Tiptoe Into Kindergarten

by Jacqueline Rogers (Illustrator)

This story about a preschooler's day in her big brother's kindergarten classroom is now in paperback!

Using oil pastels, watercolors, and inks in a loose and friendly painting style, Jacqueline Rogers lovingly depicts a curious preschooler who tiptoes into a kindergarten classroom. There, the little girl discovers a wonderful world of paints and puzzles, blocks and books.
The rhythmic text and warm, happy environment of TIPTOE INTO KINDERGARTEN welcome children who are fearful of kindergarten as well as those who are eager to begin.

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

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Chara Troutman EDUC378]

Text-to Teaching Connection
I would use this book as a transition book for Pre-K students. It would be a great book to introduce children to a kindergarten classroom and help them to know what to expect. Some children have a fear of going to kingergarten, but books like these can help them overcome that fear. The illustrations in the book makes Kingergarten look like lots of fun! Cute book.

[Christina/ The Blog for Teachers, Readers, & Life! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written and Illustrated by: Jacqueline Rodgers
Ages:  4-5 Years
U.S. Grades: Preschool-Kindergarten
Juvenile, Fiction, School, Kindergarten, Preschool

Tiptoe into Kindergarten is a clever overview of the Kindergarten experience. A Preschooler sneaks into her brother’s Kindergarten class. There she engages several Kindergarten activities including writing letters on the board, counting, playing at an activity table, painting and more.

Being a former Kindergarten teacher, I thought this book is a valuable addition to any collection. I appreciate the author representing the preschooler being happy and excited participating in classroom routines. These are reassuring images for apprehensive students.    

[Bailie Mahuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiptoe into Kindergarten is about a young girl experiencing her first day of Kindergarten. She writes on the chalkboard, paints, plays with blocks, sings songs, etc. This is a book that would be good for preschoolers who will be entering Kindergarten because the character in the book is very curious about being in Kindergarten so this could enable them to be excited for Kindergarten. This is a good book for the classroom but the ending of the story is what might not be okay to read to students. The character is painting while the rest of the class is having a snack so this could cause the students to have the same actions.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little girl wants to experience what kindergarten is like so she tiptoes into the classroom and watches. This is a good book to read to kindergarteners to bring up the conversation of what they thought about kindergarten before they came. Were they excited, scared, nervous...?

[Jane Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little girl sneaks into kindergarten and participates in all of the various kindergarten activities.

[Celine · Rating 3 out of 5]

LOVE the illustrations. Wasn't a big fan of the text.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We’ve read better books about starting school years, but this is fine.

[Elizabeth Roe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade/interest level: Preschool or Kindergarten
Reading level: Lexile, AD70L
Genre: Picture Book

Main Characters: The young girl
Setting: The girl's school
POV: First person, from the young girl

This story features a young girl, a preschooler, who “tiptoes” into her older brother’s kindergarten classroom to discover many new things. The book begins with an illustration of the kindergarten’s classroom setup. Then, it depicts that little girl sneaking into the kindergarten class. She continues to hide in the class, observing the students and teacher in the classroom. She sees the large book being read with the bright colors. She makes letter on the chalkboard, after everyone else has done so. Then she partakes in classroom games while still being discreet. She plays with puzzles, uses the washroom, washes her hands, plays in the rice table, sneaks into students’ cubbies, dances, and painted while the students have snack. The story ends with the girl falling asleep and being taken home by her mother.

I think this is a wonderful story for preschoolers about to reach kindergarten. I have had experience working in the preschool classroom at my daycare and many of the students expressed their nervousness to begin kindergarten. This is a sweet, short story about a girl’s experience sneaking into kindergarten to watch and observe. It may help preschoolers to get to read a story from another preschooler’s point of view to show that kindergarten is not a scary, but a fun place.

[Brenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This very cute book tell about a little girls first day in kindergarten. She is very shy at first but soon discovers many things. She wants to play and participate but is unsure. She finds some delicious cookies in someones cubby. I would use this in a preschool classroom as they are nearing kindergarten. it is a great conversation starter and really shows a true fear. The illustrations are simple and follow along with the words. I have used this book in my curriculum before and the children ask to be read it over and over.

[Shira Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is about a child's first day in kindergarten. Throughout the entire story she is hiding and sneaking about her classroom, I assume because she is shy. This book could be ok for a kindergartener's first day at school. However, I've read better first day books that I rather share with my students. This story did not contain a solution for the characters problem besides falling asleep.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A preschooler sneaks into her brother's kindergarten class and hides so she can experience what the big kids do. This book seems like a nice orientation to kindergarten read. The end papers show a map of the classroom that would also be a good example during map making instruction.

[Chanel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the introduction to the things that are "suppose" to go on in kindergarten, but I do not like the fact that she was sneaking. I think this is a very good transitioning book. It shows that there is nothing to be afraid of and how much fun you can have.

[Gabriel Dubransky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that she sneaks into her brother's school.

[The Reading Countess]

This simple book about what one little guy might expect in kindergarten would make an excellent collection of "what to expect when" books for those ready to go to big boy school.

[Katie]

AR BL: 1.3
Points 0.5

[Marinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Best for preschool age.

[Robert Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very first book my daughter read in English. We still have really good memories of it over 15 years later.

[Eireanne]

On the suggested summer reading list for students.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little girl sneaks into kindergarten.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

another good book to read right before school starts