On the First Day of First Grade

by Tish Rabe, Sarah Jennings (Illustrator)

On the first day of first grade, there will be lots of fun! This is the perfect book to share with a kindergartner getting ready for the step up to "big kid" school!

From choosing books to read to building things with clay to performing in a play, there are many exciting firsts to look forward to. Saying good-bye to mom and dad can be hard, but when the school bus pulls up, it’s time for some first-grade fun!

This engaging, vibrant adaptation of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” helps show parents and children alike that there is no place cooler than a first-grade classroom.

Tish Rabe, a seasoned children’s book author of over 160 books, puts a novel spin on a first-day-of-school classic with On the First Day of First Grade.

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

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 19, 2018

About the author

Tish Rabe is the bestselling author of over 170 books for Sesame Street, Disney, Dr. Seuss, and many more. She is Founder and Content Creator of Tish Rabe Books, LLC, an independent publishing company that partners with nonprofits and businesses to create books that make a positive difference in the lives of children, parents, teachers, and caregivers worldwide.

"Sweet Dreams Ahead Time for Bed" is a gentle, rhyming storybook written in partnership with Pajama Program, a national nonprofit that promotes healthy sleep routines and gives pajamas and books to children facing adversity.

"Days Can Be Sunny for Bunnies and Money", helps children learn how to manage money. It was produced with Clarity 2 Prosperity, a business development company for financial advisors. To learn more, visit tishrabe.com.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Using the classic Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, as an inspiration, author Tish Rabe explores the fun things a new student can do during the first twelve days of first grade. From telling the time to leading the line, from performing in a play to building things with clay, as the narrator here concludes, first grade is lots of fun...

Apparently the second book in which Rabe has used The Twelve Days of Christmas to create a text exploring the first day of a new school year - that initial title was On the First Day of Kindergarten - On the First Day of First Grade was somewhat less than impressive. I found the text awkward, and rather forced. It didn't read particularly well, and although I attempted to follow along using the tune of the carol, it didn't quite work. Although I realize that the idea here is to highlight fun activities a child in first grade might enjoy, I also had to wonder at a text in which a play is put on the eighth day of school. The artwork by Sarah Jennings is colorful, and features a diverse cast of children, but leaving that aside, there really isn't much here that I would recommend. There are far better "first day of school" books, from Ryan Higgins' humorous We Don't Eat Our Classmates to Alyssa Satin Capucilli's sweeter Not This Bear: A First Day of School Story . I would recommend that potential readers track down those titles instead.

[AleJandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preparándonos para el regreso a clases.
Qué bueno que le regalaron este libro a mi niña en su cumpleaños

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rhyming text story of the first day of first grade set with the 12 Days of Christmas song. It is a bit of a stretch to follow the rhythm of the song with the words and the repeats but is easy for a child to follow with the repetition. A good read aloud to a group so they can repeat the action.
Some of the activities are a stretch for a first grader to learn the first two weeks of school like telling time and counting money in different denominations and putting on a play in one day. Some of these activities are curriculum based and they will do later in the year just not the first few weeks.

[Carlie Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading The First Day of First Grade. I like how the book uses the same idea as the Christmas song, The Twelve Days of Christmas. This book describes some of the things students do in first grade and how much fun it can be.

I would use this book in a first grade or kindergarten classroom. In first grade, I would read this book on the first day of class to show some of the exciting things students do in first grade, and to get them excited for the school year. In kindergarten, I would read this book on the last few days of school to prepare them for the next grade and give them insight on first grade.

[Clwseattle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'm over children's books set to the tone and cadence of "The 12 days of Christmas".

On the First Day of First Grade has bright and engaging illustrations but some of the rhyming is a bit tortured. The activities described are a bit more kindergarten than first grade.

I was hoping for and looking for a story about the first day of first grade rather than a repetitive song about the first twelve days of first grade.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to a cute and upbeat book about a first day of first grade.

Modeled after the holiday song about the 12 days of Christmas, this picture book features upbeat words and pictures that celebrate the potential fun of going to school.

Thank you, (astoundingly prolific) author Tish Rabe. Equally strong thanks to Sarah Jennings for her pictures, which are nothing short of adorable. Yet not too adorable to strain credulity.

FIVE STARS.

[J.D. Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very hard for me to put this new book out on display in the library, because I want to keep it for the start of school in a couple weeks! I cannot read the text without singing it to the tune of "Twelve Days of Christmas," and think it's great for storytime and use in classrooms as school begins.

But I'm going to be a nice librarian and let patrons have it first. Sigh.

[Alaina Kissinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the First Day of First Grade is a fantastic read that I would highly recommend to any first grade teachers! Not only does it help take away those first day jitters but it also helps you preview what you will be learning together as a class over the year. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to be able to use it in my own classroom someday!

[Kayla Fleshman]

I loved this book. I enjoyed the diversity of the students in the illustrations, and I also loved all the encouraging activities shown to get children excited about being in school, being kind, and being helpful. I would use this on the first day of my teaching journey to get my students ready for all the fun I have planned down the road for our year.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet cumulative story. I appreciate the diversity, choosing a Black child as the main character. The use of watercolor in combination with digital tools is effective, creating interest, movement and variation. I wonder about the limited appeal, in terms of grade and time of year.

[Evan Teter]

This would be a book I would love to read out loud to first grade students during their first few days of school (preferably the first day). It shows how much the students could learn by the end of first grade!

[Mary Green]

On the first day of first grade a young student goes to school. He finds himself having so much fun doing the different activities. I believe this book could be a good introduction to a first grader about what to expect throughout a school day.

[Addia Ochweri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great book for the first day of first grade. It gives the students an idea of all the different things they will get to do in first grade, which could make them excited for what is to come.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A counting book that's in line with the Twelve Days of Christmas. Yes, it is.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cumulative tale of what happens to a child during the first twelve days of school which involved laughing and learning all day.

[The Book Box]

August 2020: Time for back to school books!

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have an apprehensive child, I guess this book might help. My six year olds response at the end was "that was boring". And we moved on. I think he'll do fine.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells all of the fun, and none of the drama of first grade.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple read that goes to the beat of "on the first day of Christmas..."

[Mely · Rating 4 out of 5]

12 days of Christmas style. Cute book. My little enjoyed the singing. Helped ease her mind the night before school starts.

[Amy Lafleur Meyers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and colorful book about starting 1st grade. It's an important book as most are for transition to Kindergarten or Preschool, but for some kids 1st grade is the change from 1/2 to full day school. The book is supposed to be to the tune of 12 days of Christmas. Most lines are OK but some are a little forced rhythm-wise. Nevertheless, it does show all the fun that first graders might have such as with show and tell, performing in a play, and helping in the classroom. It should make incoming 1st graders a little less fearful of the start of the new school school year.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)]

Format: Twelve Days of Christmas