First Day Jitters

I really enjoyed this book because of the build up it created for the ending. The book is about a girl who does not want to get out of bed and attend her first day of school. Who you think is her father is encouraging her to get out of bed because her class is excited to meet her but she just continues to say she doesn't want to and "what if they don't like her." By the end of the book you come to find out the man is her husband and the girl under the covers is the teacher. The way the author built up the climax really made the ending that much more impactful because the entire book you think it is about a student nervous for her first day, but really it is the teacher who is nervous. We often think that teachers have it all together show more and they don't get nervous, but in reality it is just as nerve racking for them on their first day as well and it just shows that everyone gets nervous and scared sometimes. I also enjoyed the bright and cartoon like illustrations. The theme of the book is change and how scary it can be sometimes, but it is okay to be nervous because everyone does sometimes. show less

I love this story. In First Day Jitters, Sarah Jane Hartwell doesn’t want to get out of bed to go to school on the first day. Mr. Hartwell finally convinces her to get up, have breakfast and head off to school. He drives her and she is met by the principal who takes her to her classroom.

The author, Julie Danneberg, writes this book in a way that leaves the reader surprised at the end of the story when it is revealed that Sarah is actually the teacher. The illustrations by Judy Love, are also done in a way that Sarah’s face is never revealed until the end of the book when she is introduced to the class. I loved the illustrations, they are colourful, full of action (the pets trying to get her out of bed are wonderful) and kids will show more relate to them well.

Children of all ages would enjoy the surprise at the end of the story. I am a retired teacher and I know that my colleagues would enjoy the humor of this book, and relate to it more than we know. This would be a great read aloud book to share with students on the first day of school. It would give teachers the opportunity to share their worries and concerns about the first day of school. This gives students the chance to see their teachers in a different light, we don't live in or sleep at the school, and we have similar feelings at the beginning the new school year.

This is a great book to be in all school libraries as well as classroom libraries or teacher resource rooms. A great opportunity to talk about emotions and ways to deal with them. I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

First Day Jitters is full of interesting, colorful, and vivid illustrations. Sarah Jane Hartwell is a relateable character that decides she does not want to go to a new school on the very first day of the school year. Through discussions and arguements with her father, Sarah is convinced that her attendance is mandatory, despite her fears and hesitations. The fears of Sarah Jane, and many fears other people may have on their first day of school, are described throughout the story and resolved with a humorous surprise at the end.

In the First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg the central theme is fear of starting something new. The story is able to show that it is completely normal to feel nervous or anxious about starting something new, it also shows children that they are not alone in this feeling. The biggest surprise in the book was that the teacher was nervous all along. This also helps children understand that anyone could have that nervous anxious feeling. Mrs.Hartwell is presented as a fearful, nervous, tense person who clearly expresses this through body language, dialogue and the illusions. At the end of the story the audience can see her charter developing by her going to school, and standing in front of the class with a smile as the students warm show more welcome. The literary elements that really grab the students are the consistent excuses and the emotional thoughts that many children can relate to.
The illustrations in the book were done by Judy Love; she perfectly captures Mrs.Hartwell's tense and reluctant body language. When Mrs. Hartwell is standing, the illustration shows her slouched over and her room's dull colors give the image of her being tense. While in the school it's full of bright warm colors showing comfort. The visuals also give the children humor by the charter hiding her face and dragging her feet.
Children immediately connect with this book because of starting school and feeling emotions that they maybe never have felt before. School for some children can be a very stressful place and cause anxiety so once they know that they aren't the only ones that feel this way it is earlier for them to connect with peers on how they might be excited but nervous. This also shows them that teachers are the same way just because they are adults does not mean that they cant be nervous and or anxious to start something new as well. Personally I struggle with being nervous with anything I do, especially with new environments. When growing up I always thought that it was just me and I wish that in elementary school this book was read so not just me but my peers also know that it is okay to feel this way and you are not the only one. show less

I loved this book! It starts out with Sarah Jane Hartwell not wanting to get out of bed. It is her first day at a new school and she is overwhelmed thinking about the new building and the new kids. The illustrations in this book compliment the subject perfectly. The images are colorful, busy, and honestly overwhelming. They really capture the craziness of a new school year! Throughout the book, Mr. Hartwell convinces Sarah to get dressed, grab her lunch, and he drives her to school. The principal meets her and leads her through the winding and populated school. On the last page, the principal is introducing Sarah to the class and it turns out...she's the teacher! I just loved this surprise ending and I think it would be a great ice show more breaker for the students to know their teacher is just as nervous for a new school year! This twist ending made me flip back through the book and re-read it knowing it was the teacher getting ready the whole time, and that more than likely, Mr. Hartwell was her husband, not her father! show less

Sarah Jane Hartwell does not want to go to the first day of school. She is new and she doesn’t know anyone. Mr. Hartwell does a good job to convince her to get moving anyway, and a meeting with the principal when she gets to school helps to smooth the way to a delightfully fun ending.

Everyone, at some point, has felt this way about the first day whether they were new or not. Danneberg has a witty talent for capturing the classroom in a way that makes it accessible and fun for kids and parents alike. It should be noted that the lovely twist at the end of this book had my 15-year-old guffawing for minutes, I can imagine how much fun second graders could have with it. As always Judy Love’s brilliantly colorful illustrations, that show more perfectly express the dynamics and energy of students and teacher alike, take the story to a new level of enjoyment for the reader.

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Sarah is hiding under her covers as Mr. Hartwell asks, 'You don't want to miss the first day at your new school do you?' From under the blanket she replies, 'I'm not going.' When he reminds her how much she liked her other school and asks her to think of all the new friends she'll meet, she imagines a classroom where a paper airplane is flying, a boy is pulling his neighbor's pigtail, and another is blowing a gigantic bubble. Mr. Hartwell finally gets Sarah to stumble out of bed, eat a bit of toast, and get into the car where she slumps down into her seat. At school, the principal cheerfully welcomes her and takes her to the classroom where she is introduced as 'Mrs. Sarah Jane Hartwell,' the new teacher. There is a bit of foreshadowing show more that Sarah is an adult, but as she is always partially hidden, the ending will come as a surprise to most readers. The ink-and-watercolor illustrations are full of action and maintain the lighthearted tone. A little subplot in the paintings shows the family cat and dog having their own contest of wills while their owner is trying to get his wife up and out. The joke provides a good laugh and children may find it reassuring that they are not alone in their anxieties about new situations. show less