Butterflies on the First Day of School By Annie Silvestro

The first day of school is exciting—but it can be scary, too! Meet Rosie, a brand-new student who just happens to have butterflies in her stomach.
 
“Silvestro and Chen take a common figure of speech and transform it, literally, into a lovely expression of a universal experience.” —Kirkus
“A cheering first-day story.” —Publishers Weekly

Rosie can’t wait to start kindergarten—she’s had her pencils sharpened and her backpack ready for weeks. But suddenly, on the night before the big day, her tummy hurts. Rosie’s mom reassures her that it’s just butterflies in her belly, and she’ll feel better soon. Much to Rosie’s surprise, when she says hello to a new friend on the bus, a butterfly flies out of her mouth! As the day goes on, Rosie frees all her butterflies, and even helps another shy student let go of hers, too. Butterflies on the First Day of School

Rosie is so excited to begin school. First, she bought a backpack with flowers, then she practiced raising her hand, writing her letters and saying the name of the teacher. But when it comes time to actually go to school, Rosie claims she doesn't feel good. You just have butterflies in your belly her mom reassures her. On the school bus, she meets Violet, and discovers they would be in the same class, but every time Rosie speaks, butterflies fly out of her mouth. Luckily, no one else notices. In class, the teacher has each child say something about who they are. When it's Rosie's turn, butterflies again fly out with her words, but then Rosie notices she is feeling better. In fact, as she gets to know the other kids, she feels better and better. At recess, Rosie makes friends with Isabella, a girl who also has butterflies in her tummy. By the end of the day, all the butterflies have flown away. And Rosie can't wait to go back to school the next day. Kids always seem to think that the idea of starting school is exciting, at least until the first day rolls around and the reality of it can cause some kids to have a sudden case of nerves. Putting that feeling into an expression like 'butterflies in your belly' is a wonderful way for them to express what they are feeling, and seeing them fly out of Rosie and Isabella's mouth is such a delightful image for kids. Rosie's first day is pretty standard, but is also very reassuring for nervous kindergarteners. Dream Chen's detailed illustrations, which include a nice variety of butterflies, are charming and capture Rosie's emotions perfectly. This is an ideal book for nervous kids starting school. Hardcover We read this by candlelight last night during the tornado warning!

What a sweet story about a girl who is a little nervous about the first day of kindergarten. Her parents explain that she has butterflies in her belly - and then real butterflies come out of her mouth as she makes new friends and speaks up in class.

The illustrations are colorful and cute, and I will hang onto this library book until our first week! Bonus: George loves it, too! We’ve read it at least 5 times since last night. 😂 Hardcover Did you notice the mom's butterflies? Hardcover Very cute. The actual concept of butterflies in your stomach. Good for a back-to-school storytime. Hardcover Pair with Nugget and Fang Go To School for kids with first day anxiety. Hardcover

characters Butterflies on the First Day of School

This is a great book for giving kids, worried or nervous about any situation, permission to feel these emotions and one way to express it. Hardcover Butterflies On The First Day of School by Annie Silvestro with illustrations by Dream Chen is an ideal story for young readers facing the beginning of a new school year.

Playing off the familiar “butterflies in my stomach” description for feeling nervous, Silvestro crafts her story of a little girl who truly has butterflies in her stomach. Rosie begins her day feeling too anxious to even enjoy her mom’s chocolate chip pancakes and climbing on the unfamiliar school bus doesn’t help. But Rosie soon discovers that making a new friend enables her to release the first butterfly that flutters from her lips. As the day progresses, Rosie finds more friends and fun, releasing all her butterflies one after another.

Silvestro contrasts the butterfly fantasy against the reality of kindergarten life: meeting the teacher, sharing, painting, building with blocks, romping on the playground, and telling her mother all about her fabulous first day of school.

Chen’s vibrant colors and richly detailed illustrations are a charming backdrop for the lively text.

Now’s the time to add this charmer to your home or school library.
Hardcover Annie Silvestro definitely has her finger on the pulse of the back-to-school mix of excitement and anxiety with Butterflies on the First Day of School. Readers will identify with Rosie and the flutter she feels in her tummy the night before school starts. They’ll have fun counting each butterfly that floats off when something positive happens on her first day of school. As a teacher, I appreciated the gentle, positive introduction to a school day. This book makes a great companion to Silvestro’s Bunny’s Book Club Goes to School. Hardcover Rosie’s excited about her first day of school until the night before. Then she starts to become nervous. She has trouble sleeping and in the morning her mother tells her it’s just butterflies. When she gets on the bus and makes a friend, butterflies 🦋 fly out of her mouth. Symbolic for her growing confidence, more butterflies escape her lips each time she comes up with the strength to speak. The same thing happens to a new friend with a similar case of nerves.

A great book for preparing a child for school, learning about how good things can happen even when you’re scared, plus a cool early lesson in metaphor. Love it! Hardcover Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro, illustrated by Dream Chen. PICTURE BOOK. Sterling Children's Books, 2019. $17. 9781454921196

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Rosie was so excited to go to school, but when the first day comes, she discovers she's nervous. Her parents begin to explain what it means to have butterflies in her belly, but the bus pulls up. As Rosie encounters new situations, she releases beautiful butterflies into the air. But it turns out that Rosie isn't the only one with butterflies in her belly. Other kids have them, too, and even adults.

This is a lovely approach to dealing with first-day-of-school nerves. It would also be a good introduction to a discussion of idioms and of how emotions can affect the body. It is a good lesson on empathy, as well, because kids discover that they are not the only ones who have this universal feeling from time to time.

Sydney G., K-6 Library Media Specialist
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20... Hardcover