If you have a kid who treats the first day of school like a walk to the gallows, this is their book. It’s a funny, deeply empathetic look at the 'disasters' of third grade—which usually involve things like math, missing friends, and the crushing pressure of being eight years old.

Rachel Vail doesn't talk down to kids. She gets that losing a stuffed animal or getting the 'wrong' teacher feels like a legitimate crisis. It’s a great read-aloud for a second-grader or a solid solo read for a third-grader who needs to know they aren't the only one feeling a bit wobbly about growing up.