose Your Own Adventure" format, this book deals with a common problem faced by elementary school children. Readers explore a number of alternative solutions for dealing with a bully through selecting from a series of decisions and turning to designated pages to discover the probable outcomes. Possible decisions include talking to the bus driver, asking advice from the teacher, fighting the bully, and ignoring him. All of the solutions are viable and all eventually result in an end to the bullying while realistically noting that although the two boys can come to accommodate each other, they are unlikely to become friends. A useful book for helping students focus on possible problem solving techniques.

By Sara Pennypacker

This humorous fantasy perfectly captures the child's-eye view of elementary-school life. Stuart, who is "excellent at worrying," finds plenty to agonize over as he starts third grade at a new school. What if he gets stuck in the bathroom or throws up? Why does he have to wear his father's ugly cowboy shirt and green plaid pants? His only consolation is his magical cape. When he wears it, unexpected adventures happen. To impress his classmates, the boy decides to try controlling the cape's arcane powers. He wishes for the hideous hand-me-down outfit to disappear but suddenly finds himself standing in his underwear. Stuart is convinced that he will be the laughingstock of the third grade forever. The expressive cartoon drawings often become part of the text design. Young readers are sure to identify with Stuart's persistent quest to find his place in the classroom society.

By Barbara Robinson

The many readers who have laughed out loud at Robinson's uproarious 1972 novel, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, will enthusiastically welcome the return of the six cigar-smoking Herdman kids. These six waste no time bending rules: they break them outright. While the original story centered on the church Christmas pageant, the sequel has a broader focus, paving the way for more varied misadventures, virtually all of which the Herdmans craftily orchestrate. Among the dastardly deeds are the siblings' kidnapping of a bald baby, whose head they "tattoo" and show to other kids for a fee; their attempt to wash their cat in a laundromat machine; and their ingenious sabotage of the school's Fire Safety Day observance. In one of the funniest scenes, cunning Imogene Herdman comes to the rescue of a boy whose head is stuck in a bike rack: she flattens his prominent ears with Scotch tape and slathers his head with margarine so it slides through the bars. If this novel doesn't have quite the consistently razor-sharp repartee of its predecessor, it comes very, very close.

By Carolyn Haywood

Third grade begins with disappointment--Betsy's beloved teacher, Miss Grey, won't be teachng anymore. But the new year is packed with fun and surprises, including one great piece of news that Betsy declares is about "the wonderfullest thing that ever happened."

By Avi

"I'm not so sure a girl needs a high school education," the head of a rural Colorado school board tells 14-year-old Ida Bidson in 1925. The one-room schoolhouse that she and seven other children attend is to be closed early, and if Ida and her friend Tom don't finish eighth grade and take their exams, they'll lose their chance to attend high school. Without a diploma, Ida will never fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher and seeing the world beyond the mountains. After Tom suggests that she could conduct the classes, the secret school commences and is subsequently threatened by a county administrator, the local school board, and an angry parent. Avi ably conveys an evocative sense of life in a poor, remote farming community just before the start of the Great Depression. This carefully plotted, enjoyable, old-fashioned tale of children taking control of a bad situation is a welcome addition to the literature of empowerment.

By N.B. Grace

Goodbye, classroom! Hello, summer! But for Troy, Gabriella, Chad, and Taylor, this vacation is no day at the beach; theyre all working at a country club founded by none other than Ryan and Sharpay's grandfather! And with the club's annual Midsummer Night's Musical right around the corner, Sharpay's competitive instincts are sizzling. If she can manage to win the Star Dazzle Award just one more time, the country club will name it after Sharpay, and it will be hers forever. But this year, Sharpay faces some tough competition: Gabriella! To have any hope of coming out on top, Sharpay knows that shell need a secret weapon. She dumps Ryan and starts wooing Troy to be her new partner. Gabriella is less than thrilled that Troy has fallen under Sharpay's spell. How could he do that to her? Things are heating up on the lawns of high society. Will Troy and Gabriella realize that theyre meant to be? Or is it already too late for them to sing one last song together?