How to use this Page

By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 14, 2012

September is just a few short weeks away and children going into kindergarten will enter a whole new realm that is really quite different from Pre-K or daycare settings. And because young children are highly observant, it’s important to prepare yourself so that you can face your child’s feelings. The following books will help explain the school setting and hopefully clear up any doubts or lingering fears in preparation for the first day of school.

Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!

By Nancy Carlson

Reading level: Ages 3-6

Hardcover: 28 pages

Publisher: VikingPublishing

What to expect: Preparing for the first day of kindergarten

Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! is a story about Henry’s first day of school. The book sets out the basics of the new routine: waking up in the morning, getting ready, having breakfast, packing supplies and walking to school. Henry is excited and asks what the day will be like—he’s ready for the new class, new friends and new activities but as he gets closer to school he starts to get anxious. And acknowledging fears is essential to preparing the little ones for the challenges ahead. The simple story gets to the heart of the matter and will reassure your young one that kindergarten will be loads of fun.

My School Trip

By Lynn Maslen Kertell

Reading level: Ages 4-7

Hardcover: 28 pages

Publisher: Scholastic

What to expect: Preparing for school

My School Trip is part of the BOB Books series for budding readers. They are intended to help children love learning how to read. This particular book tells of a trip to the zoo. It sets out the details of how school trips are conducted, establishes that school trips are educational and are also lots of fun. Budding readers can sound out words and will be able to decipher words based on the simple illustrations and story.

Bailey at the Museum

By Harry Bliss

Reading level: Ages 3 to 6

Hardcover: 30 pages

Publisher: Scholastic

What to expect: School trips, following the rules

In Bailey at the Museum, we meet adorable Bailey the dog who’s going on a class trip with his schoolmates to the Natural History Museum. Bailey embarks

Feels Like Home
Author: e.E. Charlton Trujillo
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0385733321
ISBN-13: 978-0385733328


Feels Like Home is the story of Mickey, a sixteen year old girl living in a small Texas town. He dad has just died in a car accident and her brother Danny, who has been missing since a mysterious accident several years ago has suddenly reappeared. Mickey, hurt because of what she perceives as his desertion of her is grieving, angry and confused.

The story is an interesting and deeply engrossing one with a lot going on. There’s Mickey and the mystery of what happened all those years ago with Danny. There’s the dead dad, who it turns out was an alcoholic who was violent to Danny. Then there’s Danny himself who is trying so hard to live in this town that blames him for his best friends death, trying to be there for Mickey who doesn’t want him around and dealing with his own demons. He’s kind of this sweet, dark tortured character that you want to know more about. I alternated between wanting Mickey to stop being so mean to him (there’s something about Danny that makes you feel protective) and understanding why she was acting out.

Other interesting characters are Christina, Mickey’s best friend who I really like and want to know a lot more about (hint, hint write more about Christina), Johnny Lee, the rich handsome boy that likes Mickey and Uncle Jack, a relative that Mickey and Danny lived with when their father was incapable of taking care of them. Uncle Jack is the voice of reason but he’s also got his demons. There’s a heartbreaking scene in the book where Mickey sees him sitting alone crying for his dead wife. Also acting as a character almost is the classic novel The Outsiders which I thought was a great touch as it was one of my favorite books growing up.

Feels Like Home is a heartbreaking but hopeful novel. Like e.E. Charlton Trujillo’s first book Prizefighter en Mi Casa, it delves bravely into the dark underbelly of people’s lives and somehow manages to make it shine. She’s a damned fine storyteller and knows how to completely grab and keep her readers engaged and interested. The people in the book are so real and so well defined that by the end of the book, you know them and you care. You really care what’s going to happen to them all.

Read an excerpt here.