Book cover of Lena's Shoes Are Nervous: A First-Day-Of-School Dilemma

Book description

In the tradition of School’s First Day of School, debut author Keith Calabrese and Pura Belpré Award winner Juana Medina share a sweet, universal story about a clever little girl whose shoes are nervous about the first day of school.

Today is a big day! Today, Lena starts kindergarten. She…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Lena's Shoes Are Nervous as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Lena isn’t worried about the first day of kindergarten - but her shoes are. In this clever story we see various parts of Lena’s wardrobe taking on various personalities, possibly mirroring parts of Lena’s own personality. Her outgoing blue dress is ready for a new adventure, her friendly headband wants everyone to work together, of course, her fearful footwear wants to stay home. But when Lena threatens to wear her slippers to school, will her shoes muster the courage to march forward? A creative and witty book about facing your fears.

From Jennifer's list on worried or anxious children.

Starting school often comes with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Lena’s big imagination displaces her first-day jitters onto her shoes. This child-centric plot puts Lena in complete control as she facilitates a listening session between her headband and her shoes. With some encouragement, her shoes decide they don’t want to be left behind. Calabrese and Medina give Lena agency, stopping short of anthropomorphizing her clothes and allowing her to work through her big emotions in her own special way.

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