Editorial Review

“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 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 materials for comparing and contrasting cultures. A good choice for group sharing or individual reading throughout the academic year.”

—School Library Journal