Is your child anxious about starting kindergarten? Kindergarten is a big transition for children, and it can be hard, especially in the beginning. One of the best ways to prepare your child for kindergarten is to set aside a quiet time when you and your child can sit down together and read books about others who are dealing with the same fears. The library offers many books about starting school and starting kindergarten. Here are just a few. You might find your own anxieties calmed by reading these wonderful stories! Check out the San José Public Library catalog for these titles and others about starting school.

Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner by Amy Schwartz

Although some of the things her older sister taught her at home seem a little unusual at school, other lessons help make Annabelle's first day in kindergarten a success. Amy Schwartz "provides a funny, balanced view of the emotions experienced by a child just starting school."

Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come by Nancy Carlson

The first day of Kindergarten is finally here, and Henry can't wait to paint pictures, sing songs, and practice counting. Sounds like a great time!

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

The main character in this story is very worried about what will go wrong on the first day of school. Will anyone like her? Will she know anyone? It will be hard! I just know I'm going to hate it! There is a twist at the end when readers discover it's actually the teacher who has first day jitters. Children will be amazed that they're not the only ones who worry about starting school.

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

Wemberly, a little girl mouse, is terrified at the thought of school. On her first day she meets a new friend who is also worried. The two of them help each other get through the day.

Yes, another blog about children's author Mo Willems. Mr. Willems is well liked by many library employees and I must confess I think he is great also. You can't miss with his delightful Knuffle Bunny series of books and his Pigeon books are so funny. Now Mr. Willems has a new Easy Reader series starring Gerald the Elephant and Piggie, and my favorite in this series is Are You Ready to Play Outside? Piggie wants to go out and play but when it starts to rain she becomes very upset because you just can't play in the rain! Gerald tries to help in any way he can until the two of them learn from some ecstatic worms that playing in the rain can be great fun! If you're looking for an easy Easy Reader for that new reader in your family please try the Elephant and Piggie books. They have simple dialog, great pictures and they are funny too! Now, meet and listen to Mo Willems as he talks about his books and characters:

Cat the Cat, Who Is That? by Mo Willems is a great book for kids who are learning to read. Cat the Cat introduces us to all of her friends like Mouse, Duck, Fish, and to a special new friend at the end of the book. It is a good book to share with a beginning reader as it has many words that are repetitive and also basic words like cat, fish, etc. It uses many words that sound similar and the illustrations are not complex. Try looking for the pigeon, he’s seems to pop up when you’re least expecting him. Also check out this great presentation by the author.

It's that time of year when parents are looking for schools for their new kindergartners - but it their kindergartner really ready for school?  Many parents are opting to delay their child's entry into kindergarten by a year based on the recommendations of the teachers.  One of the most important of the skills and abilities that your child should have before they enter kindergarten for the first time is to be able to sit still for at least 5-10 minutes.  Bringing your child to storytime may serve as a useful gauge to see if they can cooperate with other children, can sit for longer than 5 minutes, can listen to a book, and can follow instructions - all of which are skills necessary for a successful time in kindergarten.