“The duo behind “Goodbye Mousie” aptly handles the emotion of first-day-of-school jitters in this empathetic tale. After carefully packing his backpack the night before, a boy with wide, brown eyes (who narrates and remains nameless throughout) declares the next morning that he’s not going to school because “on the very first day of school, you don’t know anything… all the kids’ names, or which cubby is your cubby… or what kind of juice they have.” The ultimate excuse concerns his stuffed monkey companion: “If I go to school, Hank won’t have anyone to play with!” Ormerod’s watercolor washes, outlined in black pencil, anchor the fast-moving dialogue with true-to-life details. (One scene shows Dad coaxing his son out from under the breakfast table; another depicts a late-for-work, yet smiling Mommy calmly holding out her son’s jacket while suggesting Hank accompany the reluctant boy.) As the schoolday unfolds, the boy gets answers to all of his questions (he learns the kids’ names, his teacher shows him his cubby and serves orange juice, etc.). The compositions keep the focus on the boy’s blossoming confidence and do a splendid job of relating a subtle side-story of a budding friendship with another stuffed animal-clutching boy. The two children silently introduce their animals at circle time and play together in several successive spot illustrations of cheerful, bouncy pupils. This story insightfully relates a youngster’s trepidation about the unknown, while its happy ending sends a comforting message to anxious schoolgoers.”

-Publishers Weekly, May 26, 2003

“The first day of school is a daunting prospect, best avoided. For starters, how’s a kid supposed to know the names of the other kids, where the crayons are, or what kind of juice might be available? And how could a person possibly leave his or her favorite toy monkey at home all by itself? The boy protagonist in author Robie Harris’ winning first-day-of-school tale decides the night before class that he will not go to school but will instead wait until the second day, when there aren’t so many unanswered questions. With a bit of gentle prodding, however, his parents finally get him to school — but not without the company of his sidekick monkey, Hank. Once there, of course, the experience is happily demystified, and he learns everything there is to know about kids, crayons, juice, and more. Children with first-day jitters will take comfort in this story, which shows that the first day of school can actually be fun.”

-www.parentingandliving.com

“A little boy makes a clear statement about what he thinks of the first day of school in “I am not Going to School Today!” He thinks he won’t know what to do if he goes the first day, but if he waits for the second day, he will know everything. His parents don’t buy the idea. He finally goes and takes his stuffed animal with him. They have a great day.”

-The Courier-Times, August 12, 2003

“One the eve of the first day of preschool, a boy’s excitement turns to apprehension, and he decides that he’ll sit out the first day. In this reassuring first-person narrative, illustrated with homey watercolors, the boy’s harried but attentive parents convince him to take along his stuffed toy monkey — a tactic that helps make an ultimately welcoming place initially less intimidating.”

-The Horn Book Guide, July-December 2003

“The team of Harris and Ormerod once again create a reassuring title with utter purity of feeling. The little boy protagonist gets everything ready for the first day of school, but cuddling with Hank, his toy monkey, brings him to the decision of the title. He tells his parents that on the first day of school, you don’t know anything, like which cubby is yours, where the toilets are, or anyone’s name. And Hank will miss him. His parents finesse this pretty well, getting him fed and dressed and announcing that he can take Hank to school. He discovers he’s not the only kid to bring a stuffed friend; he meets his teachers, finds out where the crayons are and what’s for snack time, and decides he and Hank will go to school again tomorrow. Ormerod’s beautiful way with bright kid colors and clear lines echoes and reinforces the story, and the apple-cheeked hero is a sweet little melding of the facial features of his mommy and daddy. A great send-off.”

-Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2003

“Harris writes a delightful story about a little boy who decides the night before school starts that he is not going to school. The next morning the frightened little boy wakes his parents up with the news. Hank, his toy monkey, does not want him to go, he says. The gentle parents reassure the little boy that school will be fine. In fact, Hank can go with him on the first day. Ormerod’s black pencil line and watercolor wash illustrations are very inviting. This book will make a great read-aloud for a new classroom’s students.”

