Kindergarten Rocks!: A First Day of School Book for Kids

by Katie Davis

Dexter is ready for kindergarten. Sort of. Well, actually, he's maybe kind of a little bit scared, perhaps even terrified, one might say. Because what if he gets lost? Or, what if the teacher is mean? Or, he misses his mom or dad? Or, worst of all, he loses his most important ally, Rufus?

With the same warmth, exuberance, and sly wit that have made her a favorite of booksellers and children, Katie Davis tackles a problem every kid--and parent--has to face sooner or first-day fears. And she shows that it's okay to be scared, but that, as Dexter's older sister Jessie says, "Kindergarten rocks!"

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Back To School, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Emotion

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2005

About the author

Katie Davis is the author/illustrator of over a dozen traditionally published books for children, from picture books to middle grade and young adult novels. They’ve sold over 755,000 copies worldwide, which is why she self-published How to Write a Children's Book and How to Promote Your Children's Book, both #1 Amazon bestsellers.

Because Katie’s secret superpower is her ability to teach writers about writing, tech, and marketing their books, she created digital courses and products for writers such as How to Create Your Author Platform (and Market Your Books without Being Pushy), Video Idiot Boot Camp, and Launch Your Book Blueprint. She’s also co-created the largest and first live online conference of its kind, Picture Book Summit.

Katie’s first podcast Brain Burps About Books is an interview format and focuses more on marketing. Her second podcast is Writing for Children and is bite-sized craft oriented lessons. Katie has been a regular guest on WTNH recommending children’s books and recently appeared on the TEDx stage.

Katie has been honored to speak everywhere from a maximum security prison, to elementary schools, to university level, including UCONN and Yale, and has keynoted conferences and fundraising galas.

Using her now not-so-secret superpower allowed Katie and her husband, Jerry Davis, to take over the 47-year-old Institute of Children’s Literature and its sister school, the Institute for Writers, where, as of this writing, 470,027 people have taken college level writing courses and learned to write for both children and adults.

Reviews

[LaDonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are sooooo many books out there that tell stories about the first day of kindergarten. I, personally, do not think that this one stands out. Nonetheless, the story and characters are truly relatable. The five year olds that I read it to really enjoyed it. 🤩 So what do I know? 😜

[midnightfaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere around a level 1 reading level book that my 5 yr old loves. He's going to charter school (public school online) but he's in class at church and can relate to the mentality. He knows he'd be bored if he'd go to a regular school and even told me he doesn't want to go, yet still loves to read this book. A great addition to our collection.

[Fjóla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Books of this type can be useful to mentally prepare young kids for school, and even when your child is already of age she may enjoy the reassurance she gets from a book that mirrors her experience. The pictures in this book are somewhat engaging, they're done in crayons which is sort of a clever choice for a book about kindergarten, right? And many of the drawings are kind of childlike, such as the houses, which is fun. But after the first observations I started finding the book only moderately inspired, or even useful. For instance, how realistic is it that a kindergartner on his first day will get escorted by his second grader sister only, to a school he's never visited before? And, isn't that sort of a thing of the past that kindergartners have an imagination (dress-up) station in their classroom, that they get to play with blocks, or play-doh, or make food? It seems to me that art class is not exactly a given in elementary school nowadays, nor is necessarily the library, or a music room, or a gym, these are things that some better off schools may be provide, but far from most. Oh, and by the way, I'm sure you're not allowed to keep the library books "practically forever"! And in my kindergartner's class, if you touch your friends during circle time, like Dexter and his class mates are doing in the pictures, you're in big trouble. Also, I don't think the custodians are wiping up spills for you with a smile on their face. My five year old once dropped his sandwich on the ground when someone bumped into him at school and the custodian sent him to the principal's office claiming he must have done it on purpose. So, kindergarten is great, but let's keep it real and don't give our kids the wrong ideas. And no, you can not bring your toys to school, even not your stuffed animals!

[Jim Sibigtroth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read-aloud for children approaching the uncertainty of kindergarten.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text to personal connection

I related to this book in so many ways. This book brought back the same feelings I used to get anticipating a new school year and also as an adult, going to new places. I am currently teaching prek and I love how this book soothes feelings of anxiety and replaces it with having something to look forward too. I remember at the end of each first day I always felt good. The experiences were never as scary as I thought it would be.

[Unique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text-to-Text Self Connection: How does the story connect to your personal experience or background.

Kindergarten Rocks! is a book I received as early childhood educator for one incoming school year. It talks about a young boy starting school on his first day. He had a sister that told him what to expect, however it is nothing like having your own experience. Plus he had a security stuff animal that he was attached too. I have had many experiences over the past 20 years of children entering my school on their first day. Many moms bring in a particular items, and tell me they can't live without whatever the item might be. When children go home I often tell parents after a few weeks that the item was never touched and they can keep at home, because child surprisingly to them did not ask for it. My students are caught up with so many other day to day activities, they do not think about anything else. I have had many accounts that parents say their child needs a pacifier and truly they do not, because I am extremely patient and I give the child the all of the attention he or she needs. Therefore there is no time to worry about anything else.

