Little Cliff's First Day of School

Little Cliff

by Clifton L. Taulbert

Tomorrow is the first day of school and everyone is getting ready for Little Cliff's big day. But Little Cliff doesn't want to go to school, especially if it means leaving behind toys, home, and family. To him, school is all about "work, work, work" and being "quiet, quiet, quiet." Good thing Mama Pearl will make sure he gets to school on time. Sensitive and gently humorous, this irresistible story of first-day jitters proves that, though sometimes scary, growing up can also be fun, fun, fun!

Clifton L. Taulbert and E. B. Lewis collaborated previously on Little Cliff and the Porch People, which Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, described as "brimming with an appreciation for familiar, homespun pleasures."

Genres: Picture Books, African American, School, Childrens, Cultural, Realistic Fiction

32 pages, Library Binding

First published July 1, 2001

About the author

also see Clifton Taulbert

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second of three autobiographical picture-books - preceded by Little Cliff and the Porch People , followed by Little Cliff and the Cold Place - set in the Mississippi Delta of the 1950s, addresses itself to a classic childhood experience: the first day of school, and the complicated (and often negative) feelings that it evokes in young children, as they approach it. Convinced that going to school will mean saying goodbye to all his toys, to all fun and play, Little Cliff tries to resist the process, to resist his loving great-grandparents. But Poppa Joe and Mama Pearl - thrilled and proud, as the big day approaches - are just as determined that he attend...

As with Little Cliff and the Porch People , I really enjoyed the sense of community that Taulbert evokes, particularly as this time the community involved other children! Little Cliff's First Day of School is set in a specific time and place, and offers a portrait of a specific community, but it also has relevance for any child who has felt reluctant to attend school. I appreciated the depiction of Mama Pearl and Poppa Joe's relationship with Little Cliff here, as it was both loving and strict, and felt (based upon my own observations, growing up, of my African-American friends' families) very genuine. All in all, an appealing follow-up to the first Little Cliff book, one I would recommend to anyone looking for back-to-school titles, particularly those with a Southern, African-American sensibility!

[Johna Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about a little boy named, Cliff not wanting to go to the first grade on the first day. Cliff did everything to avoid school. Before he left his home, he had a conversation with every object that he enjoys playing with. Letting them know that “he is going to school and he will miss them”. When they arrived to the school, he recognized some familiar faces. It was his friends, neighbors, and cousin. They were all having fun. Cliff started to smile. No one had ever told Cliff that school is fun too. He only heard about the work, work, and work. This story could be read to grade levels prek-1.
As a teacher, I would read this story in the beginning of the year because this story could take away any butterflies the students may have about being in a new class. One of my goals is to make students feel welcome as soon as they step into my classroom. I believe the most important part of the first day is helping students feel comfortable and enthusiastic about attending school.

[Jasmine Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cliff is not ready for his first day of school. He is nervous, scared, and worried about a lot of things. Reading this book felt so realistic. I felt as if this was my little brother, living with our grandparents. This book reminds me so much of how it is growing up in the African American Community living with warm caring grandparents. This book could really relate to all those children who do not live with their biological parents because many children do not have both parents or any parents. Cliff’s grandparents gives him some great advice about school and lets him know that everyone has first day jitters.

[Klare Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Cliff lives with his great‑grandparents in the Mississippi Delta of the 1950s. He’s getting ready for his first day of first grade but Cliff is not excited at all. He is worried about leaving behind his toys, his home, and all that’s familiar, and he even hides under the house to avoid going! With gentle encouragement from Mama Pearl, he walks to school. When he arrives, he sees his friends playing and realizes school might not be that bad. I’d read this book with students on that first‑day/week of school when everyone’s feeling a bit anxious. After the reading, I’d invite students to share a time when they felt nervous about something new. Then they’d draw or write a “Before School” vs. “After School” picture.

[(NS)Jennifer Reiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story takes place in the rural south in the 1950s. An African-American boy, Little Cliff, is going to his first day of school. His great-grandparents are extremely proud and happy of him. They have laid out his clothes for him but he does not want to start his first day of first grade. Cliff is so scared that he even tries hiding under the house. Mama Pearl ends up talking to Cliff and she walks him to school herself. As they close to school, Cliff sees his friends enjoying a call game and he soon realizes that school can actually be fun!

[Alma Loredo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cliff has lived with his great-grandparents for all his life. Tomorrow is the big day. His first day of school. his great-grantparents are really looking forward to this but he is dreading it and does not want to go. He tries everything he can so he wont go but everything backfires. the day comes and he is still nervours. Mama Pearl walked him to scholl. He heard laughter and fun. Soon after he was playing with all the children in the school yard. Very nice book that talks about first day of school expeience. The only thing is that the book is very lengthy.

[571 · Rating 4 out of 5]

K-Gr 2 SLJ
multicultural school experiences, African-American, Cliff thinks he'll never be able to play with his toys again once school starts because he'll have to work and be quiet all the time. says goodbye to his toys, tries to hide and not go to school, discovers all his friends waiting for him when he gets there, discovers he'll have fun, grandparents are the guardians in the story,
1st-3rd?

[Kendra Loch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Cliff's First Day of School is an easy read that goes through the first day of school jitters that children may face. Cliff was afraid to leave behind his favorite toys, home, and family but Mama Pearl encouraged him and made sure that he got to school on time. Walking up to school, Cliff got a great surprise seeing close friends having fun-at school! He easily said goodbye to Mama Pearl and realized school wouldn't be too bad at all.

[Tuyet Tran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Cliff does not like to go to school. He prefers to stay at home and playing with his toys and helps out in the family. Once his mom walks him into school, he sees his friends playing outside. He ends up liking the first day of school. The first day of school sounds scary because it is the first time. This book relate to the child's first day of school.

[Beth Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great book for children who are struggling with wanting to go to school. It shows how one boy thought all he did at school was work, but then he arrives and sees his friends. He thinks it will be fun. This book brought tears to my eyes so I think any book that brings on good emotion is a good book.

[Karyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dialect was a little different, showing how this African American family spoke, but it was a good way to show how a little boy is worried about going to school. It felt realistic. Shawn did ask a few questions as we read it, like what a fessor was (professor). I thought it was well written.

[Oana Cerchezan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be a good book to read on the first day of school. As a class we can talk about what emotions we had on the first day of school and what adjectives we could use to describe our emotions.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

-first day of school for kindergarten-1st grade students.
-school can be fun, not just work all the time
-good place to meet new friends