Kindergarten Diary

Antoinette Portis is a genius. Even though we all know this, I feel it must be remarked upon. First, you have the stunning classic Not a Box. Then the remarkable sequel, Not a Stick. Then, in a complete departure, the artistic magic of A Penguin Story.

And she's done it again. A completely new style and medium (I am just saying what it looks like to me, not an art critic here folks!) a completely new plot and storyline. "Not another first day at school book" you groan. Ah, but this one is different, for the following reasons.

It's written and drawn on handwriting practice paper - you know the kind with the dotted lines? So cool. It's a fascinated collage of textures and art. It's written in diary format. It covers the first month of show more kindergarten. It's completely, completely from a child's perspective. Annalina is scared of silly things - like her teacher being a monster - and real things, like the bigger kids being bullies. Some of the thing's she's scared about don't happen. Some of them do. This is REAL first time at school folks, not the sappy sweetness that drips out of most new school books.

Annalina enjoys some things about school and she hates other things. She likes her teacher most of the time, but Ms. Duffy isn't an angel from heaven with unending patience, surrounded by adoring children. Annalina makes growing up decisions, like shortening her name to Anna. She makes not-so-grown up decisions when she cuts her hair. She gets teased by the first graders. She makes friends. Some friends don't last very long!

Verdict: This book is REAL. Funny, contemporary, exuberant, scary, it encompasses all the first school experiences in a way that's both reassuring and honest. Every kindergartener should read this book before the big day! Don't forget to show it to preschoolers who want to know what kindergarten will be like, and to your 1st and 2nd graders to remind them how they felt when they were starting school! show less

I enjoyed reading Kindergarten Diary because of the writing style and point of view. Throughout the book, the diary being written is through the point of view of a kindergartener. For example, when she explains what she is going to wear to her first day: “my rainbow bathing suit, my ballet skirt, my plaid shirt, my cowboy boots, and definitely no socks.” The writing really puts the reader in the mindset of a kindergartner and how they would respond to certain situations. For example when the teacher says that they have been in kindergarten for almost a month, the kindergarten says, “That is a very very very long time.” She also talks about how when she is in first grade she will not be mean or scared. The central message of this show more book is that it shows the transformation of a kindergarten student in her first month of kindergarten. She goes from being scared in the beginning of her diary to “un-scared” and too busy to write at the end of the diary. This would be a good book to read to kindergartners at the beginning of the year, as well as to show them how to write an on-going journal. show less

A charming first day of school read aloud for Kindergartners, this journal-entry-style picture book can calm the fears and clear up misconceptions of Kindergarten life. Portis highlights common concerns children have on their first day of school such as, what do I wear, what will my teacher be like, who will be in my class, and will the big kids be nice to me? Colorful cartoon-like drawings depict young children (mainly white with a token mixed race child) as they experience daily activities during the first month of school. All kindergartners will find a pressing concern to relate to in this book which will be assuaged as they’ll laugh out loud at some of the silly pictures that are seemingly straight out of a young student’s show more imagination. show less

Really too wordy for the intended audience or to even read aloud to kindergartners. Illustrations and the thoughts behind the book were good.

Awesome illustrations, lots of pictures and collages used. A great book discussing a child's hopes and fears entering a new world. A good recommendation for children starting school

This is a great author that I have come to really enjoy. This book is a fiction. I really think this would be a great book to help children relate and know that it is ok to feel sad or scared and they are not alone. This book is in a diary format of a little girl who had her first day of Kindergarten. She was scared and nervous on her first day of school, but everything turned out great.

Annalina shows children that there is a lot to learn, explore and do in kindergarten. From sharing her first thoughts of what her teacher would look like to the things you learn in kindergarten. Great read for children entering kindergarten.