Lena is excited to be starting kindergarten. She’s picked out her favorite clothes to wear—blue dress, pink striped socks, green-flowered headband, yellow shoes—but her shoes are reluctant to go. When Lena’s dad suggests her dress (which is “very outgoing,” according to Lena) talk to her shoes, Lena informs him they don’t get along. Luckily Lena’s headband is friends with all her clothes. Between the headband’s encouragement, and Lena’s suggestion that she might have to wear her slippers if the shoes won’t come, the shoes—and Lena—find their courage. Brown-skinned Lena uses imagination and role-playing to work through first-day-of school nerves, while her supportive dad knows when to step in and when to get out of the way. A fresh, playful story perfectly matched by exuberant, digitally rendered illustrations that use both bright colors and black- and-white lines to wonderful effect. (Ages 3–7)

In the tradition of School’s First Day of School, debut author Keith Calabrese and Pura Belpré Award winner Juana Medina share a sweet, universal story about a clever little girl whose shoes are nervous about the first day of school.

Today is a big day! Today, Lena starts kindergarten. She is very excited. But there’s just one problem…

Lena’s shoes are nervous.

Lena doesn’t want to miss out on her first day of school, but she can’t go without her favorite shoes! How can she convince them to be brave?