There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you. So begins Jacqueline Woodson’s beautiful book, The Day You Begin. This gorgeous picture book will resonate with readers on so many levels — what it feels like to be new, to be unsure, to feel alone. While the book has a somber tone and does not shy away from addressing big feelings, it does not feel sad or hopeless. Instead, it touches on shared themes of belonging and the courage it takes to make that first step into a new environment. Included are multiple opportunities to discuss differences and what it means to be a welcoming, inclusive community.

The illustrations by Rafael López are exquisite, with hidden gems on every page. I would love to see this book used in the classroom with a visual questioning activity. For example, the image of a ruler is incorporated into many of the pages and could inspire some good discussions on what the metaphor might mean in the text. In this illustration it is part of the tree. I anticipate students looking closely at the pages to see where they can find the ruler.

A lovely book to add to the line up for the first days of school. It’s one of those books that can be used across a wide grade span because while the language is simple, the meaning is layered. I can also imagine revisiting this book when there is a new member to the class or to dig into some SEL concepts.

Here is a little bit about what inspired the book by the phenomenal Jacquline Woodson herself.