[Andrea Jeter]

Text-to-self connection


Kindergarten Rocks!! Yes that’s what I was told when I was young too. This book is about Dex and his first day of kindergarten. He had anxiety but a lot of excitement. I was nervous about my first day of kindergarten. I remember it like it was yesterday. I cried like a baby the first day when my mom left me. My experience and memories from kindergarten was overall great. I remember my teacher and all the great things she taught me . My first day was kinda like Dex except I didn’t take a friend along with me to school. Learning new things and meeting knew people was the best part about kindergarten to me. After opening up and talking you will start to feel like you are not as alone as you thought you were . By the end of my first day I was over filled with joy . I had made new friends, learned new things, and even loved my teacher. Kindergarten was great. Can’t wait to tell my children in my classroom about my first of kindergarten and even share stories.

[Twocuphabit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindergarten Rocks is a preparatory book for children entering kindergarten. Dexter Dugan is pretty nervous about going to kindergarten. His big sister helps him through the process, and he comes out confident about his new experience.

The strongest aspect of this book is the author's voice. The book contains plenty of dialogue, and the voice stays strong. The tone of the book stays consistently conversational, and doesn't stray into other areas.

I would recommend that young writers develop and stick with a strong voice, as did this author.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindergarten ROCKS! by Katie Davis addresses the fear of many children setting off on that first day of school – the anxiety, the worry, the imagined worst-case-scenarios. Dexter has them all.

Dexter is a little boy soon to start kindergarten. Dexter knows all about kindergarten because his older sister Jessica, who is going into grade 3, told him about it. Even so, he’s nervous about it, or rather … his toy blue dog Rufus is worried about it. Jessica encourages her brother not to worry because – kindergarten rocks! Dexter keeps trying to convince himself it’ll be fine, but he takes Rufus along for moral support.

The colourful illustrations – created by the author illustrator, Katie Davis – contribute to the humour of the story. Example: “When we finally got to school, I couldn’t wait to see my classroom.” The illustrations belie what Dexter is saying because in that scene Jessica is pulling Dexter who is strongly resisting.

Much to Dexter’s relief, he discovers he has a friend from pre-school in his class and he soon forgets to be anxious. There are so many fun things to do that Dexter even forgets where he left Rufus. Then he’s worried for a totally other reason and a search ensues.

Told mostly by Dexter himself, Kindergarten ROCKS! is a story young readers and pre-readers will really enjoy. The illustrations fit well with the words to add to the humour and show the child’s angst which is quickly resolved. The images are bright, bold, uncomplicated, and look as if they were created through the use of Crayola crayons which are depicted on one page. And who doesn’t love using Crayolas?

Kindergarten ROCKS! written and illustrated by Katie Davis is a must read book for young children and the adults who read to them. It’s fun, bright, and reassuring.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Dexter is fine with going to kindy, but his dog Rufus is the reluctant one.

I'm really curious about the impact of this literary device (or even psychological device) in the plot of this picture book. What is being taught to the children having this book read to them?

Since my son's over 30 now, I don't think he's a candidate for this particular storybook. Actually, if he'd been a preschool guy when this book became available, I wouldn't have read it to him. I would simply have prepared him for kindergarten.

Personally, I don't believe that listing fears in a book like this, even with rejoinders to each worry, really eliminates fears at all. More that it can start a worry-worry-worry routine that won't serve any child well.

And yet, I know that many parents -- maybe the majority? -- have the opposite opinion. This book would be for them, not me. Hence the FIVE STAR rating.

FOR SURE

The words and illustrations by Katie Davis are charming and comforting. And the part of the ending about Rufus comes as a considerable relief.

[Well-Read Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is easy to read, my almost 5 year old read this book by himself with barely any help. Dex, the main character in the story, is very relatable to future kindergartners. He tried to be brave and to a point can put on an act of being brave. With the help of his older sister reassuring him and telling him what to expect, he goes to school. Everything seems to go wrong on his first day, but everything soon gets resolved and Dex can't wait for tomorrow. In the end Dex ends up worrying that he won't get to go again.
This story was cute and funny. My soon-to-be kindergartner laughed out loud!


https://wellreadmama.com/kindergarten...

[Sydney Huntington-Strohm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book is about Dexter Dugan who thinks he knows all the ropes of Kindergarten. His sister tells and shows him the fun parts of Kindergarten. She also gives him a stuffed dog to help with his fears. The artist does a nice job with the illustrations to make them match what the text is saying. This would be a great book for a child who will be entering Kindergarten to let them know how fun it will be.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dexter worries about what kindergarten will be like, but his older sister assures him that it will be fine. The story goes through Dexter's first day and his many exploits. In the end, Dexter concludes that kindergarten rocks!

