First Grade Jitters

by Robert M. Quackenbush

A small boy wonders what first grade will be like, but isn't sure that he wants to find out.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Friendship, Back To School, Family

Hardcover

First published October 1, 1987

About the author

Author/Artist/Educator Robert Quackenbush has written and illustrated over 200 books for young readers including his popular Miss Mallard Mysteries, which have been made into animated films for children's worldwide television programming by Cinar (now Cookie Jar Entertainment) that are showing in 70 countries. His books have won many awards and citations including an Edgar Allen Poe Special Award for Best Juvenile Mystery, a Gradiva Award, and a gold medal from the Holland Society of New York for distinction in art and literature by a member of the society. He is a frequent visiting author at schools and libraries giving programs to instill children with a love of books and reading. These tours have taken him across the US, including Alaska, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. His art is in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, the Department of Interior, the U.S. Air Force Museum, and Norton Simon Museum. For further information, visit his Web site www.rquackenbush.com, which also gives his Facebook and Blog addresses.

Reviews

[Megan Mason]

Summary:
First grade jitters is about a little boy who is about to start his first day of first grade. However, he does not know quite what to expect and is really nervous. He wonders if his friends will be there, if he will know how to read or spell, and he worries that he will not be able to understand his teacher says. This boy has a bad case of the jitters, but once he actually goes to school he realizes that it's not so bad after all.

Review:
This book tells a cute story of a young boy trying to get out of going to first grade because he has a case of the jitters. This is something a lot of kids go through when school is about to being again after the summer. Change is difficult for many kids, so this book is relatable to students and tells a story about how everything turns out okay. This is such a good book to have in your classroom or at home!

Teaching Ideas:
I would use this book as a first-grade teacher on the first day of first grade. Many students may feel nervous about being in a new class with a new teacher and new people. This book will be relatable to students and hopefully help them feel a little better. After reading, I would have
turn and talk about how they are feeling on the first day and come up with ways that the teacher can help them feel more comfortable!

[Madison Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
This story is about a young boy who is about to begin his first day of first grade. However, he does not know quite what to expect. He wonders if his friends will be there, if he will know how to read or spell, and he worries that he will not be able to understand his teacher says. This boy has a bad case of the jitters, but when he begins school, he will find out that it is not as bad as it seems.

Review:
This book tells a cute story of a young boy trying to get out of going to first grade because he has a case of the jitters. This is something a lot of kids go through when school is about to being again after the summer. Change is difficult for many kids, so this book is relatable to students and tells a story about how everything turns out okay.

Teaching:
I would use this book as a first-grade teacher on the first day of first grade. Many students may feel nervous about being in a new class with a new teacher and new people. This book will be relatable to students and hopefully help them feel a little better. After reading, I would have students write their worries on a piece of paper and then just throw it away and explain that there is no need to worry!

[Melanie Vacco · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. No awards.
2. Grade level: kindergarten to second grade
3. A young boy is nervous about going into first grade. He thinks the teacher is going to expect them to know things he does not know and so he fakes having a hurt leg so that he wont have to go to school. His friend tells him that she met the first grade teacher and she is kind and does not expect them to know things they have not learned yet.
4. I love this book because I feel like it would be a great thing to read on the first day of first grade. It can relieve tension and help explain to the children that they are still exploring new ideas but the teacher is going to help them learn.
5. Class use: Have the students fill out a “First Grade Jitters” worksheet with questions like, “What are some things you are nervous about? What do you think first grade will be like? What do you want to learn?”

[Kaitlyn Day]

Summary: This book is about a boy who is about to begin first grade. He is unsure of what to expect from first grade. He worries if his friends are there, if he will be able to complete the work, and that he will not be ready. Whenever first grade begins, it’s not as bad as it seems.

Evaluation: This book is a great book to read to students because a lot of students go through first day jitters. I think it portrays how the students are adjusting to going to school and how change can be difficult.

Teaching: I would use this book to read on the first day of school. A lot of students and even teachers feel nervous when school begins; therefore, I think this would be a great book to help ease the students minds and nerves.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for parents who have a child who is unsure about starting first grade. It won't fix everything, but may help the child feel less alone in his/her fear knowing that others are going through the same thing.

