The Day You Begin Kindle Edition

This is a gentle, optimistic, and realistic introduction to the challenges that can confront younger kids at a new school. Think kindergarten to second grade, perhaps third. Parents can read it to their kids to open the door to a conversation as the new school year starts (“…But Mom, what happens if…?), or during the year when problems crop up. It acknowledges problems could occur and suggests a coping strategy.It’s a great book for teachers to read to their classes, to start a conversation on acceptance.It’s versatile; it can support kids who 1) have a different skin color; 2) don’t speak English well; 3) have a disability; 4) aren’t athletic; 5) stutter; 6) are poor; 7) are either shy or too loud to cover their nervousness; 8) eat different food or have a food allergy; 9) just moved from the city/country…See where I’m heading? It’s for all kids, because everyone has something they're nervous about.I liked this book for many reasons and I couldn’t fail to notice the author is a poet. While the book is not a poem, the words flow like a river. And the pictures are colorful and friendly. Enjoy reading this with your youngsters.

The kind of book that makes you weep the first time you read it and then feel like you HAVE to read this aloud to the kids in your class, family, community. We are all unique or not quite like others--which can make us feel alone in the world UNTIL we start to share our stories, our lives with others. Then we find that we are similar in some ways to those around us or that others are open to the new world we might introduce to them.Woodson's language is beautiful (of course) -"There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you.""There will be times when...""There will be times when the world feels like a place that you're standing all the way outside of...""There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you until the day you begin to share your stories."YES! Read this aloud for pure enjoyment. And then read it aloud again and pose questions for student-led conversations--questions that could also lead to writing.***Have you ever experienced a "There will be times when..."?***What does the author mean when she writes "There will be times when the world feels like a place that you're standing all the way outside of"?***Or a time when you only had your "brave self--steady as steel and ready" even though you didn't "know what you were ready for:?Rafael's illustrations are stunning. With illustrations of each child in that place at that moment (e.g., the classroom, the playground), but then also illustrations of the richness of that child's life (e.g., Rigoberto in a beautiful Venezuela, a girl seeing the world through books, etc.). You could project a two-page layout and pose questions like,***"What do you notice?"***"What do you notice as similar and different between the illustrations with Rigoberto on this page and this page?"***"Why do you think the illustrator chose to include that?"Several pages include an image of a ruler--maybe to signify that a particular scene is in the school but it also made me think about the pressure on kids to "measure up" in many ways when they are at school. Might be worth conversation with students.One more thought. Before reading aloud, ask students to make predictions based on the title. After reading this aloud, go back to the title and ask,***"What does the author mean by 'the day you begin'?" and maybe even "How can we do that right now?"

Educator friends, this is easily the best book for beginning a new school year that I've ever encountered! Jacqueline Woodson is one of my all-time favorite authors, and this book rises to the top of her many amazing works. If you work or live with children of any age, you need this book. Heck, even adults need this book! Picture books aren't just for children, and this book tells a story that may be universally felt. I will be reading it to 60 preservice teachers today, and I'm certain they will love it!

I really loved this book. I was not only looking for a good book for 4 year old son and I to read during his start of preK but this also teaches about different races and cultures in a way that isn’t “cheesy.” We all have the books about people all being different and welcome but this is a real world story and it’s so beautiful.Someone mentioned it being too long for a 5 year old but it completely held my sons attention.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael Lopez (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018) is a beautiful portrayal of what it feels like to be an outsider, to grapple with differences in a world that can be cruel. Yet the text and illustrations flow like a hug from our best supporters, encouraging us to be ourselves and hold strong. When that friend comes along who accepts who accepts us unconditionally...that's the day we begin. A book for anyone needing those special connections.

I found this book confusing and hard to follow. It didn’t have a natural storyline and was just a weirdly confusing book. The illustrations were beautiful though!

This celebrates strength that is yet to be discovered inside young people, along with commonalities they have yet to discover in the seeming strangers who will become their friends. Straight-forward, yet deeply insightful, this will speak to all children.Excellent pairing of the written word with exquisite illustration, with similarly high production values. Highly recommended.

This is such a beautiful, captivating story that is wonderfully illustrated. The words & pictures will truly captivate children from ages 2 to 10. There is an aspect of every bit of the story that every child can relate to, whether on a personal basis or in relation to someone they may know. In one section, a child says his name is like a musical song once again when spoken by his teacher - tears spring to my eyes each time I read these words. Every page presents a different perspective of how a child may feel while at school for the 1st time or 5th or 100th. And in the end the children realize as different as we each may be, we are all similar, too.

The message is lovely, but utterly lost on my daughter (4). She’s pretty quick to pick up messages in stories but there IS no story here so she wasn’t engaged enough to follow it.Maybe when she’s older it might work but she’ll have actually started school by then so it wouldn’t serve the purpose I bought it for.Humour and a story go a long way to communicate with a child and this has neither

Absolutely beautiful book about finding connection when you feel at your lowest ebb. Although this is written for children to help them come to terms with their uniqueness in a multicultural society there are doubtless a few adults who may also find comfort in this book.We have all felt alone and looked for comfort from the people around us. This is a warming book about connection and self-confidence. Beautiful and should be on every child’s bookshelf.And it’s beautifully illustrated!

Brilliant book for a school starter yo understand the anxieties of starting school but also appreciating and celebrating different cultures. Beautiful illustrations.

I bought this after it was recommended. I wanted to buy a range of books for my classroom and the children have enjoyed reading this.

Beautifully illustrated picture book for kids showing how differences in clothing , haircolor or how the first journeys in life will always be discomforting in the beginning but eventually if one accepts changes and gels with it , the world will MAKE SOME SPACE and welcome everyone.