Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
That fluttery feeling in the stomach when one's about to try something new? Roberts offers a warmhearted reframe of that sensation in this look at a child's apprehension about starting school. From the first morning light shining into their bedroom, a child portrayed with tan skin is nervous about the new experience. In the car, Mom recalls her own giant-size butterflies on her first day as a parent ("When you first came--when we met you--we felt the same"). But most importantly, Mom advises not to hold the butterflies inside: "Just let them fly./ 'Cause they were born to be your guide." In flora-dotted neighborhood scenes, Escobar depicts a group of classmates with varying skin tones approaching the school, each with a swirl of colorful butterflies trailing behind them, until the protagonist bounds through the door with large, vividly flowered wings spread wide. It's a reassuring pep talk that will have readers finding their own first-day wings. Ages 3--7. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--As the sun's rays reach into her buttery yellow room, the worried eyes of a young girl with short, dark brown hair and light tan skin peer over the blankets of her bed. Today is the first day of school, but she doesn't feel like rising or shining. Her pale-skinned mom and tan-skinned dad attempt to calm her nerves, but nothing will settle the giant-sized butterflies fluttering in her stomach. On the drive to school, the girl learns that the butterflies, now trailing behind their car, also danced in her parents' stomachs on the day she was born. Her mom reassures her that everyone, including grown-ups, wishes there was a magic spell to remedy the anxious feelings that arise before new experiences. Mom's sage advice is to release the giant-sized butterflies: "don't hold them in, just let them fly. 'Cause they were born to be your guide." Lovingly and delicately, her mom embraces the opportunity for imparting wisdom at this milestone moment in her daughter's life. Roberts's rhythmic, first-person narrative beautifully harmonizes with Escobar's fluid digital gouache illustrations, using the metaphor of the butterfly to infuse a touch of whimsy into what could have been an otherwise bleak first day of school. This tender story will uplift young readers experiencing back-to-school anxiety, as well as the anticipation universal to new experiences of all kinds. VERDICT A sensitive story sure to charm young and grown readers long past the first day of school.--Emily Brush
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
First days are always hard. Despite Mom's reassurance that the first day of school will be fine, a child has "giant-sized butterflies." "How am I to know how it will go on my first day?" the young narrator asks. As Mom drives the child to school, the child asks if Mom can stay with them. Mom explains that everyone worries about new beginnings--even grown-ups. The child's parents "had giant-sized butterflies" when they welcomed the child into their lives. But those butterflies aren't a bad thing, Mom notes. They're here to be our guides and to help us learn and grow. Now feeling much braver and more confident, the child strides toward the school and heads inside. Escobar's realistic digital illustrations depict swirls of butterflies, rendered in a crayonlike scrawl, following the child to the breakfast table and to the car. As the narrative continues, they become bigger and bolder until at last we see the child with a huge pair of butterfly wings. Each page is filled with rich colors and details, and we see that the other students are trailed by their own butterflies--welcome reassurance that everyone grapples with nervousness. The child and their parents are brown-skinned; their community is a diverse one. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Will help children conquer their jitters while preparing to go back to school--or anytime. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
