Otto Goes to School

Name: Otto Goes to School
ISBN: 9780316186995

Otto Series · Book 1 of 5

For children feeling nervous or excited about starting school, this book offers a colorful, reassuring look at what to expect on the first day.

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About This Book

A parent should reach for this book when their young child is feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety about starting preschool or kindergarten. "Otto Goes to School" follows a charming dog on his very first day, demystifying the experience in a simple, positive way. Author Todd Parr uses his signature bold, colorful illustrations and direct text to walk through common school activities: meeting the teacher, finding a cubby, learning, playing, and making friends. The book acknowledges that it's okay to feel a little scared while focusing on the fun and belonging that school offers. It's an excellent, gentle tool for normalizing fears and building positive anticipation for this major life moment.

Starting School School Life Anxiety & Worry First Day Animals Fear & Bravery Making Friends Friendship & Social

What Parents Should Know

Sensitive Topics

There are no sensitive topics in this book. Its approach is secular, universally positive, and focuses on the common emotional experience of starting school. The resolution is entirely hopeful.

Ideal Reader

The ideal reader is a 3 or 4-year-old about to start preschool who needs a very simple, concrete, and visually bright introduction to what school is. This is for the child who is not yet ready for more complex narratives about school anxiety but benefits from a colorful, step-by-step preview of the day's routine.