Book-A-Day Almanac

Around this time of year, many children head back to school—often feeling anxious and as though they are unequal to the task. Scary teachers or buildings may await them. What if they are not grown up enough to enter a new grade?

Such is the dilemma of our heroine of the day, Posey, entering first grade. To begin with, her mother cannot walk her all the way into class. Posey has to travel down a long scary hall by herself. And the boys in the neighborhood insist that monsters lurk there and drink the blood of unsuspecting first graders.

That forms only part of Posey’s problem. She’s going to have to wear something other than her favorite outfit, a pink tutu that allows her to imagine herself as a princess. By the time the first day of school draws near, Posey has worked herself into lather, conjuring up all kinds of problems from snakes to monsters. But fortunately for Posey, she has the best of all grandfathers. He not only listens to her problems and takes her for ice cream, but he introduces Posey to her first grade teacher, Miss Lee. And that introduction solves all of Posey’s problems with school.

In this easy-to-read chapter book, ideal for six- to eight-year-olds, Stephanie Greene demonstrates her keen sense of childhood and ability to tell a good story with a lot of humor. The layout of the book, large-type font, and black-and-white illustrations by Stephanie Roth Sisson, add to its accessibility, making it a pleasure to hold and read. Even better, Posey stars in her own series, so if young readers want more, they can pick up another book about her. The not-to-be-missed Princess Posey and the New First Grader was just released in June.

Stephanie Greene had created many fine novels ideal for third through sixth graders, such as the Owen Foote series, when she saw a sign in front of a local elementary school. It read “Kiss and Go Lane,” and Stephanie thought about how hard it could be on a young child to say goodbye to a parent on that spot. Then Stephanie heard a child’s voice in her head, “You’re leaving me,” and she began to create Princess Posey. The author used her own memories and observations to fashion her appealing heroine—passionate, impetuous, “ebullient one second, despondent the next.”

So if you know a child headed to first grade, pick up Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade for them. For so many children, the beginning of a school year may not be the worst thing that can happen to them—but the best. For everyone, students and teachers alike, I wish you a wonderful new school year. One full of surprises and parades!

Here’s a page from Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade: