“Little Cliff’s First Day of School”
by Clifton L. Taulbert, paintings by E.B. Lewis
Dial Books for Young Readers, New York, 32 pages, 2001.
The first day of school is usually filled with excitement and anticipation. There are new books for class, new clothes for school and pencils and pens to use in the next grade. However, for children going to school for the first time, it is often a time of dread and fear. What is this new and frightening world that they are going to attend? The parents and grandparents are sometimes anxious as well. Will their little one fit in? Are they mature enough to leave the comfortable family home?
So this big new world is both anticipated and fearsome for many children and parents. Clifton Taulbert writes a charming account of this momentous event in the life of Little Cliff, the protagonist in the story. The name of this warm picture book is “Little Cliff’s First Day of School.”
The day has finally come. Little Cliff’s great-grandmother, Mama Pearl, and his great-grandfather, Poppa Joe, get him ready for the big day. But Little Cliff is frightened and delays getting dressed. He tells Mama Pearl that his shoes don’t fit. But she will have none of that and firmly tells him to get ready.
Poppa Joe is so proud of Little Cliff going to school and wants him to excel. Who knows, someday Little Cliff may become a professor. But Little Cliff has no interest in being a professor and would rather keep playing in his backyard. Finally, Mama Pearl gets him out the door. But she wisely decides to walk him to school.
Dressed in his new clothes, the boy looks fine but feels upset and miserable. What is school like? Will he know anyone there? Can he really succeed in school? Touching his new pencils and tablet of paper, he finally reaches the school yard. This is it. He looks at Mama Pearl and then across the playground. Suddenly, something happens that makes him happy? What is it?
Does Little Cliff have a good first day at school? What makes him glad to be at school? How does this help him overcome his fears? Why does Mama Pearl start crying when she hugs Little Cliff on the playground?
Have you ever seen anxious kindergarteners on their first day of school? What helped them? What finally makes Little Cliff happy to be at school? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this comforting story: “Little Cliff’s First Day of School” by Clifton Taulbert.
This is a great read-aloud story that will be enjoyed at home or at school. Taulbert sets the story in the 1950 South and uses African American dialect throughout the book. The words are soothing to Little Cliff and to readers of the book. The child’s fears could happen in any city in the country. The kindness and love that Mama Pearl and Papa Joe show to Little Cliff is moving. The paintings by E.B. Lewis are realistic and pleasurable to view. This is simply a great book to read to your family at the beginning of a school year. I loved it and think you will as well. Enjoy!
