His first day of kindergarten

The best part of The King of Kindergarten is it is just a story about going to kindergarten. There is nothing preachy or moral giving about it. There are great illustrations and a fun story about one young man’s adventures when he goes off to his first day of kindergarten.

The not so best of The King of Kindergarten is it is just a story about going to kindergarten. While it has a more modern feel and tone than books of the past, there is nothing new to tell you about kindergarten. They paint and snack and nap and have learning and fun times. Recess is the best subject and friends are all over the place.

Derrick Barnes has a well written story. You hear the stereotypical tone of a ready-to-go-and-get-them kiddo throughout the book as he tells you his story about going to school. His voice is a bold and bright as the illustrations that surround him. Vanessa Brantley-Newton is where any new or fresh idea comes into play. They created an inclusive world where we see all the colors people can be. Everyone is slightly different. And everyone is similar.

This story is cozy, happy, bold, active (even during nap time, you can almost hear the dreams of the narrator as he plans the rest of the day in his head). The energy of both the story and the narrator and the art blend together and make this a good, new book in the First Day of Kindergarten/Going to Kindergarten book.