[Audra PC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is a kids book about Dexter and his first day of Kindergarten jitters. I liked that this book is better and more pages than others of the same topic. It has some familiar and realistic feeling and themes.

[Terri Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little hard as a read-aloud because of the speech bubbles. I did a lot of "Then his sister said...". It would be a great book if you were doing a lesson on speech bubbles.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindergarten ready? Yes or no this is a good picture book to smooth the jitters and to help let kids know what's in store for them at BIG school.

[Ellie McGarvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to kindergartners during their first week at school and they loved it! The art is colorful and bright

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good read.

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for putting kids at ease when entering K. I didn’t like the small print word bubbles though for reading to a pre-K child. Ease of reading was not great.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know any kids entering kindergarten..
I definitely recommend this as one.

[Jannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dexter goes to kindergarten with his trusty stuffed dog, Rufus.

[Golda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindergarten DOES rock!

[Cary Ownby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed hearing this book read by the principal of Castle Hills Elementary School before the first day of school! Yes, their first day of school was July 19, 2023!

[Rolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, and helped our new kindergartner sort through some of her anxieties and worries.

[Yas · Rating 5 out of 5]

first book I ever purchased🥺

[Ashlyn Kelly]

There is an audiobook that students can listen to as well in listening center or on the SmartBoard!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book featuring Dexter, a soon-to-be kindergartener, who really, really, is not scared to go. Really. Honestly. It's just that, well, his stuffed dog, Rufus, is scared. This book takes the reader through the process of Dexter's (I mean Rufus's!) anxiety and how it is resolved. Pre-K children will see themselves in Dexter's eyes, lessening their anxiety while acknowledging that is okay to be afraid. Hopefully it will do the same for a parent's anxiety as well! The illustrations are realistic and funny. This one should be on every Pre-K shelf.

CIP Summary:
Dexter knows everything there is to know about kindergarten and is not at all scared about his first day there, but his stuffed dog, Rufus, is very nervous.

Hornbook Guide:
Dexter says he isn't scared about starting kindergarten--it's his stuffed dog Rufus who's the nervous one. Dexter's older sister understands and reassures Dexter that he's going to have a great time. Humorous art resembling kids' crayon drawings matches the topic and tone in this comforting book that answers everything pre-kindergartners want to know but might be afraid to ask.

School Library Journal:
A succession of cartoon illustrations and speech bubbles follows the large-eyed child through his first day of school. A gentle, humorous read to calm the anxiety of younger students.

[Caitlin Schwatka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to read to your child as they get ready to start Kindergarten. This book is about a little boy named Dexter who, like most young children of that age, is nervous about starting Kindergarten. Throughout the book he verbalizes his fears, with his sister assuring him that there is no need to worry. I think this is a good book because young children will see not only does Dexter have the same fears they do, but that there really is no need to worry because there are teachers and other adults to help them out. Dexter does something that is common among young children; he say he is not scared but his stuffed dog is. Like most children, he wants to appear brave when he really is nervous. This is an important thing to notice among kids and to remind them that there is no reason to worry. At the end of the book, Dexter is not nervous but excited to go to Kindergarten. As a teacher, I would read this book on the first day of Kindergarten, showing with words and the vibrant illustrations that children will overcome their fears and enjoy and look forward to going to school.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book
Audience: K-2nd
Topic: Going to Kindergarten
Theme: Overcoming fears
Curricular Uses: Read Aloud, Independent Reading, Shared Reading
Reading Level: Early Readers
Literary Elements: Repetition, some rhyme
Illustrations: Very creative illustrations that reinforce the text. The use of speech bubbles in the illustrations adds energy to the pictures. Sometimes there are small illustrations on the page with text beside it that helps the reader figure out the text.
Additional Comments: I loved this book. It was so creative because it is told from the perspective of the little boy. It brings to life the common fears that children have about school. I think children will love reading this book on their own. Even though it is specifically about kindergarten, I would continue using this in other grades because I think children will find the humor in the book. They will be able to relate to the character in the book and see how much they have changed since they went to kindergarten.

[Jessica Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindergarten Rocks is a very good book to read to children during the first week of school. It is about a little boy, Dexter, that is not scared to go to school but his stuffed dog, Rufus, is though. Dexter's fear of going to school is brought out through his dog.

I feel that the book's illustration is very attractive to young children because it is very brightly colored and easy for the children to understand. My favorite part is where Dexter shows that he is the one afraid because of the questions he is asking his older sister about. I wasn't scared to go to kindergarten, but the first classmate I talked to was terrified. Getting to know her the first day helped her relax, but I think that with this book, I think it would have helped her and many other students that are scared or nervous to go to kindergarten. As a teacher, I would read this book to my students in order to make them feel more comfortable about being at school.