For families preparing a child for kindergarten — especially one approaching the first day with excitement or nerves — On the First Day of Kindergarten delivers a cheerful, functional entry point. Its New York Times bestseller status reflects genuine broad appeal, and its sing-along structure gives caregivers a low-pressure, festive way to preview school life. Critical reception is measured, however: coverage acknowledges the book "basically gets the job done" while describing it as "a fairly bland treatment" compared to the earlier The Twelve Days of Kindergarten by Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis, which uses the same structural format. Families seeking deeper emotional exploration of first-day anxieties may want to supplement with other titles, but as an accessible, participatory back-to-school companion, Rabe and Hughes's version is a solid choice for those new to the format.

Best for ages 4–8, with kindergarten-age children (around 5–6) at the heart of the intended audience. The picture-book format, rhyming cumulative verse, and simple vocabulary are calibrated for early readers and the caregivers reading to them — the text is accessible enough for a pre-reader to follow along by singing, and familiar enough for early kindergartners to engage independently.

Tish Rabe

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Reviewed

August 19, 2026

Read Time

8 min read

Age & reading levelAges 5–8

Reader rating

4.8

· 3,072 Amazon ratings

reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score

$7.14 on Amazon

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On the First Day of Kindergarten

On the First Day of Kindergarten by Tish Rabe Review: A Sing-Along School-Day Countdown

by Tish Rabe

On the First Day of Kindergarten is a New York Times bestselling picture book by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Laura Hughes and published by HarperCollins, that adapts the structure of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" to walk young readers through twelve milestone moments of starting kindergarten — from riding the bus to a zoo field trip — in an upbeat, cumulative sing-along format designed for children ages 4–8.

$7.14 on Amazon

Interior page from On the First Day of Kindergarten: A Fun School Countdown Story: young child with brown hair wearing blue clothing and red ladybug-shaped backpack standing on path near trees and mailbox

Interior spread from On the First Day of Kindergarten: A Fun School Countdown Story: five illustrated children in a classroom with art supplies, potted plants, globe, bulletin board with shapes, and colorful storage boxe

Interior spread from On the First Day of Kindergarten: A Fun School Countdown Story: adult with orange hair reading picture book to four children of different ethnicities sitting on floor near bookshelf

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LuvemBooks Verdict

Best for

Parents, caregivers, and early-childhood educators looking for a festive, sing-along read-aloud to ease kindergarten-age children (roughly 4–8) into the idea of starting school, especially as a back-to-school gift or orientation companion.

Worth it if

Worth it if you want a participatory, low-pressure way to preview kindergarten milestones — bus rides, classroom activities, field trips — through a cheerful adaptation of a tune children already know and love.

Skip if

Skip it if you already own Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis's The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), which uses the same structural conceit to similar or richer effect, or if you're seeking a picture book that digs deeper into first-day anxieties rather than celebrating the fun side of school.

What readers & critics say

Kirkus Reviews calls it "a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis' The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003)" while conceding it "basically gets the job done" for its target audience. Publishers Weekly highlights the book's participatory design — noting that day five's "singing a song" line is "designed to be belted out à la 'five golden rings'" — and praises Laura Hughes's mixed-media illustrations for their "rough-and-tumble cast of scruffy-haired kindergartners in brightly colored outfits."

“A fairly bland treatment compared to The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), but it basically gets the job done.”

— Kirkus Reviews

“Day five is all about 'singing a song' — a line designed to be belted out à la 'five golden rings.'”

— Publishers Weekly

Sources: Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, YA Books Central

4.8from 3,072 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score

Preview the book

Interior page from On the First Day of Kindergarten: A Fun School Countdown Story: A child with brown hair in a blue polka-dot shirt jumping over a rope, arms raised, smiling, against a light blue background with typewri

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On the First Day of Kindergarten by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Laura Hughes, adapts the cumulative structure of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" to walk young readers through twelve milestone school experiences — from riding the bus to a class field trip to the zoo — in an upbeat, sing-along format that turns back-to-school nerves into something festive. A New York Times bestseller with broad appeal among parents and caregivers, it works best as a participatory read-aloud or back-to-school gift for children ages 4–8, though families who already own the earlier The Twelve Days of Kindergarten by Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis may find the ground familiar, as both books share the same structural conceit.