[Barbara Thompson Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for reading to kids on the first day of school. Everyone is nervous starting something new and this book gives us a way to talk about being nervous. ( I have a great Pintrest page for this book)

[Clwseattle · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Grade Jitters will help calm those first grade jitters! It truly addresses the fears of not understanding and not doing things right. But friends make everything better, especially the First Grade Jitters

[Hannah Klumb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story to read to a group of nervous students.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This humorous book will be useful on the first day of school as a read aloud and discussion starter about the many reasons a student might want to NOT go to first grade.

[Y.Poston]

lovely book
about childhood
grade change

[Sara Magnafichi · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a first grade teacher, children really connect to this book, as they can relate to all the feelings the main character feels.

[Checkthebook · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very gentle and appropriate book about being nervous.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some (rather unrealistic) pre-school year anxiety for a 1st grader.

[Mely · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so the message/ story of the book was great. But the illustrations were just a little odd

[Csye · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story first Grade jitters is written by Robert Quackenbush and illustrated by Yan Nascimbene. This is a story about a young boy who is afraid of starting first grage but does not want to admit it. Every time his parents say he is upset because of first grade jitters he disagrees and tells them it’s because of another reason. He soon begins to realize he does have first grade jitters and don’t know what to do. Soon his friends come over who have been gone all summer. They reassure him that it will be ok and that the teacher is nice, and now he is ready for first grade.
The plot of the story relates to today’s issues with children starting school, so it is something they can relate to.
The age range for this book would be for nursery to primary. This book is made-up of little words and easy works for beginning readers. This will also help young children to prepare for school and show them that everyone get s nervous about something sometimes.
The artistic elements of this book were great. The book was made up of many colorful pictures on each page that explained what the text was saying.
I would recommend this book to all first grade teachers to help their students who may have first grade jitters. This book is also good for encouraging young children to read, because they will enjoy the pictures.
I will give this book a five star rating.

[Sade' · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Grade Jitters is a contemporary realistic fiction book intended for children ages 5 years old and up. I gave this book a 5 star rating because it's the perfect book written for those children getting ready to enter first grade. Even me being an adult and way beyond this stage in life, I know if I was in a kindergartner's shoes I would be more than ready to attend first grade after reading this book. This book is about a young boy who is on his summer break and soon realizes that he is about to enter first grade. He is quite nervous and a little afraid because he does not know what to expect. This young boy suffers from “first grade jitters”! The book is a good book to read to all kindergartens that are nervous or afraid to go to the first grade, it’s a reassuring story that is sure to chase away the jitters about going to the first grade.
As a teacher, in my classroom, I would use this book to read to the kindergartens on their last day of school to try and rid those jitters early. This book may even be read to the first graders on their first day of school as well. As a parent, this would be an excellent book to read throughout the summer and closer to when school is about to begin. I would most definitely recommend this book, especially to our little kindergartners.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Reads description:
Here is the story of a young boy who is about to enter first grade and doesn't know quite what to expect. Will his friends be there? Will he have to know how to read and spell? What if he can't understand anything his teacher says? Looks like a case of first grade jitters! Robert Quackenbush and Yan Nascimbene tell a reassuring story that is sure to chase away those jitters for any soon-to-be first grader.

Just because a child made it through kindergarten, doesn’t mean they are comfortable about moving on to first grade. The full-page illustrations highlight this common anxiety felt by many soon to be first graders. I especially liked how Aidan’s dog and teddy bear mirror his worries throughout the book. And like all good first day jitters type books, this one has an easy happy ending. This is a great gift for the new first grader in your life and a good addition to any collection on first day jitters.

Recommended for Kindergarten through 1st Grade.

Mrs. Archer’s rating: 4 of 5

[Theresa White]

1. Aidan is a soon to be first grader. He doesn't now what to expect in first grade, and is full of jitters. He doesn't know if his friends are going to be their, if he will be able to understand the words his teachers use or if he is supposed to be able to read or spell. Aidan is scared of going into first grade until one of his friends tells him all about his teacher. Once he finds out that his teacher talks like they do and understands that they don't know how to read, write or spell he is excited for first grade and all his jitters go away.
2.An activity for this book would be to read it on the first day and have the children be able to fill a picture of a bucket with the things they are scared of most. By doing this you will get to know your children and they will be able to tell you why they are scared of about first grade.
3. Quakenbush, R. (2010). First Grade Jitters. New York: HarperCollins.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First Grade Jitters (1982, 2010) by Robert Quackenbush is a contemporary realistic fiction picture book (P) about a boy, Aidan, who anticipates first grade, worries about his new teacher, wonders about his friends, and what he will be expected to know. With the help of his friends, and one friend, Tammy, who has met his new teacher, Miss Welsh, he learns that he has nothing to fear. The colorful, full-page impressionistic drawings by Yan Nascimbene enhance the story, helping young children see what the “jitters” may look like. Very young readers can look for the dog, which appears on almost every page throughout the book. This is an excellent book for children completing kindergarten, who may be feeling nervous about completing kindergarten and transferring to a new school for first grade.

[Jordan Tankersley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it is something every kid can relate to. Whether they are going into first grade, third grade or even high school, kids get jitters. I remember going into first grade wondering the same thing that Aidan was thinking in this book. It is scary going into a new school and wondering whether or not you will be "smart" enough. I think this book did a good job of portraying the characters feelings. I also liked that in the end, Aidan felt relieved. This is important for readers to help reassure themselves that everything will be ok. As well as the story I enjoyed the art work and the way the text was outlined and emphasized the important words. I recommend this book to all kindergardeners! :)

[Shamilah Gillani · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read this book in my placement, I thought it was a perfect first day of school book. Kids, and even adults, are nervous and jittery during back to school time - I know I was as a child, and I still am now! Students can easily relate to the fears Aiden has about school starting and not seeing his friends for a while, and how worried he is about beginning a new grade. Students will feel at ease after reading this book because they will know that they can relate to someone that was in the same position. The illustrations and word usage make it a great book for students to be engaged with in a read-aloud.

[Ethelen V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quackenbush, R. M., & Nascimbene, Y. (2010). First grade jitters. New York, NY: Harper.

A little boy is about to start a new adventure - first grade! What is he going to do? Tons of questions run through his mind. Will he understand his teacher? What if he gets lost? How will he handle it?

This is a good story designed for K- first grade. The pictures are simplistic yet realistic. The content is appropriate for its intended age level. It is a helpful read aloud for parents and teachers who have children at this age. A reassuring read for those first grade jitters.

[Christie Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this would be a great book to read to kids who are anxious about the next step in school, or transitioning from one grade to the next. It deals with a child talking about his inner fears, and then asking questions about what he fears. When he learns that his fears are unwarrented, he is able to relax and move on, and embrace the changes that are coming. I think most kids can identify with this, and I'm sure the ELLs would understand how it feels starting out in a new place with a new teacher and possibly no friends.

[Sarah Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a little boy who is nervouse about going to first grade.This book is great for k-5 to 3rd. the pictures are cartoon like and colorful. I like how the author wrote the book by putting the boys feelings in red lettering. this is a good book of course for a teacher to read to k-5 or first graders since it is about that transition. though with a few word changes it u can read it to 2nd-5th graders for their transition period too.

[Mimi]

First grade jitters is about a little boy, Aiden who is afraid of going to first grade and doesn't want to admit it. It's the summer before 1st grade and he hasn't seen any of his friends from Kindergarten and Aiden is worried about the new things he's about to encounter in 1st grade. This would be perfect to use in the beginning of the school year. A lot of children are nervous about starting the next grade and this book is very relatable for younger kids.

[BillyAnn Stempel]

This book is all about being afraid of going to a new school school and anew grade. He will be going into the first grade and isn't sure if his friends are there or what to expect. Luckily he finds out school isn't so bad after all.

Illustrations done with colored pencil and watercolor

I liked this book though it seemed very simple. It would be the perfect book for a parent to read to a kid who was nervous about going to a new school. Aimed at younger readers.

[Sheniqua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aidan is nervous about first grade. He wonders will the teacher make him read or write and do arithmetic. In the end, he meets back up with his kindergarten buddies and they help him get over his jitters. I would definitely use this during the first week of school as students may be very nervous while getting used to the routine.

[Rachel Rouleau · Rating 3 out of 5]

It made me a little sad to see that in this book from 1982, the character remembers spending kindergarten playing with blocks with his friends. He's afraid to learn new things in first grade like reading and doing math. Somehow since then reading and math have become kindergarten subjects and learning through free play in school is a thing of the past.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, reassuring book, but a little dated (text was copyrighted in 1982) in regards to academic expectations. The boy is worried that the teacher will expect him to read and do some math, but he's reassured that she won't because that's what she'll teach them. Kind of true, but most schools these days do expect some reading and math knowledge to leave kindergarten.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book to read on the first day of first grade. It can start a discussion of anything the students might me nervous about, the teacher can ease their minds and worries by telling the students some of the neat and fun things that will happen throughout the year.