Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?

I immediately fell in love with this book just after page one. This story highlights some of the feelings students might have when entering kindergarten and lets them know that it is ok and that they are not alone. This could be categorized in both fantasy (buffalos do not actually go to school) and realistic fiction (real emotions that students often feel). The illustrations are fun and will make kids smile and laugh at how silly it looks to have a buffalo at school.

This is a warm and friendly book that portrays a buffalo at kindergarten for the first time. While buffalo's don't actually go to school, young children do. They share the same fears portrayed by the young buffalo in the book. Reading this book to a five year old who is nervous about his/her first day will teach them that it is okay to be different.
"Everyone is special in his or her own way. That is the kind of thing you learn in kindergarten." This statement will help new students feel more comfortable being their own person. It also teaches other students not to judge others for being different, Whether they are a different size, color, race, gender, or even animal, everyone is special in his or her own way.

My 3 year old LOVED this book, and my 5 year old, having started kindergarten 2 weeks prior, LOVED LOVED LOVED this book because it was about HIS new adventures! This is a fantastic story for any age, but even more-so if your child is preparing for kindergarten.

I loved this book. I fell in love with this teddy-bear of a buffalo. I felt empathetic to his anxiety, and warmth to his struggle. I love the fun in the lesson as well as the lesson itself.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.

Although some people think that kindergarten isn’t a place for a buffalo, the little girl in this book knows otherwise. Her buffalo has a backpack, which means he’s definitely ready for kindergarten. He may be shy in his new environment because no on else has a hump or horns or a mane, but he’ll learn that everyone is special in his or her own way. The girl goes on to identify many possible concerns you might have for your buffalo, such as using scissors, learning to cooperate and take turns, even when someone calls him a Fluppalo, and helping your buffalo look his best on picture day. Although he might have been shy to start off with, your buffalo will learn to love kindergarten. In fact, he may not want to leave at all!

The show more humorous tone of the text makes this book a fun one to read out loud. There are plenty of rhetorical questions that kids will find hilarious. The illustrations feature slightly exaggerated characters and a buffalo with the most endearing smile I’ve ever seen. I’m guessing the illustrations were done digitally, but all the lines have a crayon texture to them, which is appropriate to the kindergarten setting.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-115-is-your-buffalo-ready-for.h... show less

If you know a little one getting ready to start school, you definitely need to check out Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? by Audrey Vernick. This adorable book explores some of the fears a youngster might face before beginning school and lets them know that it’s not always easy to start something new.

This picture book shows pre-schoolers that they don’t need to know how to do everything before they start school, because they’re going to school to learn new skills and improve some others. They’ll also see that it’s okay to get messy or frustrated. The best part of the book, though, is that it tells pre-schoolers that “everyone’s special in his or her own way.”

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? has delightful show more illustrations by Daniel Jennewein. The buffalo is as cute as he can be and I’m happy to see the students in the book are diverse. I love flipping through this book just to look at the wonderful pictures!

I recommend Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? as a gift or an addition to your own pre-schooler’s library. show less

Every kindergarten class should have a buffalo because this one is so lovable and so perfect at alleviating the fears facing young students!