Not This Bear

Submitted by Ms. Jill!

Not This Bear: A First Day of School Story by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Lorna Hussey. It’s Bear’s very first day at Bear School! Mama assures him that all the little bears love school, but Bear says “Not this bear,” because he loves staying home with Mama. When it’s time for art, Mr. Brown the teacher encourages Bear to put on a smock like all the other bears, but Bear says “Not this bear,” because he’s not quite ready to let go of his own familiar jacket. At circle time, everyone likes to sit on a mat and hear a story, but “not this bear,” because Bear always sits on Mama’s lap for stories. Things go a little better  until it’s time for recess, when all the little bears want to run and play and swing and slide, but “not this bear,” because it’s all just a little too noisy and wild for Bear on his first day. But when someone else says, “Not this bear, either,” Bear finds a friend who’s feeling a bit shy and quiet just like him. By the end of the day, when Mr. Brown asks if everyone is ready to go home, “not this bear!” comes the answer, because school is too much fun! Not This Bear is a sweet and reassuring story about first-day nerves that won’t scare little ones with terrible disasters or mean bullies. Mr. Brown is a gentle, understanding teacher who doesn’t push, and Bear finds his own ways to join in the classroom fun despite feeling unsure. See this book listed in our catalog