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8 min read
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4.8
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On the First Day of Kindergarten by Tish Rabe Review: A Sing-Along School-Day Countdown
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.
Tap to enlargeLuvemBooks 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 Weekly4.8from 3,072 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
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.
In This Review
- What Works & What Doesn't
- What the Book Is and How It Works
- The Sing-Along Structure as Both Hook and Teaching Tool
- Illustrations by Laura Hughes
- Critical Reception and Honest Limitations
- Who This Book Is For
What Works & What Doesn't
What Works
- New York Times bestseller with demonstrated broad appeal among families preparing for kindergarten
- Clever adaptation of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' creates a naturally sing-along, participatory read-aloud experience
- Covers a wide range of real kindergarten milestones — from the bus ride to a class field trip — giving children a concrete preview of school life
- Illustrations by Laura Hughes blend pencil, paint, and digital media to depict a diverse cast of kindergartners in recognizable school settings
What Doesn't
- Critical coverage finds it a comparatively bland treatment alongside the earlier Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003) by Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis, which uses the same structural format
- The cumulative sing-along format, while fun, keeps the storytelling light — families seeking deeper emotional exploration of first-day anxieties may want to supplement with other titles
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 —critical reception notes 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 surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.”
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. Critical coverage calls 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.
Interior illustration spread showing children and adults in a classroom setting with school-themed decorative elements and activities.
Illustrations by Laura Hughes
The artwork is 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." Critical coverage notes 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. Critical coverage 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. Critical coverage also quotes 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.
Front cover featuring a circular illustration with a fingerprint design and school-themed imagery.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is On the First Day of Kindergarten worth buying for a child starting school?
The review describes it as an accessible and cheerful entry point for children approaching kindergarten, particularly those facing the first day with a mix of excitement and nerves. It has earned a New York Times bestseller designation, reflecting broad appeal among parents and caregivers. At its current price, it works well as a back-to-school gift or orientation companion, though readers who already own a similar title may find the ground familiar.
Who is the target audience for this book?
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 especially useful for children approaching their first day of school, and the sing-along format gives caregivers an easy, low-pressure way to discuss what kindergarten looks like in a celebratory context.
What is the main theme of On the First Day of Kindergarten?
The book's central theme is transforming the potentially anxious occasion of starting school into something festive and song-like. By framing kindergarten experiences through a cumulative carol structure, it presents the fun side of school — bus rides, friendships, classroom activities, and field trips — in a way that feels celebratory rather than instructional.
How is the book structured?
The book transplants the familiar cumulative structure of The Twelve Days of Christmas into a kindergarten setting, following a young girl through twelve days of school. Each new day adds a fresh experience to a growing list, mirroring the repetitive, rhythm-driven way young children absorb new information and giving them a scaffold to anticipate and repeat along with the reader.
What school experiences does the book cover across its twelve days?
The review lists the twelve experiences as riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and heading to the zoo on a twelfth-day field trip. Each experience slots neatly into the carol's escalating structure.
Is this book good for read-alouds?
The review highlights the book's participatory, performance-like quality, noting that critical reception describes day five — singing a song — as designed to be belted out in the style of five golden rings from the original carol. The cumulative sing-along format makes it as much a performance as a read-aloud, which is a key part of its appeal.
What does the writing style sound like?
The review quotes a representative passage — Fast is fun, and slow is too, as long as you're with friends — as an example of the book's friendly, reassuring tone. Critical coverage calls it an upbeat, readily sing-able portrait of the fun side of kindergarten, suggesting the verse is deliberately constructed to be accessible and rhythmically satisfying for young children.
Who illustrated the book and what does the artwork look like?
The illustrations are by 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 — described as ink, paint, and collage digital work — depict children showing a variety of emotions, with most appearing happy to be at school.
Will the illustrations feel familiar to children who have visited their school before starting?
According to the review, critical coverage notes that the surroundings depicted in the illustrations will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools. This grounding in recognizable environments may help ease children's anxiety about what to expect on their first day.
How does this book compare to The Twelve Days of Kindergarten by Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis?
The review flags a direct predecessor in the same format: The Twelve Days of Kindergarten published in 2003, which critical coverage calls a fairly bland treatment compared to that earlier title. Readers who already own the Rose and Armstrong-Ellis book may find the ground familiar, as both titles use the same structural conceit of adapting The Twelve Days of Christmas for a school setting.
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
publishersweekly.com
- 2
- 3
- Further reading
- 4
kirkusreviews.com
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