Note: This is a compensated post, but all thoughts, opinions and first day of school stories are my own.
Tony Baloney is excited!
Today he won’t have to obey Bossy Big Sister Baloney.
He won’t have to play with the Bothersome Babies Baloney.
Today he is going to school!
My kids may not be heading to their first day of kindergarten this year (what a BIG year for both parents and kids!) but they can ALL relate to Tony Baloney and his excitement (paired with a healthy amount of nervousness) about going to school for the first time. We’ve just wrapped up a summer with four kids and two work at home parents sharing the same small space, day in and day out (my oldest worked all summer, so she was actually gone most of the time). You’d better believe that there are a few kids saying, “Thank goodness I don’t have to listen to my bossy big sister…or deal with the little kids!”
I remember when each of my kids started school. I don’t think any of them were as excited to go to kindergarten as AJ was a few years ago. He had been very aware of all of his siblings heading off to school without him (and he always thought that school looked like the epitome of FUN) and he was sad every day when they would leave him alone with me (HA! What the older kids would have done for some one on one time with mom like he enjoyed every day – the grass is always greener on the other side, isn’t it?).
Now, as he enters 3rd grade, he’s (amazingly) still just as excited about heading back to school. He is my kid who cries during the summer that he’s too bored and wishes that he had school all summer long.
Obviously, he’s pretty happy about heading back today.
How do your kids feel about going back to school? Do you have any kids that are starting kindergarten or their first school experience this year?
Before AJ left for school this morning, he read a little bit of a brand new back-to-school book called Tony Baloney School Rules.
About Tony Baloney School Rules
Tony Baloney is finally free from the tyranny of his many sisters only to face a new challenge–SCHOOL RULES! How will Tony ever follow them all? True to his resilient spirit, he discovers a first day of school filled with new friends, good fun, a few foibles, and some fantastic surprises!
Crafted with all the care and detail of a picture book, and bursting with lyrical, laugh-out-loud text and clever, eye-popping artwork, TONY BALONEY SCHOOL RULES is a fun read aloud and the perfect book to ignite budding readers. The irresistible characters spring off the page and will leap into your heart–especially Tony, who children are sure to embrace like a new best friend.
Written by award-winning author Pam Muñoz Ryan and illustrator Edwin Fotheringham
Perfect for Grades K-1 (but fun for kids a little younger and older than that, too)
Published by Scholastic and available in stores and online now!
What I loved about Tony Baloney School Rules:
If you aren’t already familiar with Tony Baloney, he is an adorable penguin who’s just about to go to school for the first time. He has one bossy big sister and two bothersome baby sisters as well as a stuffed animal friend named Dandelion who often echos Tony’s thoughts or gives him wise advice. I love Tony Baloney’s personality – he’s full of spunk and isn’t perfect, but he tries hard to be good (what little boy can resist shouting the word BARF in the middle of class or walking a little too fast on the way to lunch?). Tony’s fears and excitements mirror kids’ feelings as they start a new school year – he is so relatable! Even my 3rd grader loved the book.
Have you ever read Tony Baloney with your kids? What do they love about him?
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I will never forget how excited my son was about his first day of kindergarten. I was crying like a baby and he couldn’t get rid of me fast enough.
What a great book! Your kids looked like they were ready for school :)
This book looks adorable! My kids were so excited to go back to school this year!
I love Tony the penguin! Cute books!