Oh No, School!
Hae-Kyung Chang, Author
Josee Bisaillon, Illustrator
Magination Press, Fiction, 2014
Suitable for ages: 4-8
Themes: Kindergarten, Anxiety, School Problems
Opening: One morning, Holly banged and stomped her feet, and her eyes fill up with tears. “I don’t want to go to school,” she wailed.”
Book Jacket Synopsis: Oh no! Holly does not want to go to school one morning. Her friends are taking her toys and her teacher speaks too loudly. Everything is just too new and too different for Holly! Through gentle reassurances and coaching, her mother encourages her to think differently about the things that are bothering her at school. Holly begins to feel better about her new routines, new classmates, and new expectations, and soon she is off to school!
Why I like this book: Hae-Kyung Chang addresses common childhood jitters about going to school in a creative, realistic and engaging manner. Children wonder if they will like their new teacher. Will other kids want to sit with them on the school bus? They worry about making friends and sharing toys. Will they make mistakes? Reading the book with your child before they start school can be a fun way to encourage them to talk about their anxiety. I especially like the last double-page spread where children are invited to write or draw their reasons for not wanting to go to school and what they find fun and exciting about school. I recommend Oh No, School! for parents preparing their children for the new school year. Josee Bisaillon’s colorful collages are made from rich textures that really set the mood for the story. This is a beautifully illustrated book.
Resources: The book is a helpful resource for parents. At the end, psychologist Elizabeth McCallum, PhD, offers parents many tips and guidelines that may help children easily transition to school with more self-confidence.
My mother would’ve loved to have had that book when I reluctantly started school. She spent 180 days of dragging me into my kindergarten classroom kicking and screaming. The words “school phobia” weren’t invented yet, but I’m pretty sure I had a raging case of it. Cut to the future – I was a teacher for 35 years, so I guess I was cured.
WoW, you had it bad! This is a great book for kids nervous about starting kindergarten. Today, many children are in daycare first, which helps ease the transition. But, there are many who are not. I remember being excited about going to school, but developed school phobia around 9, when I got teased. Not fun.
This book sounds amazing! 😀 I think parents and kids will love it. I was kind of scared to start middle school this year. 😉
Yes, I remember being both excited and anxious about going to middle school (junior high). Sixth graders were still part of elementary school. But, you will love it and do just fine!
Thanks, Pat… another book for my ‘to read’ list! 🙂
It really is a very helpful book for children and parents.
I was always afraid of school and hated every minute of it, so these sorts of stories are really important for little ones to make sure they make a good start.
It’s amazing how many kids feel this way. Such a great book to use with kids.
This looks like a great book! School can be a very trying place for some kids. I see a lot of it. A book like this would be quite helpful! Thanks for sharing!
Yes, I imagine you would be helpful to kids anxious about school. Great book for your bag.
Great for back to school
That’s why I shared it before PPBF starts. Great book for children to express their feelings about starting school.
So many kindergarten books talk about what happens at school, but not about the fears kids may have about going to school. Great review!
Thank you Robin. I’m glad that this book focuses on the anxiety many kids feel.
You got me at “beautiful illustrations” The book title “Oh No School” had me remembering of days gone by. Great choice for the season and for my bookshelf.
It isi a great selection for children entering kindergarten. Yes, I loved the illustrations.
It’s that time of year already, isn’t it?
I can’t believe that school has started here already. Usually is started the last week of August.
How timely. Many children are apprehensive about starting school. (I wasn’t but then I was not a normal child!) This would be such a great book for parents to help alleviate the fear.
It really involves the child with activities at the end. It is a good book for parents to help children with their anxiety.
This looks great! I had a lot less confidence than my kids do, I would have loved this when I was little!
It is a very special book that involves the child at the end. Love the illustrations.
My daughter had anxiety–in the form of stomach aches–for the first 2 weeks of kindergarten. So I think this is something so many kids can relate to!
There are a lot of children who suffer similar symptoms. I remember stomach aches.