Chu's First Day of School

Reach for this book when your child is gripped by first-day jitters and feels like the smallest person in the room. It is particularly effective for children who carry a secret worry or feel they have a 'big' personality or trait they are trying to keep under control to fit in. The story follows Chu, a small panda with a notoriously large sneeze, as he navigates his first day of school. While the book captures the universal anxiety of being the new kid, it uses Gaiman's signature absurdist humor to lower the stakes. It focuses on themes of belonging and the relief of finally showing your true self. Perfect for ages 3 to 7, this is a gentle, funny choice for normalizing the 'what ifs' of starting school and celebrating the unique (and sometimes explosive) impact every child makes on their new community.