by Derrick Barnes illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Whether you're feeling excited, anxious, curious (or all three at once!) this empowering first day of school picture book will give readers a boost of confidence. From the moment he wakes up on the first day of school, the second-person narration guides this king of kindergarten through milestones of his first day of school "The morning sun blares through your window like a million brass trumpets. / It sits and shines behind your head—like a crown." From greeting his teacher to making new friends, this kind, self-assured, bright Black boy brings joy to his classroom and his family. Derrick Barnes is the award-winning author of Crown: An Ode To the Fresh Cut and I Am Every Good Thing. In everything that he writes, there is a sense of triumph and momentum that begs to be read aloud. Vanessa Brantley-Newton's colorful layered illustrations are a perfect compliment to Barnes' text.

See the Jones Library Antiracism Book List for recommended titles for all ages.