At a glance
AudienceChildren (5-8)
ISBN0062348345
About the Author
Tish Rabe1 book reviewed
On the First Day of Kindergarten
A Fun School Countdown Story
by Tish Rabe
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.
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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 critical coverage describes 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. Critical coverage also notes 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. Critical coverage singles 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.
Summarize this book
Is it worth reading?
Who should read this?
What age is it for?
Tell me about the illustrations
How do I read this aloud?
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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Age & Reading Level
Recommended age
Ages 5–8
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.
Editorial Review
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.
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