TEACHER RESOURCES

When reading this book to children, consider these questions for deeper engagement and connections to the text.

Cover:

What do you see in this picture? Does this give you any clues about the book?

 Who do you think is the main character in this book?

 What is the title? What does this make you think about? Does this give you a clue to what the book is about?

Who is the author of this book? What does author mean? Do any of you want to be an author? If you are an author, what kinds of things will you do?

Pages 1 -2:  Today is my first day of school. I will meet lots of new boys and girls.

Raise a quiet hand if you love are excited about school starting on the first day? What kinds of thoughts do you have about the first day? 

Pages 3-4: What if they don’t like me? What if they think I’m weird? What if they make fun of me? Put your hand on your head if you have had thoughts like this when thinking about the first day of school.

How do these thoughts make you feel?

Are there other things you do that make you feel this way? 

Pages 4-5 :“What are you wearing?” Mom asks.

“I’m wearing my princess gown. It makes me feel good. It makes me feel pretty. I need to feel good today. I want the boys and girls to like me,” I reply.

What do you notice in this picture?

How does the girl look in the picture? Does she still look worried about school? Why do you think she looks different?

What does she say that makes you know she is feeling a little better?

What made her feel better?

Pages 6-7: “Wouldn’t you rather wear the new outfit we bought for the first day of school?” asked Mom.

“I need to feel good today. I want to make lots of friends,” I tell her.

What does the mom want her to wear to school?

Who is telling the story?

What clue words tell you that?

Pages 8-9: “See you at after school, Mom.”

Does the mom make her change her outfit?

 Put both hands in the air if you like to dress in special outfits?

Tell your elbow partner what your favorite costume is.

Pages 10-11: “I like your dress,” a girl in her class says.

“Thanks. Do you want to sit by me?” I ask.

Why did the girl want to wear the princess gown to school?

Did her idea work? How do you know?

Pages 12-13: “How was your day?” Mom asks me.

“It was a good day. I made a new friend,” I tell her.

What do you think will happen on the next school day?

Pages 14 - 15:  I am going to school again today. I’m going to make more friends.

Does the little girl look worried on the second day of school? Why do you think so?

If you were the little girl, would you be excited about going back to school?

Put your hands on your hips if you think you know what will happen next.

Pages 16 – 17: “What are you wearing today?” Mom asks.

“I am wearing my super hero outfit. It makes me feel good. It makes me feel brave and strong. I need to feel good today. I want to make more friends,” I tell her.

When you made your predictions, did anyone guess that the girl would dress in another costume?  

Pages 18 - 19: “I like your super hero outfit,” a boy at the playground says.

“Thank you. Do you want to play with me during recess?” I ask.

Did the girl’s plan work the second day? What was it?

Pages 20 – 21: “How was your day?” Mom asks.

“It was a good day. I made another new friend,” I tell her.

Page 22 – 23:  I’m going to school again today. I’m going to make more friends.

Does the little girl look worried on the third day of school? Why do you think so?

If you were the little girl, would you be excited about going back to school?        

Put your hands on your hips if you think you know what will happen next.

Pages 24 – 25: “What are you wearing to school today?” Mom asks.

“I’m wearing the new outfit we bought last week,” I say.

What outfit is the little girl wearing for school? (It is the first day of school outfit that Mom bought her.)

Does she have a costume on today?

Why do you think she is not wearing another costume? (She now feels good about going to school. She made new friends already.)

Pages 26 – 27:  Illustration only with classmates dressed in costumes.

Tell your elbow partner what you see in the girl’s classroom.

Why do you think the boys and girls are dressed in costumes? (It makes them feel better.)

Did the girl’s plan work to solve her problem?

What kinds of things have you tried to make you feel better about something?