Is it worth reading?: For families preparing a child for kindergarten — especially one approaching the first day with excitement or nerves — On the First Day of Kindergarten delivers a cheerful, functional entry point. Its New York Times bestseller status reflects genuine broad appeal, and its sing-along structure gives caregivers a low-pressure, festive way to preview school life. Critical reception is measured, however: coverage acknowledges the book "basically gets the job done" while describing it as "a fairly bland treatment" compared to the earlier The Twelve Days of Kindergarten by Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis, which uses the same structural format. Families seeking deeper emotional exploration of first-day anxieties may want to supplement with other titles, but as an accessible, participatory back-to-school companion, Rabe and Hughes's version is a solid choice for those new to the format.
Similar books: Readers who enjoy On the First Day of Kindergarten's warm, rhyming picture-book style will find a natural next stop in Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss, which similarly uses bouncy verse to frame a child's journey into new experiences. For another richly illustrated, character-driven picture book with broad age appeal, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson offers a memorable cumulative narrative with its own sing-song rhythm. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle are two foundational read-aloud titles that share the same bedtime-to-nursery age range and are favourites for lap-reading alongside a young child. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak rounds out the list for families who want a picture book with a slightly deeper emotional undertow beneath its playful surface.
Who should read this?: On the First Day of Kindergarten is designed for children roughly ages 4–8, with its sweet spot among kindergarten-age readers and the adults reading to them. It is particularly well-suited to parents, caregivers, and pre-K educators looking for a participatory, low-pressure way to talk about what kindergarten looks like — covering the bus ride, classroom activities, and field trips in a context that feels celebratory rather than instructional. Readers who already own The Twelve Days of Kindergarten by Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis may find the content overlapping, but those new to that format will find this a cheerful and accessible entry point.
What age is it for?: Best for ages 4–8, with kindergarten-age children (around 5–6) at the heart of the intended audience. The picture-book format, rhyming cumulative verse, and simple vocabulary are calibrated for early readers and the caregivers reading to them — the text is accessible enough for a pre-reader to follow along by singing, and familiar enough for early kindergartners to engage independently.
Tell me about the illustrations: The artwork is entirely the work of illustrator Laura Hughes, who mixes pencil, paint, and digital media to create what reviewers describe as "a rough-and-tumble cast of scruffy-haired kindergartners in brightly colored outfits." The resulting spreads — characterised as ink, paint, and collage digital work — depict children showing a variety of emotions, with most appearing happy to be at school, and a diverse cast of kindergartners in recognisable school settings. Reviewers also note that "the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools," giving the illustrations a grounding, reassuring quality alongside their liveliness.
How do I read this aloud?: The book is structured as a sing-along that maps onto the melody of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," so caregivers who know that carol can simply substitute Rabe's kindergarten verses. Reviewers single out day five, "singing a song," as specifically "designed to be belted out à la 'five golden rings'" — meaning caregivers should lean into a big, theatrical delivery there. Each new day adds to the cumulative list, encouraging children to chime in and repeat the growing sequence, making the read-aloud naturally participatory even for pre-readers.

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Summarize this book

On the First Day of Kindergarten is a picture book by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Laura Hughes and published by HarperCollins, that transplants the cumulative structure of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" into a kindergarten setting. A young girl moves through twelve days of school, with each new day adding a fresh experience to the growing list: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and finally heading to the zoo on a field trip. The sing-along format is deliberately participatory — day five, "singing a song," is designed to be belted out in the style of "five golden rings" — making the book as much a performance as a read-aloud. A New York Times bestseller, it aims to transform the potentially anxious occasion of starting school into something celebratory and song-like.

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This review covers the book's content, structure, and published critical reception — not hands-on use or classroom testing.

What the Book Is and How It Works

On the First Day of Kindergarten is a picture book by Tish Rabe, illustrated by Laura Hughes and published by HarperCollins, that transplants the familiar cumulative structure of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" into a kindergarten setting. Rabe follows a young girl through twelve days of school, with each new day adding a fresh experience to the growing list: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and finally heading to the zoo on a twelfth-day field trip.

The format is inherently participatory—critics note that day five, "singing a song," is "designed to be belted out à la 'five golden rings,'" making the book as much a performance as a read-aloud.

The Sing-Along Structure as Both Hook and Teaching Tool

The book's cumulative design serves a dual purpose: it mirrors the repetitive, rhythm-driven way young children absorb new information, and it transforms what could be an anxious occasion — the first week of school — into something festive and song-like. Reviewers call it "an upbeat, readily sing-able portrait of the fun side of kindergarten," and the book has earned a New York Times bestseller designation, reflecting broad appeal among parents and caregivers preparing children for the school transition.

