Example stories · First Day of School · Ages 2 to 4

Rosie's First Little School Day

A read-aloud bedtime story, about 2 minutes.

Rosie had a new yellow backpack. It sat by the door all night, waiting.

In the morning, Rosie's fuzzy slippers went pat, pat, pat down the hall. Today was her first day of little school.

"What if I don't know anybody?" Rosie whispered.

"You will meet somebody new," said Mama. "And somebody new is just a friend you haven't hugged yet."

Rosie held Mama's hand all the way to the little blue door. Pat, pat, pat went her shoes on the sidewalk. Her heart went thump, thump, thump.

Inside, there was a rug with soft circles on it, and a shelf of quiet books, and a window full of morning light.

A boy with a dinosaur shirt was building a tower of blocks. "Want to help?" he asked.

Rosie sat down. Block by block, the tower grew tall. Tap, tap, tap, she set each one gently on top.

There was singing time, with a song about a little duck. There was snack time, with crackers shaped like tiny moons. There was rest time, with soft mats in a cozy row.

Rosie lay on her mat and closed her eyes, just for a minute, and the room grew quiet and warm.

When Mama came back, Rosie ran to her with both arms out. "I made a friend," Rosie said. "His name is Sam. We built a tower."

"I knew you would," said Mama, and she kissed the top of Rosie's head.

That night, Rosie wore her softest pajamas. Mama tucked the blanket up to her chin, snug and warm.

"Tell me about the tower again," Mama said quietly.

"It was this tall," Rosie yawned, and her hand barely lifted off the blanket.

Outside, the moon was rising, round and gentle, over the little blue school and over Rosie's window too.

Rosie's eyes grew heavy. Her breathing grew slow. Somewhere far away, a friend named Sam was falling asleep too, dreaming of block towers.

Tomorrow there would be more singing, more crackers shaped like moons, more soft rugs and gentle hellos.

But for now, there was only Rosie, and her blanket, and the moon outside her window, watching over her the whole night through.

Goodnight, little backpack by the door.

Goodnight, tower of blocks.

Goodnight, Rosie.