Beginning readers will love this warm introduction to all the excitement and uncertainty of starting kindergarten! It's Sam’s first day of kindergarten, and he's not so sure what to expect. Sam’s teacher, Ms. Tate, takes the class on a nature walk, and at the very end, everyone gets to show off what they found! Sam makes new friends when he helps everyone find interesting things for show-and-tell. On the first day of kindergarten, everyone is new at school—including Sam. Kindergartners and kindergartners to be will relate to Sam's worries and be reassured by how well his day goes. The team that wrote and illustrated the I Can Read favorites The Best Seat in First Grade and The Best Seat in Second Grade knows how to create a gentle, believable, sweet story that helps kids explore their emotions and reflect on their own experiences. The Best Seat in Kindergarten is a My First I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child. Books at this level feature basic language, word repetition, and whimsical illustrations, ideal for sharing with emergent readers. The active, engaging stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.

Sam has the best seat in second grade—right next to George Washington, the class pet! Sam brings his hamster buddy on the class field trip to the science museum…but disaster strikes when George jumps from Sam’s pocket into the museum’s Hamster Habitat. “Carter’s expressive watercolor illustrations help bring the kids in room 75 and their furry pet to life,” commented Kirkus. The Best Seat in Second Grade is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the engaging stories, longer sentences, and language play of Level Two books are proven to help kids take their next steps toward reading success.

This heartfelt story is just right for all children getting ready for first grade and other big early steps! On the first day of first grade, Sam is excited to share his news with the class. While some kids report losing a tooth or going to soccer camp, Sam tells the class that his elephant had a baby. "No way!" cry his classmates. "No one has an elephant." Will Sam be able to convince his classmates that he's telling the truth? First graders and first graders to be will root for Sam, who is so excited to share his news that he can't sit still and nearly falls off his chair. First graders will relate, and their parents, caregivers, and teachers will smile in fond recognition. The team that wrote and illustrated the I Can Read favorites The Best Chef in Second Grade and The Best Seat in Second Grade knows how to create a gentle, believable, sweet story that helps kids explore their emotions and reflect on their own experiences. The Best Seat in First Grade is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts of Level One books support success for children eager to start reading on their own.

From the best-selling author of the hugely popular Kindergarten, Here I Come!, here's a guidebook in verse that shows children how to be kind in the new and exciting world of kindergarten. Small enough to fit in a child's backpack, this collection of short poems--one to a page--spans the entire year of kindergarten, offering sweet and simple tips on how to be your best self--sharing your umbrella with a friend; taking turns on the swings, and inviting someone to join in a game. This is the perfect companion to DJ Steinberg's enormously successful Kindergarten, Here I Come!

On the first day of school, new classmates are asked to share what they would most like to happen in the upcoming year. Some kids' hopes are familiar while others are off-the-wall. Whether it's looking good on picture day or skateboarding at school, everyone's wishes are shown in humorously exaggerated illustrations. As the first day draws to a close, there can be no doubt—this school year will definitely be the best!

A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Featured in its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices! National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner Rafael López have teamed up to create a poignant, yet heartening book about finding courage to connect, even when you feel scared and alone. There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you. There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it. Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway. (This book is also available in Spanish, as El Día En Que Descubres Quién Eres!)

From the acclaimed author of Drawn Together and Lift, Minh Lê, comes a playful ode to laptime storytelling. This child and their parent are almost ready for story time -- but first, they must find the perfect seat! This cozy picture book takes readers through various opposites ("Too rough! Too slippery!") as characters search for just the right spot. Adorable art by acclaimed illustrator Gus Gordon invites adults and children to giggle all the way through to the heartwarming ending, when the answer falls right into their laps -- because the perfect seat for a child is, indeed, right in a parent's lap. Don't miss LET ME FINISH!, also by Minh Lê!