Here comes kindergarten! Whether your little reader is gearing up for the first day or making her way through the school year, K is for Kindergarten will help guide them with silly rhymes and fun activities from A to Z.
I write in many genres, from board books to YA. I am thrilled to announce SQUIRREL DRAWS BIG FEELINGS (Illus. Luciana Navarro Powell / Beaming Books coming in April 2026.
Other bookes include: JUST FLOWERS (Illus. Kate Cosgrove / Sleeping Bear / 2024) A 2025 Junior Master Gardeners' Growing Good Kids award recipient.
The HALF BIRTHDAY BOOK (Illus. Germán Blanco / Genius Cat Books / April 2023 )
CHRISTMAS AHOY! (Illus. Kayla Stark / Sleeping Bear Press / July 2023)
DEAR EARTH...From Your Friends in Room 5 (Illus. by Luisa Uribe / Harper Collins) . #ClimateAction *In Paperback Feb. 2023
PETER EASTER FROG (Illus. by G. Brian Karas /Caitlyn Dlouhy books/ Atheneum/S&S)
SNOWGLOBE WISHES (Illus. by Claire Shorrock / Sleeping Bear Press) got a shiny KIRKUS starred review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re... “The feelings of community and togetherness are palpable.” ❄️
GRANDMA'S FAVORITE; and GRANDPA'S FAVORITE (Kane Miller/ illus. by Luciana Navarro Powell), now available from Kane Miller via the Usborne Books and More web site will be released to Indies and B&N this year--and there are Spanish editions as well!
K IS FOR KINDERGARTEN (Sleeping Bear Press; illus. by Joseph Cowman) is perfect for current kinders and teachers AND those who need something to DO while waiting for Kindergarten to start.
BABIES COME FROM AIRPORTS (Kane Miller/ illus. by Luciana Navarro Powell--And spoiler alert: NO, they don't. See p. 2.) is a kid's-eye view of international adoption--from the paper work, researching heritage, and ALL the waiting, to that first hello.
DECK THE WALLS (Sleeping Bear/ Illus. by Nick Ward) is about the kids' table at a holiday dinner --and a fun sing-along for school celebrations.
My picture books with Atheneum/S&S, GOLDIE LOCKS HAS CHICKEN POX, and LITTLE BO PEEP CAN’T GET TO SLEEP have taken me to school visits as far south as Brazil and as far north as Tok, Alaska.
I'm a Language Arts/ theater teacher with decades of classroom experience and head the theater department of Sugarloaf Fine Arts Camp. My plays for young adults are published through Uproar Theatrics. As a member of the Area3WP, I taught writing workshops for teachers and students of all ages. If you're wondering why I look familiar, I'm the former RA for SCBWI CA North/Central, and have presented at SCBWI, reading associations, school library associations, and the PK1 Conference. If you’re still reading this (thanks!), you can find my full bio and Writer’s Rap at https://erindealey.com/ and on Bluesky, X, Insta, FB, LinkedIn, and Pinterest: @ErinDealey.
Didn't have a chance to read this before my stepdaughter chose it for reading time. So I was caught off at the beginning by the suggested projects one could do. Nice idea. A bit too late for us! I skipped reading those and just did the rhyming text. Not bad. I guess she enjoyed it.
K is for Kindergarten is a children's picture book written by Erin Dealey and illustrated by Joseph Cowman, which is an alphabet book focusing on all things kindergarten. Since my littlest niece is starting kindergarten this September, I thought this book might be nice for her.
Dealey's text is simplistic, straightforward, and somewhat rhythmic. It is simply an alphabet book centering on all things kindergarten using simple and silly rhymes to teach the alphabet. However, some of the rhymes seemed rather forced – it was not too bad overall. In the margins, there are wonderful suggested activities that could be done. Cowman’s illustrations are wonderfully depicted and show the joys of kindergarten rather well.
The premise of the book is rather straightforward. It is an alphabet book centering on all things kindergarten. The books shows rather well what to expect from kindergarten and to alley any fears that a prospective kindergartener might have.
However, I have to point out that it took me forever to figure out what Kinder meant, as it is littered all over the activity section in the margins and mentioned once or twice on the main text. It never dawned on me that Kinder is short for Kindergarten. I spent too much time searching the connection between K is for Kindergarten and Kinder Eggs, because that is when I think of when I hear Kinder. I really, really, really, thought for a long time that Kinder Eggs sponsored the making of this book, but could not find a connection.
All in all, K is for Kindergarten is wonderful children's alphabet book that is more than just an alphabet book, but an activity book as well as an informational book about kindergarten for prospective new students.
