On The First Day Of Summer Vacation

This wildly funny twist on the "How I spent my summer vacation" school-essay ritual details one child's imaginary adventures over the summer and is perfect for back-to-school reading! Most kids go to camp over the summer, or to Grandma's house, or maybe they're stuck at home. Not Wallace Bleff. He was supposed to visit his Aunt Fern. Instead, Wallace insists, he was carried off by cowboys and taught the ways of the West--from riding buckin' broncos to roping cattle. Lucky for Aunt Fern, he showed up at her house just in time to divert a stampede from her barbecue party! Perfect for back-to-school read-alouds, here's a western fantasy with sparkling illustrations and enough action to knock kids' boots off!

“Summer’s smells, sounds, rhythms, and rituals unspool luxuriantly in this tribute to the season.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) When the days stretch out like a slow yawn, and the night is full of crickets singing . . . then it’s time to get ready for summer! From fireworks and ice-cream trucks, to lemonade stands and late bedtimes, to swimming in the lake and toasting marshmallows, there’s something for everyone in this bright and buoyant celebration of the sunny season. Tom Brenner’s lovely, lyrical ode to summers spent outdoors will strike a chord with anyone who’s ever counted down the days until school gets out, and Jaime Kim’s jubilant, nostalgia-soaked illustrations leave little doubt that summer is indeed a time unlike any other.

Carl and Madeleine are supposed to be napping while Mom and Dad get the summer cabin ready for company but escape from the hammock to do some exploring on the lake.

Another first for Bruce Lansky: the first funny poetry book about summer vacation! It will entertain kids all summer, whether they’re away at camp, traveling cross country in a hybrid or staying home with a bookshelf full of good summer reading. What I Did on My Summer Vacation contains over 40 sidesplitting poems about summer vacation that cover everything from the much-anticipated last day of school to family road trips, wacky days at summer camp, learning how to swim, dizzying roller coaster rides at amusement parks, fun-filled days at the beach, and finally, the dreaded first day of school. These hilarious poems written by Bruce Lansky, “The King of Giggle Poetry,” and his all-star gang of Giggle Poets are sure to make you count the days until summer vacation begins!

On the first day back to school from summer vacation, John is the new kid. When the librarian asks him if the school is any different from his last one, he begins a wildly imaginative story about what it was like. What follows are hilarious scenarios—his old school bus was a safari jeep pulled by wild creatures, the school was a castle, and the lunch menu included worms! His imagination wins him the attention and awe of his librarian and peers, setting the tone for a compelling story about conquering the fears of being a new kid, as well as the first-day jitters that many children experience. Albert Lorenz’s over-the-top illustrations, reminiscent of the work of MAD magazine’s early artists, bring the story to life. Speech bubbles and side panels make reference to and define objects in the art (in the most humorous and irreverent way).

Perfect for nervous/excited kids about to go to kindergarten (and their parents!). This engaging adaptation of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” convinces parents and children alike that there is no place cooler than a kindergarten classroom. On the first day of kindergarten, there’s so much to do! From making new friends to jumping rope in gym to riding the bus to school, there are lots of exciting firsts to look forward to. Even though saying good-bye to Mom and Dad is hard, when the school bus pulls up, it’s time to begin kindergarten fun. Share at home along with such books as Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten and Kindergarten, Here I Come! Tish Rabe is a seasoned children’s book author with over 160 titles, including ones for Sesame Street and Curious George, under her belt. Like Natasha Wing with The Night Before Christmas, Rabe puts a novel spin on a first-day-of-school classic with On the First Day of Kindergarten. And don't miss the follow-up: On the First Day of First Grade!

These fun-filled chapter books mix school, monsters, and common kid problems with hilarious results. You'll scream with laughter! Everybody loves the last day of school, but few realize the dangers of the the first day of summer. Hubie is bored. What can he do with all this free time? His friends are away, mom has chores for him, and his popsicle stand is melting. How is he going to survive this never-ending vacation?