August 1, 2024
PreS-K-Blaze is nervous for his first day of school. His family encourages him by sharing the excitement of what school will bring, but Blaze has a big secret that he is worried others at school will learn about. As he prepares for school, his nerves are joined by "butterflies in his tummy" while he silently frets over others finding out. Lucky for Blaze, he is joined by a caring teacher and classmates that have their own worries. Together, the class learns that "school is where you learn how to do new things and some of those things might seem hard at first." All of the bright and unique dinosaur characters pop off of the pages, especially those with bright white backgrounds. The use of thought bubbles to convey Blaze's nervousness will be a reminder to kids that their thoughts are also part of their "story." Details, such as blushing cheeks, toy knights, and font changes make this board book a standout. VERDICT This strong SEL title is a perfect addition to any library with dinosaur lovers and children who are new to the school environment.-Danielle Schwessinger
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.