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A review by backonthealex
Pirates Don't Go to Kindergarten! by Lisa Robinson
4.0
Sometimes change can be hard, especially is you're just a kid transitioning from preschool to Kindergarten. Emma loved being a pirate in Cap'n Chu's preschool room last year. Now, summer is over and it's time to go back to school.
One the night before the first day of school, Emma carefully raids her sea chest for treasure map, spyglass, and cutlass. The next day, dressed in her pirate outfit, Emma hops off the school bus and heads right into Cap'n Chu preschool room, instead of boarding the kindergarten space ship. And although Emma insists that "Pirates don't go to kindergarten!" Cap'n Chu gently escorts Emma to the kindergarten spaceship and introduces her to her teacher, Ms. Hayes.
Emma's not having any part of that kindergarten spaceship, and heads right back to Cap't Chu's room feeling angry and a little defiant. But when Daniela, another kindergartener. comes by the preschool room and says that they need Emma to help feed their guinea pig, Betty, she reluctantly returns to kindergarten. Sure it's nice, the kids are friendly, there's interesting stuff to do, but there's no Cap'n Chu.
Once again, Emma returns to the preschool room. What will it take for Emma to finally accept the changes that kindergarten bring?
Pirates Don't Go To Kindergarten has really captured the reluctance of some children to move from preschool to kindergarten. A year in preschool has made everything familiar and safe feeling for Emma, but moving on feels very scary and "wrong" to her. As she tells Cap'n Chu "Wrong classroom. Wrong cubbies. Wrong toys. Worst of all - wrong captain" sums up her feeling in a nutshell.
Emma is a great character, she's energetic and spunky, and you have to admire her persistence, even in the face of her unwillingness. But who hasn't met that level of determination in a 5-year-old when they want what they want. Young readers are sure to have some laughs as they read Emma's story. And Eda Kaban's colorful digitally rendered illustrations add quite a bit more humor to the story.
Pirates Don't Go To Kindergarten is a great book to read with any kids who are going into kindergarten, and especially those who are uneasy about facing this kind of transition. Seeing Emma's reluctance to go to kindergarten, and her finally accepting and even enjoying it, should help kids overcome some of their own trepidation.
One the night before the first day of school, Emma carefully raids her sea chest for treasure map, spyglass, and cutlass. The next day, dressed in her pirate outfit, Emma hops off the school bus and heads right into Cap'n Chu preschool room, instead of boarding the kindergarten space ship. And although Emma insists that "Pirates don't go to kindergarten!" Cap'n Chu gently escorts Emma to the kindergarten spaceship and introduces her to her teacher, Ms. Hayes.
Emma's not having any part of that kindergarten spaceship, and heads right back to Cap't Chu's room feeling angry and a little defiant. But when Daniela, another kindergartener. comes by the preschool room and says that they need Emma to help feed their guinea pig, Betty, she reluctantly returns to kindergarten. Sure it's nice, the kids are friendly, there's interesting stuff to do, but there's no Cap'n Chu.
Once again, Emma returns to the preschool room. What will it take for Emma to finally accept the changes that kindergarten bring?
Pirates Don't Go To Kindergarten has really captured the reluctance of some children to move from preschool to kindergarten. A year in preschool has made everything familiar and safe feeling for Emma, but moving on feels very scary and "wrong" to her. As she tells Cap'n Chu "Wrong classroom. Wrong cubbies. Wrong toys. Worst of all - wrong captain" sums up her feeling in a nutshell.
Emma is a great character, she's energetic and spunky, and you have to admire her persistence, even in the face of her unwillingness. But who hasn't met that level of determination in a 5-year-old when they want what they want. Young readers are sure to have some laughs as they read Emma's story. And Eda Kaban's colorful digitally rendered illustrations add quite a bit more humor to the story.
Pirates Don't Go To Kindergarten is a great book to read with any kids who are going into kindergarten, and especially those who are uneasy about facing this kind of transition. Seeing Emma's reluctance to go to kindergarten, and her finally accepting and even enjoying it, should help kids overcome some of their own trepidation.