FIrst Grade Stinks! is an entertaining picture book that can help to ease a child's transition from kindergarten to first grade. Change is not always easy, but for the child who cherishes a set schedule and knowing what to expect, the transition from kindergarten to first grade can be especially difficult. In her amusing picture book FIrst Grade Stinks!, author Mary Ann Rodman tells the story of Haley and her first day in first grade. As Haley narrates the story, the colorful watercolor and ink illustrations by Beth Spiegel bring it to life. Both Haley's comical facial expressions and her pigtails reflect her moods.
First Grade Stinks!: What a Day
Excitement at finally being one of the "big kids" leads to anger and frustration as Haley finds that everything is different in first grade. Her new teacher, Ms. Gray, is not like her kindergarten teacher. The classroom doesn't look like her kindergarten class. There is no sharing time, only one recess, and lots of hard work. When her teacher reads a story to them and stops before the end, Haley thinks, "No fair!" In fact, the only thing good about first grade seems to be that there is no naptime. As the day progresses, Haley becomes increasingly frustrated and goes from muttering, "First grade stinks!" to shouting, "First grade stinks!"With unexpected sympathy and explanations from her first grade teacher, Haley begins to to see the benefits of being in first grade. The books the teacher reads are longer than the ones the teacher read in kindergarten. They have chapters and the teacher will read a chapter to the class every day. The work is harder than kindergarten, but there's a big reward for hard work - learning to read! By the end of the schoolday, Haley has decided, "First grade is great!
First Grade Stinks!: My Recommendation
I recommend the book for children entering first grade. While First Grade Stinks! features an entertaining story and illustrations, it targets a very specific age group and circumstances, and, as a result, may not appeal to younger or older children. (Peachtree Publishers, 2006. ISBN: 9781561453771)