First Day Critter Jitters by Jory John - ADVISABLE

First Day Critter Jitters by Jory John, illustrated by Liz Climo PICTURE BOOK Dial Books for Young Readers Penguin Random House, 2020. $18. 9780735228559 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

The sloth is very worried that he will be late for school because he is so slow. The snake is worried because he can't wear a backpack (no arms), the mouse is worried because she is so small, the kangaroo has never been away from his mother, the parrot is aware that sometimes she talk too much. There are other worried animals too, and (big surprise) their teacher, an armadillo is also worried because it's his first teaching job. Suddenly everyone is working together to make school a worry free space for everyone. 

 This is a fun read for the worried child - everyone worries about something, but if you make the best of it, and help out when you can, things will be alright! I loved the cute illustrations, Liz Climo has kept the animals as animals (although they can talk) and I loved that Jory John represented each animal's worry with something innate about that animal that couldn't be helped - and turned out to be a strength.

Lisa Librarian