-Judy McAulay, The Clarion-Ledger, August 10, 2003

“The duo behind “Goodbye Mousie” aptly handles the emotion of first-day-of-school jitters in this empathetic tale. After carefully packing his backpack the night before, a boy with wide brown eyes (who narrates and remains nameless throughout) declares the next morning that he’s not going to school because “on the very first day of school, you don’t know anything … all the kids’ names, or which cubby is your cubby…or what kind of juice they have.” The ultimate excuse concerns his stuffed monkey companion: “If I go to school, Hank won’t have anyone to play with!” Jan Ormerod’s endearing watercolor washes, outlined in black pencil, anchor the fast-moving dialogue with true-to-life details. (One scene shows Dad coaxing his son out from under the breakfast table; another depicts a late-for-work, yet smiling Mommy calmly holding out her son’s jacket while suggesting that Hank accompany the reluctant boy.) As the school day unfolds, the boy gets answers to all of his questions (he learns the kids’ names, his teacher shows him his cubby, etc.). The compositions keep the focus on the boy’s blossoming confidence and friendship with a like-minded classmate. This story insightfully relates a youngster’s trepidation about the unknown, while its happy ending sends a comforting message to anxious schoolgoers.”

-The Los Angeles Times Book Review, July 13, 2003

“The first day of school is a daunting prospect, best avoided. For starters, how’s a kid supposed to know the names of the other kids, where the crayons are, or what kind of juice might be available? And how could a person possibly leave his or her favorite toy monkey at home all by itself? The boy protagonist in Harris’ winning first-day-of-school tale decides the night before class that he will not go to school but will instead wait until the second day, when there aren’t so many unanswered questions. With a bit of gentle prodding, however, his parents finally get him to school-but not without the company of his sidekick monkey, Hank. Once there, of course, the experience is happily demystified, and he learns everything there is to know about kids, crayons, juice, and more. Children with first-day jitters will take comfort in this story, which shows that the first day of school can actually be fun. Ormerod’s colorful, expressive illustrations capture a child’s anxiety and the warmth of family with equal success.”

-Karin Snelson, Booklist, August 2003

“The wee narrator is calm. His new backpack is on the bed, the dinosaur T-shirt is picked out. No problem, until the lights go out, and he conveys to his friend, Hank, a toy monkey, that “going to the very first day of school was NOT a good idea.” His logic works, to a point. On the first day, he won’t know how to find his cubby or where the toilet is. Just how he’ll get the knowledge by Day 2 is the problem. Mom’s wise solution: Take Hank to school. He won’t know anything either, but he’ll know his boy and he won’t have to stay home alone. Guess what: Hank liked school, and he’ll go back tomorrow. A strategically wise tale.”

-Mary Harris Russell, Chicago Tribune, July 20, 2003, Daily Press, July 29, 2003

“I Am NOT Going To School Today just about says it all for the new first-day-of-school book by Robie H. Harris. A little boy decides he won’t go to school when he realizes that he won’t know any of the other kids’ names, or what kind of juice they’ll drink, or where the crayons are kept – and, worst of all, that his stuffed monkey, Hank, will miss him. These first-day worries are understandable, so his parents suggest that Hank accompany him. He pops Hank in his pack (head “sticking out the top – so he could see”) and goes to school. Once there, his many questions begin to be answered. The children sit in a circle and tell each other their names, they drink orange juice, and a teacher shows him where the crayons (and the toilets!) are. And – since Hank liked going to school – they’ll both return uncoaxed in the morning. Jan Ormerod’s realistic illustrations set a comforting and satisfying tone for this happy-ending book.”

-Christian Science Monitor, August 7, 2003

“A young boy decides he isn’t going to school in “I am NOT Going to School Today!” After pondering all night long about going to school, the boy wakes and explains to his mom and dad why he shouldn’t go to school on the first day. “You don’t know all the kids’ names or which cubby is your cubby or where the crayons are or what kind of juice they have or if they have crackers – at all!” he tells them. Luckily, mom and dad help him work through those issues and a few more as they finally drop him off at school. The boy quickly finds out that his teachers take time to help him learn everything he was worried about knowing. In the end, he tells his stuffed animal, “Hank, I liked going to school today. I bet you did too. And I WILL go to school tomorrow – if you come with me.” In an easy-to-understand format, author Robie H. Harris shows students that there isn’t anything to worry about starting school. Illustrations by Jan Ormerod help tell the story.”

-Carl Harvey, The Noblesville Ledger, September 9, 2003