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THE KING OF KINDERGARTEN

Derrick Barnes Vanessa Brantley

By the Newbery Honor-winning author of Crown comes a story about a confident little boy takes pride in his first day of kindergarten.
The morning sun blares through your window like a million brass trumpets. It sits and shines behind your head - like a crown. Mommy says that today, you are going to be the King of Kindergarten!

Starting kindergarten is a big milestone - and the hero of this story is ready to make his mark! He's dressed himself, eaten a pile of pancakes, and can't wait to be part of a whole new kingdom of kids. The day will be jam-packed, but he's up to the challenge, taking new experiences in stride with his infectious enthusiasm! And afterward, he can't wait to tell his proud parents all about his achievements - and then wake up to start another day.

Newbery Honor-winning author Derrick Barnes's empowering story will give new kindergarteners a reassuring confidence boost, and Vanessa Brantley-Newton's illustrations exude joy.

Derrick Barnes wrote the critically acclaimed picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, which received a Newbery Honor, a Coretta Scott King Honor, and the 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Award. He also wrote the bestselling chapter book series Ruby and the Booker Boys. He owns the copy-writing company Say Word Creative Communications and created the popular blog Raising the Mighty, where he "chronicles the experience of bringing up four beautiful Black boys in America." He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and their four sons.

Vanessa Brantley-Newton has illustrated numerous picture books, including The Girl Who Heard Colors (by Marie Harris), Mary Had a Little Glam (by Tammi Sauer), One Love (by Cedella Marley), A Night Out with Mama (by Quvenzhané Wallis), and The Youngest Marcher (by Cynthia Levinson), as well as the chapter book series Ruby and the Booker Boys (by Derrick Barnes) and Jada Jones (by Kelly Starling Lyons). She wrote and illustrated Let Freedom Sing and Grandma's Purse. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Book

Published 2019-07-02 by Nancy Paulsen Books

Book

Published 2019-07-02 by Nancy Paulsen Books

Comments

ILLINOIS TIMES included both The King of Kindergarten and The Queen of Kindergarten in a roundup of "Back-to-School Books": "[A] good read anytime your child needs a reminder to straighten their crown." Read more...

There are plenty of reassuring books about starting kindergarten, but this delightfully moves beyond "It will be okay and you might even like it" to a straight out "You will crush this!

CITY MOM COLLECTIVE's Syndicated round "Hello Kindergarten: Tips For Getting Kids Kindergarten Ready" included both The King of Kindergarten and The Queen of Kindergarten: "These books are fantastic, showing how kindergarten is a royally good time!" Read more...

UK: Scallywag Press ; Chinese (compl.): Heliopolis Culture Group ; Chinese (simpl.): Beijing Publishing Group ; French/North America: Scholastic Canada ; French/World, ex NA: Anacaona

Necessary nourishment, infectiously joyous.

This marvelous story will give each reader an opportunity to see themselves as 'the charming, the wonderful, and the kind King of Kindergarten.' Perfect for story time or one-on-one readings, this book is an absolute first purchase.

CHICAGO PARENT included The King of Kindergarten in a roundup of "Back-To-School Books to Read with Kids" Read more...

Upbeat picture book... Includes important milestones such as making friends, sharing, playing together, and going through the school day without any major issues, and Brantley-Newton adds clever imaginative details to these familiar scenes. The illustrations' bright colors reflect the book's positive tone as it conveys the joys of growing up, starting school, and learning school routines. This will make an excellent addition to early childhood classrooms, or as a tool to help future kindergarteners understand what a typical school day can look like. Best of all, this story is free of disasters and jitters, making it an affirming choice for children in need of a confidence boost.

Affirming text and energizing drawings... which skillfully balance bright colors, patterns, and textures, should put a spring in the step of any reluctant kindergartner: who wouldn't want to be thought of as 'the charming, the wonderful and the kind' class sovereign?

BOOK RIOT listed The King of Kindergarten in a roundup of "Picture Books for Back-to-School Jitters": "It's a sweet, poetic little story, and it makes a perfect read-aloud." Read more...

BARNES & NOBLE'S B&N READS BLOG included both The King of Kindergarten and The Queen of Kindergarten in a roundup of "Books for the Backpack: Best Books to Help Prep Your Little One for School" Read more...

A beamingly positive intro to a new experience.Jubilant.

THE ROOT included The King of Kindergarten in a roundup of "Books by Black Authors to Help Your Kids Get Ready to Go Back to School": "Parents and kids will love the positive message as well as all of the beautiful illustrations." Read more...

Necessary nourishment, infectiously joyous.

THE KING OF KINDERGARTEN is a "best books of 2019": The Washington Post BCCB Blue Ribbon