Who Are You? First Day of School by Dr. Qooz is  a children’s book full of animals of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Gerri the Giraffe is new to the class. Gerri seems a bit shy and nervous at first, but the other animals are very welcoming. This is a feel-good book that has lots of underlying messages for young readers.

I think this book will appeal to young readers. Early elementary-aged kids will enjoy the bright illustrations and the variety of animal characters in the story. Dr. Qooz’s writing style is simple and somewhat repetitive with a lot of dialogue between characters.The repetitive dialogue could also be good for new readers who are learning to predict what’s coming next.

Gerri from Fargone is a loveable but awkward character. New students to a school could identify with Gerri’s hesitance. They will also find hope in how quickly Gerri makes friends with the herd of jungle classmates. Gerri’s classmates point out their own differences in a way that makes them feel proud, not different.

This is a great little book that could be an important tool for families to use during a move to a new town or school. Guidance counselors could also use the book to emphasize acceptance and empathy among classmates. It could help bring young students together as they identify with the cast of characters.

Who Are You? First Day of School by Dr. Qooz is a fun and simple book for young children. For the most part, it is written simply enough for a young student to understand, especially with the help of a teacher or parent. I think there are good messages here that could help them through new starts. I’d like to see more original work by Dr. Qooz.

Pages: 34 | ASIN: B07D1B7JNZ