The construction of the verse is deliberate: each new school experience slots neatly into the carol's escalating structure, giving children a scaffold to anticipate and repeat along with the reader.

Illustrations by Laura Hughes

The artwork is the work of illustrator Laura Hughes, who mixes pencil, paint, and digital media to create what reviewers describe as "a rough-and-tumble cast of scruffy-haired kindergartners in brightly colored outfits." Reviewers note that the resulting spreads — described as ink, paint, and collage digital work — depict children showing a variety of emotions, with most appearing happy to be at school, and that "the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools."

The illustrations are credited entirely to Hughes; Rabe's contribution is the text.

Critical Reception and Honest Limitations

Critical opinion, while largely positive about the book's functional appeal, is measured rather than effusive. critics acknowledges that the book "basically gets the job done" for its target audience of children ages 4–7, while also noting that it represents "a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis' The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003)" — a direct predecessor in the same format. That comparison is worth flagging for readers who may already own the earlier title: On the First Day of Kindergarten occupies similar territory and uses the same structural conceit.

Reviewers also quote a passage from the book's verse — "Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you're / with friends" — as representative of its friendly, reassuring tone.

Who This Book Is For

The book is designed for children roughly ages 4–8, with its sweet spot among kindergarten-age readers and the adults reading to them. Its school-countdown premise makes it a natural back-to-school gift or orientation companion, particularly for children approaching their first day with a mix of excitement and nerves.

The sing-along format gives caregivers an easy, low-pressure way to discuss what kindergarten looks like — the bus ride, the classroom activities, the field trips — in a context that feels celebratory rather than instructional. Readers who already own the Rose and Armstrong-Ellis Twelve Days of Kindergarten may find the ground familiar, but those new to the format will find Rabe and Hughes's version an accessible and cheerful entry point.

Sources & Further Reading

The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.

Cited in this review
1
On the First Day of Kindergarten by Tish Rabe
publishersweekly.com
2
On the First Day of Kindergarten: A Kindergarten Readiness Book For Kids | Barnes & Noble®
barnesandnoble.com
3
On the First Day of Kindergarten by trish rabe Book Reviews - YA Books Central
yabookscentral.com
Further reading
4
ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN | Kirkus Reviews
kirkusreviews.com

Age & Reading Level

Recommended age

Ages 5–8

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who it suits

Best for: Ages 4–8 — picture-book format and cumulative sing-along verse are calibrated for pre-readers and early kindergartners reading with a caregiver.

Skip if you're looking for a picture book that explores first-day anxieties with emotional depth rather than upbeat, sing-along celebration.

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Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Dr. Seuss

Same celebratory tone for big childhood milestones; rhyming verse reassures young readers that new adventures — like school — are exciting, not scary.

If you loved On the First Day of Kindergarten for its upbeat, sing-along approach to a child's first big school milestone, Oh, the Places You'll Go! is the natural next read. Dr. Seuss uses bouncy, cumulative rhyme to celebrate the thrill — and occasional wobble — of stepping into unfamiliar territory, which maps perfectly onto the kindergarten jitters Tish Rabe's book addresses. Both books are perennial gifts for children starting a new chapter, and both use humor and rhythm to make that transition feel exciting rather than overwhelming. Parents searching for books like On the First Day of Kindergarten to read at a kindergarten send-off or first-day-of-school bedtime will find this a crowd-pleasing companion. Ideal for ages 4–8.

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The Gruffalo

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Cumulative, rhythmic storytelling in picture-book form; the repetitive structure trains early literacy the same way Rabe's countdown format does.

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Goodnight Moon

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Iconic repetition-and-ritual structure for young children; soothes transition anxiety the same way Rabe's countdown reassures kindergarten newcomers.

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar

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Counting and sequencing woven into a joyful narrative — directly mirrors Rabe's countdown structure while also sneaking in early numeracy skills.

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Where the Wild Things Are

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A landmark picture book about a child navigating a big, unfamiliar world and returning safely home — the same emotional arc as Rabe's first school day.

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The Alfie Treasury

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Warm, episode-based stories about a small child's first experiences of nursery and neighborhood — a gentle prose companion to Rabe's school-day celebration.

Not your thing?

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Green Eggs and Ham

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If the song-style repetition felt too structured, this offers the same rhythm and humor with a looser, character-driven chase — funnier, less classroom-formal.