Great Ideas for the Back-to-School Hustle and Bustle
As one of the hottest Los Angeles summers comes to a close, that familiar dread of the back-to-school season descends upon the city, and children everywhere must face waking up early on Monday mornings, carpools, and late night homework assignments once again. Thankfully, there are many books available to calm the “first day back” jitters...
Preschool
Kindergarten
For the Worriers
Just For Fun
Middle School
High School
For Something a Little Different
For Students Going Off to College
For Parents
Preschool:
It’s hard to believe, but your child is starting preschool. Even if it is just for a couple of hours two or three days a week, it seems such a big step for someone in such little sneakers. Here are some books that will help prepare both of you for that big step.
My First Day of Preschool, by Justine Fontes (Little Simon, 2006, $6.99) takes a reassuring look at the first day of school for a preschooler that answers many of the questions children will have concerning the experience. (It also includes interactive stickers to help ease the transition).
For a furry point of view, try Heidi Murkoff’s What to Expect at Preschool, (HarperFestival, 2003, $3.99). With the help of Angus, the lovable Answer Dog, children and parents will feel more comfortable as they tackle this life step together.
Wemberly Worried, by award winning children’s author Kevin Henkes (Greenwillow Books, 2000, $16.99) tells the story of a mouse named Wemberly, who worries about everything, and finds that she has a whole list of things to worry about when she faces the first day of school. These worries disappear with the help of an understanding teacher, lots of fun activities, and a new friend.
Kindergarten:
It’s the first day of school! Join these kids as they prepare for kindergarten, packing school supplies, posing for pictures, and the hardest part of all - saying goodbye to their parents. Maybe it won’t be so hard for them once they realize how fun kindergarten can be!
Countdown to Kindergarten, by Alison McGhee (Voyager Books, 2006, $6.00) helps a little girl figure out what to do about the number one rule told to her by a big-time first grader- “you can’t ask anyone for help”- if she does indeed need help. This story gently helps children discover that they really can do things all by themselves, if they just believe in themselves.
On a more classic note, Natasha Wing’s The Night Before Kindergarten, (Grosset & Dunlap, 2001, $3.99) will help children feel at ease with an uplifting take on a well known Christmas poem. “‘Twas the night before kindergarten, and as they prepared, kids were excited, and a little bit scared”.
A more recent classic is The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn (Tanglewood Press, 2006, $16.95). The story of Chester the raccoon who is a little hesitant to go to school for the first time, but his mother shows him a secret way to carry her love with him. Includes stickers for special “kissed hands”.
One of the most popular series for soon-to-be students is the Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, series by Joseph Slate (Puffin Books), which helps kids learn how much fun going to school can be with the help of an understanding teacher.
For the Worriers:
Fox Makes Friends, by Adam Relf (Sterling Publishing, 2005, $14.95) is the tale of a bored fox cub who takes his mom’s advice to “make friends” literally, and builds a new friend out of an apple, some sticks, and anything else that he finds in the forest. After Fox gains two real friends who want to help him “make a bigger friend”, he realizes that you don’t need to build a friend in order to have one.
I Love You All Day Long, by Francesca Rusackas (HarperCollins Publishers, 2002, $12.99) features a little pig named Owen, who is going to start his first day of school. When he worries, his mother promises that no matter where he is or what he does, she’ll love him all day long.
In Vera’s New School, by Vera Rosenberry (Henry Holt & Company, 2006, $16.95) Vera’s family moves to a new home, and Vera is worried about changing schools. But during the first afternoon, Jungle Larry and his wild animals visit, and Vera has an unforgettable experience that leads to a new friendship.
Just For Fun:
Lunch Money: And Other Poems About School, by Carol Diggory Shields (Puffin Books, 1998, $6.99) offers distractions from the stress of school. From an unusual pledge of allegiance and jungle gym gossip to recess rules and the rules of addition, this book captures the experiences of school-goers with wit and nerve. This hilarious collection of 24 poems is sure to keep readers laughing until summer vacation.
