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| Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance |
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HomeShop at BookSurgeJuvenile FictionSocial IssuesSelf-Esteem & Self-Reliance |
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11 of 12 found the following review helpful:
Charlie and the Thinking Traps Aug 15, 2007
"Charlie's First Day in First Grade" uses humor and robust illustrations to tell the story of Charlie's attack of classroom performance anxiety. It is a cute story that can also be used as a launching point for discussing school anxiety with your children. We see the situation unfold through Charlie's eyes, complete with the cognitive distortions that feed anxiety: everyone is looking, everyone cares, everyone else knows the answer, everyone will remember this moment from now on. Of course, with just a little bit of time and advice from family, he is able to return to school and have a nice corrective experience, which he also distorts and amplifies in his mind but this time for good use.
I'd love to suggest a sequel, where Charlie masters a course of bio-feedback and goes on to a career as a virtuosic bassoonist. He goes on to marry a pagan librarian and together they discover the manuscripts of the lost Mozart bassoon concerti, but in the process inadvertently get themselves embroiled in an international conspiracy involving Russian submarines, Wal-Mart, Aer Lingus, and Larry King. Wait, wait, maybe I'll write that story. Never mind. You can't have it, Janice, I said it here first, August 15, 2007, M. Libman.
Beyond the value of the story and illustrations themselves, it is also a brisk read, so a very practical book to have around at bedtime when the children are clambering for just one more book.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Perfect for the First-Grader-to-Be... and beyond Jul 31, 2007
Like Charlie, my little boy is starting first grade in just a few weeks now - and my little boy is experiencing anxiety even this far away from school and we are using Janice Savage's brightly illustrated, cleverly told story of Charlie to ease him into the idea that he will actually be in first grade soon, not kindergarten... that he will have a new teacher and some new friends... and it is ok to be scared, we understand.
Charlie is happy to be at school, it is a beautiful day surrounded by friends when the unthinkable happens - too many numbers and a question tossed his way that he can not immediately answer. (It reminds me of a recurring dream I had for years after I graduated from college, too, for that matter!)
None of his classmates are mean to him about it, though - they all continue to go about their business from what we see and read... and Charlie gets advice from his parents, which reminded me that one of the ways to help my little almost-to-be first grader is to tell stories of first grade, so he knows we have all gone through first grade and come out ok. Right now when we mention first grade, he has been known to lie on the couch and pull a blanket over his head.
So we leave "Charlie" on the coffee table where he can see it and pick it up when he is ready. The older children read it aloud so he can hear it but it isn't "pushed" on him. It engages even without him looking at the illustrations when we read it, but those illustrations are classic, exceptionally enjoyable.
Highly recommended.
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
 Another wonderfully illustrated title from Janice Savage Jul 30, 2007
Author and illustrator Janice V. Savage's second full-color story book is geared towards slightly older children than her debut book (I Have 4 Feet He Has 2). Charlie's First Day in First Grade is a perfect book for calming first day fears in school-age children. As a bonus, math problems are drawn in bold clarity on the chalkboard in Charlie's classroom, so young readers can solve the addition facts as well as follow along with the text.
Charlie's classmates have bright faces of all shades and shapes. Watch out for our hero's hair to stand on end in a particularly stressful (but funny) moment!
14 of 14 found the following review helpful:
First grade in Kindergarten Jul 21, 2007
For children who are starting Kindergarten OR first grade, this is a cute, but somewhat repetitive 29 page set of ribald pictures and text featuring the fright of the little boy Charlie on his first day of First grade.
Aside from bright blues, greens, oranges and illustrations of chalk boards with arithmetic equations the frightened Charlie can't add, the book has some fearful feelings to which the very early student can easily relate.
The book doesn't deal with the anxiety about crowds, or caged public school stairwells, so much as that of not knowing the answers--which is a fear that strikes most kids later than First Grade.
Bur never mind. School is pretty anxiety producing when you're little--even if you HAVE already been to preschool or kindergarten.
This little book is sure to hold the attention of your new student this coming fall. Particularly if they're more fearful of answering wrong on the arithmetic than of the other kids.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Very cute book Jul 04, 2007
The book is easy to read. My daughter reads it to her brother. He loves the pictures. My daughter completed first grade and she related to Charlie's first day of first grade.
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