This book goes through the alphabet and says something about Kindergarten for each letter. Each letter represents something new that a child will face as a new kindergartener.
As a teacher, I would use this on the first day of school if I was a kindergarten teacher. It will help students who are coming to school for the first time relax and feel comfortable at school. You could also use this if you are a Pre-K teacher to show your students that going to kindergarten is not going to be that scary and that there are tons of fun things to do as a kindergartner. Another thing that is great about this book is that it gives you lesson plan ideas. For almost every letter there is a lesson plan idea that goes with that letter.
This book is intended to serve an important purpose: to help children who are afraid at the thought of starting school/kindergarten. That is a big transition--leaving Mom and starting to interact with other adults and other children. It is indeed frightening. So the intent here is welcome and important. But I don't think the issues are addressed. The child is not given anything for their heart to go on. It's a compendium of taster activities of the kind a child will likely do in kindergarten. The theme is: "See--it'll be all right! Don't be afraid. It's fun it is to make paper chains!" It'll possibly will be somewhat little helpful to some children.
This kindergarten fiction book is a nice introduction of the use of the alphabet for new readers to see. Each letter has a phrase that goes along with it to introduce new students to kindergarten. The illustrations are fantastic with great detail and color. This book is a great book for kindergarten students to draw inspiration from. I like phrase for the letter D, " D is for directions. Can you follow these school rules? 1. Make good choices 2. Use inside voices 3. Do your best 4. Respect is cool!" This book is a blueprint on how to succeed as a Kindergarten student in any school in America. I also like how this book is constantly asking questions, which is a common Kindergarten trait. Building upon that can help to mold students into independent thinkers that continuously thirst for more knowledge. I would recommend this book to young readers.
This is a delightful book to read aloud to an excited little one who is ready to start school! Or one who has just begun, or is nervous about starting kindergarten. The alphabet plays out in this to see, do, and experience school for the first time. It is also filled with fun, interactive things that a kinder can do by themselves or with some help from a caregiver. Like her other wonderful children's book this one will have a cherished place on your little one's shelf. The illustrations by Joseph Cowman are also charming.
More appropriate for families preparing a child for Kindergarten than a school library collection, although Kindergarten teachers may enjoy sharing this book with students during the first week of school. Each letter of the alphabet spotlights ways in which kids entering school may learn and be successful throughout the day, from leaving stuffed animals at home to learning numbers and letters. Each letter is also attached to a Kinder Countdown challenge that encourages families to practice various skills.
Super new title by Erin Dealey, K is for Kindergarten takes the reader on a fun alphabetical romp through Kindergarten. In addition to imaginative alphabetical choices that share what kindergartners can look forward to, the book includes count down and challenge activities that build up to that big first day of school and continue as the school year progresses. Charming illustration accompany the imaginative text. Well thought out, well written, well done.
The illustrations are adorable and diverse! The book uses the alphabet to count down to kindergarten. Lots of suggested activities for each letter on the sides. The story text flows and rhymes for a fun read aloud. I really do love the diversity of the illustrations- not only are there children of different races but there are also kids with leg braces and wheel chairs and a multicultural family in the end.
This ABC kindergarten book reads like an activity guide for kindergarteners. With each alphabet letter that's being introduced, there are suggestions for games and activities that kindergarteners can do and try. There are also rhyming stanzas per letter with school-related words (for example, T is for teacher). I think the interesting thing about this book compared to some other alphabet books about schools is the activity guide.
Erin Dealey goes beyond the standard alphabet book with this charming new title. Kids will love her spot-on rhymes and her novel way of incorporating the ABCs into her narrative. The Kinder Challenges and Kinder Countdown sidebars add a fascinating new layer of readiness and extension for families. A must-read for future kinders and their families!
Transitioning to Kindergarten can be really scary! This book uses the familiar landscape of the alphabet to invite readers to try different activities that will prepare them for success in school. Diverse characters and lots of text will encourage multiple readings and discussion.
Get ready for kindergarten with new faces, places, and spaces. The whole alphabet gang is ready to give the lowdown on school days! From what to expect when you get there, to seeing everything that you can do, Dealey's picture book gets emerging readers excited for school.
A great book to share with children preparing to start kindergarten. It includes little suggested activities for the kids to do to get ready. It could be very helpful for little ones feeling anxious.
Half activity book and half ABC book, I would not pick it up to read to your kid at night. The activities are really a good "What you're child should know" kind of reference.
I like that is has activities for your child, but a lot of them are for after Kindergarten already starts and this book is supposed to help them get ready for Kindergarten
K is for Kindergarten published in 2017 is a alphabet book published in 2017 for ages 4-5. That goes through the alphabet while talking about different aspects of kindergarten/ 5/5