What do you think?
Rate this book
Ready, Set, School!
Rory is scared of being away from home for the first time, especially when his sleeping bag is so comfortable . . . but he doesn't want his parents treating him like a baby kit anymore. He'll get to stay up until morning if he sleeps over at his cousins' house. It could even help Rory conquer his biggest starting Remarkable Raccoon Suburban School, which means nights away from his folks. Is Rory ready to show everyone—including his parents—that he's ready to go anywhere?
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
45 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelyn Mitchard
82 books1,244 followersJacquelyn Mitchard’s first novel, The Deep End of the Ocean, was named by USA Today as one of the ten most influential books of the past 25 years – second only to the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (but second by a long shot, it must be said.)
The Deep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first novel in the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey, and transformed into a feature film produced by and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Most of Mitchard’s novels have been greater or lesser bestsellers – and include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane, The Good Son, and Cage of Stars. Critics have praised them for their authentic humanity and command of story. Readers identify because they see reflected, in her characters – however extreme their circumstances – emotions they already understand.
Mitchard also has written four novels for young adults.
The first, Now You See Her, from HarperTeen, is the story of a pampered, driven young actress who fakes her own abduction.
All We Know of Heaven told the story of lifetime best friends Bridget and Maureen, who are just sixteen when a fatal crash on an icy road and a poignant case of mistaken identity divide their small Minnesota town forever.
The Midnight Twins was the first in a trilogy of teen mysteries about identical twin sisters born on New Year’s Eve – one a minute before and a minute after midnight – Meredith and Mallory Brynn learn on the night they turn thirteen that their psychic abilities will force them to intervene in dire events, although one twin can see only the future and one can see only the past. The Midnight Twins is in development as a TV series by Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
Mitchard's newest novel for adult, A Very Inconvenient Scandal, out in November 2023 from Mira/HarperCollins, is the story of an acclaimed young underwater photographer whose famed marine biologist father shatters their family by marrying her best friend., a woman 35 years his junior.
At the local coffee shop, Mitchard is best-known as the mother of Rob, Dan, Marty, Francie, Mia, Will and Atticus , as the grandma of Hank and Diana and the wife of handsome Chris Brent.
Her favorite color is periwinkle blue; her favorite holiday is Halloween; her favorite flower is freesia; her favorite word is "smite," and her second favorite is "Massachusetts"; her lucky number is 119 (anyone who can guess where that comes from wins free first editions of her novels for life). She lives in her favorite place on earth, Cape Cod, summering in a villa on the Amalfi Coast. (Guess which part of that sentence is fiction.)
Her essays have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune Magazine and Reader's Digest, and are widely anthologized and used in school curricula. She has taught in MFA programs in Vermont, Ohio, and Massachusetts, and is part of the faculty at the Summer Writers Institute at Yale University. She is a member of the Tall Poppies Writers and has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the Ragdale Foundation.
Her pet peeves are known authors and editors who cannot and will not learn the difference between “lie” and “lay” and family signs pluralized with apostrophes.
She would love to appear on just ONE episode of any incarnation of ‘Law and Order,’ as has everyone else in America. She still is willing to play the role of a murder victim – except one found by earth-moving equipment in a landfill – though she would do that in a pinch.
Mitchard would like to have a swimming pool, because, although she lives near the ocean, she is afraid of the dark water and hates sand. She would love to have a clawfoot tub, or any tub.
She believes that stories are the ways that human beings make sense of life and that our stories will save us.
The Deep End of the Ocean was chosen as the first novel in the book club made famous by the TV host Oprah Winfrey, and transformed into a feature film produced by and starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Most of Mitchard’s novels have been greater or lesser bestsellers – and include The Most Wanted, A Theory of Relativity, Twelve Times Blessed, The Breakdown Lane, The Good Son, and Cage of Stars. Critics have praised them for their authentic humanity and command of story. Readers identify because they see reflected, in her characters – however extreme their circumstances – emotions they already understand.
Mitchard also has written four novels for young adults.
The first, Now You See Her, from HarperTeen, is the story of a pampered, driven young actress who fakes her own abduction.
All We Know of Heaven told the story of lifetime best friends Bridget and Maureen, who are just sixteen when a fatal crash on an icy road and a poignant case of mistaken identity divide their small Minnesota town forever.
The Midnight Twins was the first in a trilogy of teen mysteries about identical twin sisters born on New Year’s Eve – one a minute before and a minute after midnight – Meredith and Mallory Brynn learn on the night they turn thirteen that their psychic abilities will force them to intervene in dire events, although one twin can see only the future and one can see only the past. The Midnight Twins is in development as a TV series by Kaleidoscope Entertainment.
Mitchard's newest novel for adult, A Very Inconvenient Scandal, out in November 2023 from Mira/HarperCollins, is the story of an acclaimed young underwater photographer whose famed marine biologist father shatters their family by marrying her best friend., a woman 35 years his junior.
At the local coffee shop, Mitchard is best-known as the mother of Rob, Dan, Marty, Francie, Mia, Will and Atticus , as the grandma of Hank and Diana and the wife of handsome Chris Brent.
Her favorite color is periwinkle blue; her favorite holiday is Halloween; her favorite flower is freesia; her favorite word is "smite," and her second favorite is "Massachusetts"; her lucky number is 119 (anyone who can guess where that comes from wins free first editions of her novels for life). She lives in her favorite place on earth, Cape Cod, summering in a villa on the Amalfi Coast. (Guess which part of that sentence is fiction.)
