Preschool, Here I Come!

June 24, 2019
Steinberg continues his series of celebratory books about school milestones with a collection of short poems about preschool. Joven illustrates a diverse group of students with rounded faces, beadlike eyes, and bold expressions. The children are seen participating in a wide range of activities throughout the school year, from spelling to playing horses in the gym (“We pretend the gym is a racetrack”). Classroom practices are also portrayed: a list of rules, and spreads that show kids washing hands and sharing, let readers know what to expect. Steinberg conveys the passing of time by showing the children engaged in seasonally themed projects; in autumn, “we pile up the pumpkins./ Some are little, some are plumpish./ Some are big and some are skinny.” A final scene shows the students as they graduate. Next stop, kindergarten! Ages 3–5.