Instilled with confidence by her parents, a young girl has a great first day of kindergarten. - (Baker & Taylor)
Wearing a tiara in her freshly braided hair for the first day of kindergarten, MJ is reminded of all the good things she brings to the classroom: kindness, friendliness and super soccer skills! Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations. - (Baker & Taylor)
A confident little Black girl has a fantastic first day of school in this companion to the New York Times bestseller The King of Kindergarten.
MJ is more than ready for her first day of kindergarten! With her hair freshly braided and her mom's special tiara on her head, she knows she’s going to rock kindergarten. But the tiara isn’t just for show—it also reminds her of all the good things she brings to the classroom, stuff like her kindness, friendliness, and impressive soccer skills, too! Like The King of Kindergarten, this is the perfect book to reinforce back-to-school excitement and build confidence in the newest students. - (Penguin Putnam)
Derrick Barnes is the author of the empowering New York Times bestsellers The King of Kindergarten, I Am Every Good Thing, which won the NCTE Charlotte Huck Award and the Kirkus Prize, and Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, which received a Newbery Honor, a Coretta Scott King Honor, the Kirkus Prize, and the Ezra Jack Keats Award. He also wrote the bestselling chapter book series Ruby and the Booker Boys. Derrick is a native of Kansas City, MO and a graduate of Jackson State University and was the first African American male creative copywriter hired by greeting card giant, Hallmark Cards. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and their four sons.
Vanessa Brantley-Newton has illustrated numerous picture books, including The King of Kindergarten (by Derrick Barnes), The Girl Who Heard Colors (by Marie Harris), Mary Had a Little Glam (by Tammi Sauer), One Love (by Cedella Marley), A Night Out with Mama (by Quvenzhané Wallis), and The Youngest Marcher (by Cynthia Levinson), as well as the chapter book series Ruby and the Booker Boys (by Derrick Barnes) and Jada Jones (by Kelly Starling Lyons). She wrote and illustrated Let Freedom Sing and Grandma's Purse. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. - (Penguin Putnam)
Booklist Reviews
On MJ's first day of kindergarten, Momma places a sparkly tiara atop the little Black girl's freshly braided hair, crowning her the new Queen of Kindergarten. She follows this with some helpful advice, telling MJ to be caring, kind, helpful, and a bright spot in the classroom. Daddy drops MJ off at school, where she meets her teacher, Ms. Lovingood. In class MJ is put in charge of opening the window blinds for the week, giving her the chance to literally brighten the room. MJ keeps her mother's words in mind throughout the day, comforting a girl who feels homesick and helping a boy pick up the blocks after playtime. MJ is such a queen! Brantley-Newton brings the fun of King of Kindergarten (2019) back in this companion book's vibrant illustrations and racially diverse characters. MJ's kindness and self-assuredness set a wonderful example for readers, who may also be preparing to expand their worlds, whether attending school or participating in a new group activity. A great choice for combating first-day jitters and building confidence. Preschool-Kindergarten. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.