Her essays have appeared in publications including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune Magazine and Reader's Digest, and are widely anthologized and used in school curricula. She has taught in MFA programs in Vermont, Ohio, and Massachusetts, and is part of the faculty at the Summer Writers Institute at Yale University. She is a member of the Tall Poppies Writers and has been a fellow at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, and the Ragdale Foundation.
Her pet peeves are known authors and editors who cannot and will not learn the difference between “lie” and “lay” and family signs pluralized with apostrophes.
She would love to appear on just ONE episode of any incarnation of ‘Law and Order,’ as has everyone else in America. She still is willing to play the role of a murder victim – except one found by earth-moving equipment in a landfill – though she would do that in a pinch.
Mitchard would like to have a swimming pool, because, although she lives near the ocean, she is afraid of the dark water and hates sand. She would love to have a clawfoot tub, or any tub.
She believes that stories are the ways that human beings make sense of life and that our stories will save us.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 1, 2020
Summary: This raccoon did not want to go to school because he did not think that he was ready. He hid in a sleeping bag freaking out. When his parents went looking for him they found him in the sleeping bag but he didn't say anything. He was going to his Aunts house and was suppose to play with his cousins but he didn't want to. His parents finally convinced him to get out of the sleeping bag and go to his Aunts house. He was scared but then when he got there he realized how much fun it was that he didn't want to leave. He also learned that he was a big kid and not be scared to go to school. His parents were ready for him to go to school until he was ready. Then he said I'm ready to go to school but they told him no we aren't ready for you to go to school. He ended up going to school and loved it.
Analysis: I love this book for little kids. This book would be great to read to children that are going to school for the first time and they are scared to go. This book has very cute illustrations and I think this book could have won an award for the illustrations. It is plan and simple but very cute.
Use in the classroom: This can be used to teach the children that they don't have to be afraid when they are trying something new for the first time. I would get them to try something that they never had done before.
Analysis: I love this book for little kids. This book would be great to read to children that are going to school for the first time and they are scared to go. This book has very cute illustrations and I think this book could have won an award for the illustrations. It is plan and simple but very cute.
Use in the classroom: This can be used to teach the children that they don't have to be afraid when they are trying something new for the first time. I would get them to try something that they never had done before.
August 2, 2017
What a great book (and idea) to get little ones thinking about getting ready to go to school. Even though new things are scary, you should still try... you'll probably like it. A hopeful, if simplistic, outlook - perfect for first timers (parents and kids alike).
August 21, 2017
This is another cute little back to school book about a raccoon who is starting school. I really enjoyed reading it with my students and would recommend it.
February 1, 2021
I just loved reading this book to the kids it was easy for the kids to read with me .
June 19, 2025
Rory the Racoon is feeling nervous about some changes coming up. But after he practices being away from his parents for a night things seem to be feeling better and he's ready to start school.
April 10, 2012
Ready, Set, School is a story about a young raccoon named Rory who is nervous about spending the night at his twin cousin's home and also about the first day of school in just a week. Rory goes through detailed emotions that are common for children to feel. I was surprised at the higher amount of words in the story so this would probably be best for a read aloud among younger grades. If a student is nervous about doing something new or going somewhere for the first time, this would be very appropriate.
February 7, 2011
I really love this story! (especially for first day of school). I remember how hard it was for me to leave my parents to spend the night at my Cousins (own close family home) and I was even more scared of starting school. I did not want to leave my home. This book is great in capturing how kids feel at first and in explaining how the Home will always be the most comfortable place, but we can also always enjoy school and anything we step out and try.
Read
February 22, 2011I would love to read this book to my students on the first day of school. This book is about a baby raccoon and the journey he goes through before his first day of school. The book talks about the raccoon's fears and it's a story about him overcoming them. Many students will be able to make personal connections and talk about their own fears of first day of school. We can do a class activity comparing and contrasting these two.
November 18, 2013
This book is about Rory a raccoon who is learning to be away from his parents for the night while he visits his cousins. He also explores going to school for the first time. I thought this book would be so wordy but it has a lot of words which would be a good book for an advanced reader.
Published: 2007
Genre: fiction children picture book
Published: 2007
Genre: fiction children picture book
September 6, 2009
After Rory the raccoon conquers his fear of spending an entire night away from home, he is prepared to tackle the challenge of starting school just one week later, whether his parents are ready or not. www.hcpl.net
January 25, 2011
This book was okay. It started off on a bad note, but then at the end it got better. If I was to read it to my students, I would read it to them for fun. This book would be appropriate for kindergarten-second grade.
August 22, 2011
This book is dealing with separation anxiety and going to new places for the first time. Ready, Set, School! would make a great book for the first day of school when some students have to leave a familiar place that they are so use to, and go to somewhere they are not.
February 12, 2013
This book was read as a big book in front of a class. I think that this is a great way to incorporate this book into the classroom, because it is simple and the students could easily read along with it.
November 28, 2016
Rory is afraid to stay at his cousins' house. He is also afraid to go to school in a few weeks but when his parents help him overcome his fears everything changes. Great book for kids and parents about to enter school age.
August 1, 2009
Steve says...raccoon is really nervous about going to school. Encourages children to try new things.
January 23, 2011
This story a is a little long but it would be great for kindergarten. The students may be able to relate to Roy's fears of being away from his parents. This could be read on the first day of class.
February 17, 2011
Solid theme of childhood fears, but to many puzzles, why is he going for a sleepover when it is his daytime?
Read
August 29, 2011This book is a grat book to read when school starts or when you're talking about families.
February 10, 2013
The main character in this book is scared of being away from home. This is a lengthy picture book that I really think the students would enjoy.
August 27, 2013
Read this book on the first day of second grade in my classroom.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews