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First Day Jitters (The Jitters Series) Paperback – Picture Book, February 1, 2000

4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 7,805 ratings

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Head back to school with the bestselling picture book classic! The perennial classroom read-aloud favorite for students and teachers, reminding us we all get the jitters sometimes.

A perfect new school year pick for kindergarteners, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders who are feeling nervous or anxious about starting their first day. 

Sarah Jane Hartwell has that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach—she's nervous and doesn't want to start a new school year. She doesn't know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it.

With a little convicing from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly heads to class. Shy at first, she's quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton and is reminded that
everyone at school gets the jitters sometimes.

A beloved and bestselling back to school staple, Sarah Jane's relatable story and its surprise ending will delight seasoned students and new faces alike who are anxious about their first day.

• Includes a Certificate of Courage for First Day Completion and a First Day Memories Sheet!
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From the Publisher

Everyone gets the Jitters sometimes!
"Funny and insightful"–Booklist
A happy dog holding a lunchbox in his mouth

First Day (and All Year Round) Icebreakers!

1. Put students in pairs. Each student must tell their partner about a time they were nervous. Once students are finished discussing, go around the room and ask students to describe their partner’s experience.

2. Trace every student in the class on roll paper using a black marker. On one side of the body, have students write some of their favorite things. On the other side, have students write their goals for the year. Students can also color and decorate the outline of their body. Then hang up the projects and discuss.

3. Play team charades with scary situations! Write down a bunch of nerve-wracking moments (flying in a plane, meeting someone new, giving a speech, etc.) on notecards and shake them up in a hat. Divide the class into two teams; each team will take turns to send two actors to the front. The first team to guess the situation wins a point. After each charade, brainstorm coping mechanisms with the class.

Check out the Jitters series!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Sarah is hiding under her covers as Mr. Hartwell asks, "You don't want to miss the first day at your new school do you?" From under the blanket she replies, "I'm not going." When he reminds her how much she liked her other school and asks her to think of all the new friends she'll meet, she imagines a classroom where a paper airplane is flying, a boy is pulling his neighbor's pigtail, and another is blowing a gigantic bubble. Mr. Hartwell finally gets Sarah to stumble out of bed, eat a bit of toast, and get into the car where she slumps down into her seat. At school, the principal cheerfully welcomes her and takes her to the classroom where she is introduced as "Mrs. Sarah Jane Hartwell," the new teacher. There is a bit of foreshadowing that Sarah is an adult, but as she is always partially hidden, the ending will come as a surprise to most readers. The ink-and-watercolor illustrations are full of action and maintain the lighthearted tone. A little subplot in the paintings shows the family cat and dog having their own contest of wills while their owner is trying to get his wife up and out. The joke provides a good laugh and children may find it reassuring that they are not alone in their anxieties about new situations.
Adele Greenlee, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Every child who has moved to a new school or is simply reluctant to start a school year can identify with this wittily drawn and suspensefully told story. From the moment she awakens on the fateful day to the moment she steps into the classroom, Sarah Hartwell imagines the worst. Love's ink-and-watercolor illustrations add humor to Sarah's fears, which range from bratty kids to a police search when she doesn't show up. Mr. Hartwell's reassurances don't seem to be much help. The pictures mirror the jangled nerves and outsize expectations (the double-page spread of a looming, prisonlike school is priceless) everyone faces when they are new, all of which leads to a nifty surprise ending that is a delight. Funny and insightful."Booklist

"First Day Jitters which was written by Julie Danneberg and illustrated by Judy Love, makes a great companion book to Wemberly Worried. In the opening pages, we meet a certain Sarah Jane Hartwell, who's in the midst of her own first-day-of-school-related panic attack. Sarah Jane is buried under her covers so far that you can't even see her face. In fact, you have no idea what she looks like until the very last page of the whimsical book, which suddenly delivers a sly and funny twist..."Newsweek

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Charlesbridge; Illustrated edition (February 1, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 158089061X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1580890618
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 7 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD520L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Kindergarten - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.06 x 0.14 x 10 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 7,805 ratings

About the author

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Julie Danneberg
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Please check my website at www.juliedanneberg.com.

As a child, when I played at being grown-up, I never imagined myself as a writer. Instead I dreamed of being a famous chef, a secret agent, or a psychologist. I didn't end up becoming any of those things. Instead, I became a teacher.

I started off as an elementary school teacher, and thanks to my job, read lots and lots and lots of children's books. Not only was it fun, I witnessed, first hand the profound impact a good book can have on a child. It didn't take long before I was motivated to try and write books like the ones I enjoyed reading.

Later, when I became a mother, I began to seriously consider becoming a writer during our weekly trips to the library with my children. I think I enjoyed story time more than they did! The funny thing is that my kids eventually graduated from the children's section of the library and I never did. I still go to the library at least once a week, and while I don't sit in on story time anymore, I do leave every week with an armload of picture books.

Looking back I see how being a children's writer has helped me bring together many of my interests—teaching, traveling, and being creative.

After several years of teaching elementary school, I ended up teaching middle school, and I loved it. I am now newly retired and am enjoying immersing myself fulltime in writing and teaching writing to others.

My husband and I live in Boulder, Colorado where I enjoy reading, quilting, hiking, biking, and spending time with my family.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
7,805 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book has a surprise ending that they enjoy. They find it humorous and amusing, making it a great read-aloud with kids. The book helps reduce first-day jitters by demonstrating that everyone feels nervous. It's a good way to start the school year and opens up conversations about personal feelings. Many readers consider it a good teacher gift and an icebreaker on the first day. Overall, it provides good value for money.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

75 customers mention "Surprise ending"71 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the surprising twist at the end of the story. They find it delightful and appreciate that the ending is not expected.

"Book has a cute ending. I read this with my class for the first time. It was my first time reading it along with them...." Read more

"...Very cute story with a surprise ending!" Read more

"...The book has a surprise ending when we find out that Sarah is the TEACHER and nervous about starting at a new school with a new class...." Read more

"...There's a "surprise" ending, and even though my students all now know it, they still giggle at the end of the book...." Read more

39 customers mention "Humor"39 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it amusing and a fun read-aloud with kids. The end is hilarious. Readers mention it's a good way to break the ice and make connections with students. It's also a nice text for early school, easing jitters.

"...It arrived quickly and in great condition. This story could be fun any time of year, but it’s perfect for the first day read aloud!" Read more

"The punch line in this funny story is hilarious!" Read more

"...She was a little nervous starting something new, but this book made her laugh and understand that everyone else would be nervous the first day of..." Read more

"...Hilarious and great surprise ending!!" Read more

19 customers mention "Jitteriness"14 positive5 negative

Customers find the book helpful for reducing first-day jitters. It teaches kids that it's normal to feel nervous and okay. The book shows that teachers get nervous, too. It helps build empathy and vocabulary words for feeling nervous.

"Great book. It shows that everyone is nervous about going to school (in this book a new school)...." Read more

"Nice illustrations. Short easy read. Shows jitters happen to everyone :)" Read more

"...Basically, Sarah is apprehensive to go to school...." Read more

"...It’s a great ice breaker story to ease kids first day jitters and there’s a surprising twist at the end." Read more

17 customers mention "Start date"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it a great way to start the school year and an easy way to introduce students. The book covers all the anxieties of starting school, even for teachers. It's a good opener for meet and greets.

"...new teacher. This book is well written and covers all the anxieties of starting school, even if you're the teacher...." Read more

"...Calms the jitters and students love it. Makes the first day of school." Read more

"...It's a great way to start the year." Read more

"A great way to start the year and calm the beginning of the year jitters." Read more

11 customers mention "Conversation starter"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book helpful for opening up a conversation about how students feel on the first day of school. They say it helps build empathy and vocabulary, and gives a positive message about being nervous. The book also helps teachers understand that they have emotions too.

"...It's a great way to start a class discussion and make the kids feel comfortable and that it's normal to be nervous on the first day...." Read more

"...adults get nervous about things like this, too, was such a great way to talk about it...." Read more

"...It was a cute book and had a fun ending! Great way to open a conversation with your kids about jitters before the first day of school and how..." Read more

"...It also opens up a great conversation about how my students felt when they came to school...." Read more

11 customers mention "Gift value"11 positive0 negative

Customers like the gift value of the book. They say it's a great teacher gift.

"...She loved it and will be reading it to her future class! Great gift for teachers." Read more

"...Great gift for a student teacher!" Read more

"...THIS is a great gift for college grades that are in education!" Read more

"...It was a perfect gift for her and her class enjoyed it too." Read more

7 customers mention "Icebreaker"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a good first-day icebreaker. They say it's cute and works well as an icebreaker on the first day of school.

"The kids loved it. Wonderful first day icebreaker" Read more

"...It is a great ice breaker for everyone." Read more

"...It’s a great ice breaker story to ease kids first day jitters and there’s a surprising twist at the end." Read more

"My kids loved the twist at the end. It was a great first day icebreaker to get the students discussing their first day jitters." Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's value for money. They say it offers great quality at a reasonable price.

"...n’t find mine this year so I had to get a new one and this is a great price!" Read more

"Such a great book at a great price!" Read more

"Great value" Read more

"Great Quality for a Good Price..." Read more

Great for teachers!
5 out of 5 stars
Great for teachers!
Immediately read my copy once it arrived to the house. Very good read with an interesting twist.My only issue was that the book got damaged bad on its way here. Spine bent in several places and the corner was warped.
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  • K M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
    Reviewed in Canada on September 16, 2023
    I love this story and finally needed to own it for myself! I changed schools this year so it was perfect to read to my classes on the first day!
  • Bookworm
    5.0 out of 5 stars El mejor libro para el primer día de clases!!!
    Reviewed in Mexico on September 2, 2018
    Compre este libro para mis alumnos y fue todo un éxito. Les encantó!!!!
    Es una buena manera de ayudar a los alumnos con los nervios el primero día de clases.
  • yasu61
    1.0 out of 5 stars 高すぎる。
    Reviewed in Japan on August 25, 2020
    短編集かと思って購入したら、短編がわずか1話でした。これは高すぎますよ。
  • Mary
    5.0 out of 5 stars A lovely book about new beginnings
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 1, 2014
    I love this book! I had to teach an RE topic on Beginnings, the first lesson of which wanted to discuss children's own experience of new beginnings. I was trying to find a book/story to read them about a child's first day ay school. This one is perfect, with a man trying desperately to coax Sarah-Jane out of bed and out of the house to go to her new school. Sarah-Jane is very reluctant - "What if no one likes me, what if I don't like the new school, etc etc. \The great twist at the end of the story is that Sarah-Jane is the teacher! My class loved this and asked me lots of questions about how I felt on my first day at their school.
  • F. Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good jitters
    Reviewed in Canada on July 17, 2023
    Great book for the first week of school.