A Back to School Book

I know, I know, shame on me for gearing up for back to school already. In my defense I do have an excuse, I will be MIA for the next two weeks, so I want to make sure I get the good posts out before it’s too late! Plus, if I prep for back to school now, I might still be able to steal a week in August for fun summer stuff.

The book that I want to share with you today is my absolute favorite back to school book ever. Yes, ever.  Llama Llama Misses Mama is about Llama’s first day at school, and all of the feelings that the Llama experiences throughout the day, from nervousness to loneliness, anger to enjoyment, and finally happiness that Mama returns and not wanting to leave school.

I always read this book during the first week of school because it communicates all of the feelings and emotions that my students are experiencing.  It voices these experiences in a way that my students understand, and can relate with.  This book also serves as a starting point for discussion about their feelings at this point in the school year.  It is especially helpful for students who don’t want to admit how they are feeling, because they are able to talk about the characters in the book, instead of themselves.

All of the Llama Llama books are wonderful. I have to stop myself from laughing when I read them out loud to my class because Llama Llama’s behaviors are so similar to the way my students behave, and my students are so quick to correct the Llama, even though I know that they would behave in exactly the same way.  Please make sure to check out this collection by Anna Dewdney, especially Llama Llama Misses Mama for back to school!