Description
On a day that feels both ordinary and daunting, a child steps into a new room where they don’t yet know anyone—and where it’s easy to feel different, unseen, or alone. With lyrical clarity and tender honesty, the story explores the small, brave moments it takes to reach out, introduce yourself, and risk connection even when fear is loud. Through vivid, expressive illustrations, the book captures how belonging can begin with one step, one conversation, and the willingness to share your story. Celebrated for its lyrical voice and emotional resonance, this collaboration between Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López reminds readers that being an outsider is universal—and that courage can turn uncertainty into community.
Available Editions
paperback
Penguin
Published Aug 28, 2018
34 pages
ISBN: 9780399246531
Reviews
1 rating
Community Reviews(1)
Ms. Woodson’s The Day You Begin has been on my radar since this past spring and it did not disappoint! I teach first graders and when I finished the story with them I felt like we didn’t just enjoy a story, but we became better humans and a stronger class community! We have a student who just moved here from Peru last year and he saw himself in Rigoberto in the pages. That experience is priceless in itself! I highly recommend this story to build relationships with your class as a whole and then pass it to a colleague to do the same! Our copy has been in four other classrooms already and hope to get all my colleagues in building to do the same!
Details
First Published
2018
Language
eng
Content Warnings
No content warnings identified.