panda_incognito's review against another edition
3.0
Even though the title is heavy on virtue-signaling, this picture book primarily focuses on the new experiences and anxieties that children will have when going back to school during the pandemic. The illustrations and text are warm and comforting, and Elmo's experiences wearing his mask can help children feel more familiar with this new cultural norm.
This book will serve an immediate purpose for children and families right now, and will be a very interesting artifact for historians to explore in the future. I look forward to reading academic papers someday about the 2020 upsurge in mask-related, viral-related, handwashing-related books in children's literature.
This book will serve an immediate purpose for children and families right now, and will be a very interesting artifact for historians to explore in the future. I look forward to reading academic papers someday about the 2020 upsurge in mask-related, viral-related, handwashing-related books in children's literature.
ellalouise99's review against another edition
3.0
A nice book to help explain to children about wearing masks and coping with the worry of going back to school. Lots of good information for children in a child-friendly and fun way. I would use this book with FS and KS1 children to help them feel less worried.
familywithbooks's review against another edition
5.0
As my daughter was starting kindergarten for the first time in person, we picked this book up in a Scholastic Book Fair. We found that it is a retelling of "Off To School" which we already owned when she began preschool.
This book really helped her see that she was not the only person who gets nervous when starting a new adventure, and it gave her the tools for what to do when those butterflies start going crazy in your belly. It showed her how she will need to wear her mask during the day, and while she can be close to her friends, they cannot hug or hold hands.
In speaking with my daughter afterwards, she felt less alone and scared about the masks, but very jealous that Elmo gets to ride a bus and she doesn't!
This book really helped her see that she was not the only person who gets nervous when starting a new adventure, and it gave her the tools for what to do when those butterflies start going crazy in your belly. It showed her how she will need to wear her mask during the day, and while she can be close to her friends, they cannot hug or hold hands.
In speaking with my daughter afterwards, she felt less alone and scared about the masks, but very jealous that Elmo gets to ride a bus and she doesn't!
pearlinbloom's review against another edition
3.0
Not Caldecott material, but helpful reading for the days we're living in.
Seeing familiar characters wearing masks when out was something M could connect to & maybe reassuring in a way? Normalizes mask wearing & offers a deep breathing example for when Elmo feels excited/nervous. Tips/Reminders in the back.
Seeing familiar characters wearing masks when out was something M could connect to & maybe reassuring in a way? Normalizes mask wearing & offers a deep breathing example for when Elmo feels excited/nervous. Tips/Reminders in the back.
thisknife's review against another edition
4.0
A great book for young kids with friendly characters they're familiar with.
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