School’s First Day of School
by Adam Rex, Christian Robinson (Illustrator)
DETAILS:
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: June 28, 2016
Format: Hardcover
Length: 40 pg.
Read Date: July 30, 2026
What’s School’s First Day of School About?
Anthropomorphizing everyday objects or animals is a pretty standard thing in Children’s Books and Picture Books. But it’s not often that we get a whole building depicted this way. (at least from what I recall) If you’re going to do it, why not do it with a school?
Which is what Adam Rex does here–this building, Frederick Douglass Elementary, to be specific–is freshly constructed and eager to open up. It’s a little nervous, too. Thankfully, it’s befriended a custodian who calms it down and assures it about what’s going to happen.
Like many children, the school is excited to start the first day, but it doesn’t go like it expected and nerves start to rule the day. The custodian steps in and helps out again–and by the end, the school is ready for Day Two.
Let’s Talk about the Art for a Minute
Robinson’s pictures are painted–which I always appreciate. They’re just detailed enough to keep the attention and conversation going. There’s a solid, comforting emotion that comes through.
Everything seems juuuust slightly skewed–like 2-3 degrees off from being at 90-degree corners. (I didn’t set a protractor on the page, however). Which works–and I had to stare at a couple of pictures and the cover before it dawned on me. Which also means I could be out to lunch on that observation. Whatever it was that I’m seeing adds some life and movement to the pictures–like a school day, nothing is static on the page.
How is it to Read Aloud?
It’s not a rhyming tongue-twister, which is nice–so you can focus on the text and pointing out/talking about the details in Robinson’s pictures.
So, what did I think about School’s First Day of School?
How relatable is this for the audience? You’re nervous about school (or day care or preschool), guess what? You’re not alone! Even the building feels this way! What student doesn’t want to hear that? And then the school models for the child how to think about the day and be ready for the next. It’s fun, and it’s helpful.
Which sounds pretty good for a Picture book.
Especially this time of year.
School’s First Day of School is cute, imaginative, and easily relatable. Basically, it’s a winner.
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