“'Butterflies In My Stomach” Cures School Daze

Parents will always remember their little one’s first day of school. There’s picking out their favorite outfit, taking lots of pictures, and waving as they set off on new experiences. Few parents know what’s going on in their child’s head as they face the rather intimidating first day.

Even though a child may beg every day to ride the big yellow school bus, actually looking up at it can be a daunting prospect. Even more nerve-wracking is going to a big building with new people, teachers, and authority figures. Let’s face it, for a newbie, being the new kid on the block isn’t always easy.

Help parents identify with the chip on their child’s shoulder in a clever way with Butterflies in My Stomach and Other School Hazards by Serge Bloch. Told in a series of idioms, this book is the best thing since sliced bread, and addresses the fact that sometimes, no matter how much children think they want to go to school, the first day puts kids between a rock and a hard place.

The idiom starts with the one we’ve all heard a million times: the little star of our story got up on the wrong side of his bed. His mom kindly suggests he not bottle up his feelings and, because a picture is worth a thousand words, we are treated to a picture of a very little boy in an even smaller bottle. Another picture features the Big Cheese principal (dressed entirely in Swiss cheese) scolding a classmate who has ants in his pants.

The boy’s recess is interrupted when it rains cats and dogs. Along the way, plenty of people try to offer him some sage advice, in idiomatic fashion of course. The nurse says she will keep an eye out for him, complete with her holding an enormous eyeball over the young lad’s head. The bus driver admits that school can sometimes be a tough nut to crack, but assures the lad that every cloud has its silver lining.

He may have started the day a doubting Thomas, but the little guy is happy as a puppy with two tails when he returns home. Apparently his own puppy, Roger, is also excited as he, too, sprouts two tails for wagging.

While the illustrations are essentially crude line drawings, in some ways it makes the story more relatable. The simplicity will likely make parents think twice about the message they send their children every day. It’s easy to forget just how literally children take what adults say. Imagine too what a kid thinks if he carpools to school!

Stock Butterflies in My Stomach and Other School Hazards along with back-to-school supplies for parents who may be turning a blind eye to their child’s fears. Little kids won’t look a gift horse in this mouth when they get this book on their special day.

If teachers frequent your store, consider offering this as a tool for them to ease the fears of elementary school attendees. For those teaching older kids, consider advertising this with other educational materials as the perfect way to learn about idioms and turns of phrase.

Consider also offering this with the follow-up book, Reach for the Stars: And Other Advice for Life’s Journey, which features the same little boy and his faithful dog. While it’s designed for older children, it may be destined to be a classic like Oh the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss, and therefore useful as a clever graduation gift.

Turn over a new leaf at http://www.sterlingpublishing.com/kids-catalog?isbn=9781402741586