One of our favorite back-to-school books is Julie Danneberg’s First Day Jitters, (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2000, $6.95), which shows that even teachers get nervous going back to school!
Finally, This is the Way We Go to School: a Book About Children Around the World, by Edith Baer (Scholastic, 1992, $5.99) helps children discover all the different ways that getting to school can be a lot of fun depending on where you live in the world.
Middle School:
For the old pros out there who could still use a little help every now and again, here’s a book that will really help you out. How to Remember Everything: Grades 6-8: Memory Shortcuts to Help You Study Smarter, by Ellen Gibson and Nick Guastaferro (Princeton Review, 2006, $12.95) will help teach students how to learn instead of just providing them with long lists of information; it gives memory tricks and techniques that will help later in life too.
High School:
While getting so wrapped up in the inevitable college applications, it is sometimes a good idea to take a step back and focus more on the moment. These will help you survive the three years leading up to the college-obsessed one.
The Essential High School Dictionary, by The Princeton Review (Princeton Review, 2006, $12.95) is a resource for students that they can use as both a learning tool and a traditional reference guide. Recently updated with 75,000 entries total, the book also includes memory tricks, study tips, and notes on word roots and how to decipher them.
Also, for those just starting high school, 100 Words Every High School Freshman Should Know, by American Heritage Dictionaries (Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004, $4.95) focuses on the words that a freshman will encounter over the course of their first year in high school. We also have many of the traditional test prep books (for the SAT, ACT, and the APs) and guidebooks about college and financial aid, to help you through that difficult transition period.
For Something a Little Different:
For a different approach to tackling the SAT try Zen in the Art of the SAT: How to Think, Focus, and Achieve Your Highest Score, by Matt Bardin (Graphia, 2005, $7.99). The chapters explore how students can use principles of Zen Buddhism to relieve anxiety, build confidence, and improve focus while answering the SAT’s difficult questions. It also covers the basics of grammar, math, and writing timed essays.
For those students who are really into music try Flocabulary: the Hip-Hop Approach to SAT-Level Vocabulary Building, by Blake Harrison (Cider Mills Press, 2006, $16.95). This book offers a hip-hop approach to building your vocabulary skills, and with the accompanying CD, the set allows students to sing their way to better SAT and ACT scores and actually enjoy the process.
For the readers out there, try Test of Time and Tooth and Nail, both by Charles Harrington Elster (Harvest/HBJ Book, 2004 and 1994, $14.00). The first “novel” is a time-travel adventure that incorporates SAT and ACT vocabulary from the actual exams into the story. Tooth and Nail takes place in a mythical college, and the characters must solve a mystery that is very similar to those of Edgar Allan Poe, and also includes important vocabulary for the SAT.
For Students Going Off to College:
Making the Most of College: Students Speak Their Minds, by Richard J Light (Harvard University Press, 2004, $14.95) is filled with great advice and stories from real students facing self-doubt, failures, discoveries, and hope. Perfect for the son or daughter who is a little hesitant about their new college career. How to Survive Your Freshman Year: by Hundreds of College Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors Who Did, by Mark Bernstein (Hundreds of Heads Books, 2006, $13.95) covers age-old dilemmas, such as what to take, where to live, and how to get a good roommate. It also includes facts, resources, and checklists for worried students that cover orientation all the way to summer vacation.
For Parents:
Parenting changes once your child goes off to college, so to help you cope with this new stage in your relationship with your son or daughter, here are some helpful suggestions. Parents ’ Guide to College Life: 181 Straight Answers on Everything You Can Expect over the Next Four Years, by Robin Raskin (Princeton Review, 2006, $13.95) gives candid answers to real questions from parents who are sending their kids to college. Finally, Letting Go: a Parents ’ Guide to Understanding the College Years, by Karen Levin Coburn (HarperCollins Publishers, 2003, $14.95) offers compassionate and practical information for parents dealing with the emotional and social changes of the college years. It also combines the wisdom of past editions and the latest research on campus life.