First Grade Stinks! cover

First Grade Stinks!

by Mary Ann Rodman

A relatable, funny back-to-school tale for rising first graders and young children facing new experiences. ★ "Rodman handles the turmoil of school transitions with realism and humor. A good jumping-off book for discussions about differences and change." ― Publishers Weekly , STARRED REVIEW It's the first day of school, and Hayley is excited. Things are different now. She's a first grader! Hayley quickly finds out that first grade is different from kindergarten, but in all the wrong ways. The classroom isn't as bright and colorful. Ms. Gray doesn't seem to smile as much as her kindergarten teacher did, and there isn't enough time to play outside. Finally, Hayley has had enough. "First grade stinks!" she shouts. And fortunately, her compassionate teacher completely understands. Young readers will immediately empathize with Hayley as she struggles--amid unmet expectations, new experiences, and disappointment--to find enthusiasm for the new school year. Awards: Best Children's Books of the Year ―Bank Street College of Education Battle of the Books (Grades K-2) ―Alaska Association of School Librarians Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Primary) ―Kansas National Education Association

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Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?