First Grade, Here I Come! by Tony Johnston -- OPTIONAL

Johnston, Tony First Grade, Here I Come! Illustrated by David Walker. PICTURE BOOK. Scholastic Press, 2015. $8.99. Content: G.

It's time to start first grade, and one little boy is awfully excited. He can't wait to make friends, make paper chains, make oatmeal-cannister drums, and make up new games.

At first I was excited to see a book celebrating first grade,  since there are so few of those, but the children's activities seem more like what would be experienced in preschool or, perhaps, kindergarten. The tone, too, is pretty juvenile. While some of the wording is a lot of fun, many of the rhymes are stiff and awkward and difficult to read.

EL (K-3) -- OPTIONAL. Reviewed by Sydney G., Librarian/Teacher