Beary Contrary! Not This Bear: A First Day of School Story by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

IT WAS BEAR'S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. MAMA GAVE BEAR AN EXTRA HUG AND AN EXTRA KISS.

"HAVE FUN, BEAR. ALL THE BEARS LOVE SCHOOL!"

"NOT THIS BEAR," SAID BEAR.

Bear is not filled with the power of positive thinking. He is sure he'd have more fun at home with Mama.

His perky teacher sees him looking at the art easels and suggests that he hang his jacket in his cubby and try some painting.

"PUT ON A SMOCK LIKE THE OTHER BEARS," SAID MRS. BROWN.

"NOT THIS BEAR!" SAID BEAR.

Bear insists on holding on to his jacket while he paints, and soon it is time for story circle. Mrs. Brown suggests that all the bears like to choose a mat to sit upon. Bear is NOT one of those bears. He prefers a lap for listening to stories. But there is no lap available, so Bear picks a plush toy instead and lets the furry bunny sit on his lap as Mrs. Brown reads a very good story.

At snack time, Bear is NOT one of those bears who like school snacks. But he does like to pass out the napkins. Then it's playtime outside.

"ALL THE BEARS LOVE TO SWING AND SLIDE," SAID MRS. BROWN.

"NOT THIS BEAR," SAID BEAR.

"NOT THIS BEAR EITHER!" SAID ANOTHER BEAR.

But before Mrs. Brown can get too fussed over her very contrary little bear boys, they are busy drawing with sidewalk chalk and careening around and around on the trikes.

It's a good first day of school with a compatible friend, in Alyssa Satin Capucilli's Not This Bear: A First Day of School Story (Henry Holt and Company, 2015), especially with charming illustrations by Lorna Hussey, who catches our contrary bear's first-day fears about school in his telling body language. Lots of little "bears" share contrariness on the first day of school, and this book offers a bit of vicarious experience at being a rookie scholar.