All the apprehension about school "firsts" is playfully presented in these reassuring stories. In Mrs. Watson Wants Your Teeth, advice from a "knowledgeable" second grader has the first-grade worrywart convinced that her new teacher is really a 300-year-old alien who steals baby teeth from her students. This is especially worrisome since she has a secret: her first tooth is loose! A witty, and spot-on depiction of first-day-of-school jitters, this clever take on losing a tooth will reassure as it amuses both children, their parents and their teachers! In Countdown to Kindergarten, a five-year-old has 10 days until she starts kindergarten, and she's in trouble: she doesn't know how to tie her shoes. Certain that everyone in kindergarten must know how to tie their shoes, it's the rule!, she tries her best to learn. As the fateful day approaches, she still can't do it, what will she do? Told with wit and verve, this depiction of a child's anxiety is both empathetic and enjoyable.
