Dad's First Day: A Back-to-School Story

by Mike Wohnoutka

Overview

Oliver can't wait for his first day of school, but his dad isn't quite ready! Celebrate the new school year with this fun-filled tale about embracing new experiences—at any age!

Oliver and his dad spent all summer playing together, laughing together, singing together, and reading together. But now it's time for Oliver to start school, and he's so excited! But. . . his dad isn't. Suddenly, he feels nervous and his tummy hurts. Maybe they should stay home together!

But Oliver isn't convinced. What if the first day is really fun? What if it's the start of an exciting year?

In this charming story, acclaimed author and illustrator Mike Wohnoutka perfectly captures the mixed emotions felt by kids and their parents during big changes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781619634732
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	07/07/2015
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	1,016,722
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD450L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

MIKE WOHNOUTKA is the illustrator of many books including Moo! which received two starred reviews and was chosen as an ALA Notable book and by the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books as a Blue Ribbon selection, Can't Sleep Without Sheep, Just Like My Papa, and Stay Close to Mama. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Mike lives with his wife and two children in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

www.mikewohnoutka.com

Editorial Reviews

Wohnoutka's back-to-school story mines the helicopter parenting phenomenon for big laughs, even for those who may cringe in recognition.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

05/11/2015
In a story of emotional transference, a boy named Oliver is completely ready for school to begin but his kind, nebbishy father—with whom Oliver spent the summer playing, reading, and singing—grows nervous when the big day arrives. Wohnoutka’s gouache paintings poke gentle fun at Daddy, and they’ll elicit giggles as Oliver’s father hides from his son as they prepare to leave the house, drives “very slowly” to school, and throws a tantrum that requires the teacher to carry the man out of the building. It’s a straightforward and familiar story (with a reassuring conclusion), and it should leave new students with an extra jolt of confidence. Ages 4–8. (July)

Publishers Weekly

By the end of the book, readers will be all set for school too: this is sure to provoke shared laughter that will calm the fears of even the most unready parents.” —starred review, Kirkus Reviews

“Wohnoutka's gouache paintings poke gentle fun at Daddy, and they'll elicit giggles. . . It should leave new students with an extra jolt of confidence.” —Publishers Weekly

“The colorful gouache illustrations will elicit giggles from young readers as they imagine their parents behaving like Oliver's dad.” —School Library Journal

“An ALA Notable book

A BCCB Blue Ribbon selection

This book is bold, original, and funny, and should be part of every picture-book collection.” —SLJ, Starred review for MOO!

“Good barnyard fun, with nods to Mo Willems' aspirational Pigeon and Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin's enterprising Duck.” —Kirkus Reviews, on MOO!

“The readaloud's the real fun here.” —BCCB, Starred review for MOO!

From the Publisher

★ 2015-05-06
With tongue firmly in cheek, Wohnoutka recognizes that kids going to school for the first time aren't the only ones who are nervous. Oliver and his dad have spent a wonderful summer bonding and doing all sorts of fabulous things—readers will get the distinct impression that this is a stay-at-home dad. But now it's time for school to start. Oliver's ready. His dad? Not so much. "Oliver's dad didn't feel so good." Oliver reassures him, "you're just a little nervous," and then tries to get him moving. But, like a toddler when his parent is late, there are just a few things Oliver's dad has to do before leaving, including putting a puzzle together and hiding in three different places. When Oliver finally gets his dad to school, the teacher has to pry him off Oliver. Wohnoutka's gouache illustrations, and the way they play up the deadpan text for humor, are the real stars here. "The teacher walked Oliver's dad outside," carrying him kicking and screaming, Oliver calmly saying goodbye, a smile on his face. After he disconsolately does some chores for a bit, a quick peek through the classroom window puts Oliver's dad at ease; he's finally ready for school. Though Oliver and his dad are both Caucasian, the teacher is brown-skinned, possibly Latina. By the end of the book, readers will be all set for school too: this is sure to provoke shared laughter that will calm the fears of even the most unready parents. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews