School Jitters? Children's books can be a calming force in all kinds of ways. Below find some A+ new picture books to help you and your child build excitement and downplay anxiety.

Children's books can paint a picture of what to expect as in Robert Newbecker's Wow! School! (Hyperion, $16.95; ages 3-5). The oversized picture book has only two words per double paged spreads crowded with details that picture all sides of school through the eyes of small mountain child, Izzy. Adventures start as she waits for the bus with her father and end as she says goodbye to new friends, she comments enthusiastically on each page, "Wow! Classroom!", or "Wow! Teacher!" or "Wow! Playground!". The author uses few words, but his pictures will inspire parent and child to find many points of discussion.

Three new books introduce brave role models who take on challenges that can calm readers' insecurities.

Charlie hates being the shortest child in Margaret McNamara's How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? (Random, $14.99, ages 5-7) finds Charlie hating his size. His teacher Mr. Tiffin asks students to guess how many seeds a small, medium, and large pumpkin might contain. They estimate and count in all different ways, the author cleverly hiding math lessons inside his story. The surprising results give way to both science and life lessons. Students are shocked to discover the most seeds are in the smallest pumpkin and Charlie tells his teacher, "Small things can have a lot going on inside them."

Jack's Talent (FSG, 16.00, ages 4-7) by Maryann Cocca-Leffler reveals an inner discomfort. Jack's welcoming teacher Miss Lucinda celebrates the first day of school by asking her students to reveal their talents. Miss Lucinda is good at gardening, Michael's an excellent speller and Francesca's savvy about soccer. Jack's turn comes last and he recounts all the marvels he's heard and then tells his class that "he's not going at anything". His wise teacher corrects him, telling him he's good at remembering and Jack's smile is wide as he sees her truth. This is a great book to initiate a talk about the special hidden gifts your child is bringing to school.

Daniel Pinkwater's wacky humor shines through his Yo-Yo Man (HarperCollins, $16.99; ages 5-7). The third grade hero of this book is facing a dismal school year -non-stop spelling tests with Mrs. Mousetrap and continual bullying from Richard Newton. But rescue is just a recess away, for there on the playground is the snazzy dressed Ramon, a Yo-yo champion with all the moves. He distributes books and promises he to return with gold yo-yos for the kids who can do all the tricks. As Richard Newton ties himself in knots, our hero practices constantly until yo-yo pleasures dominates his life. At book's end he stars as a yo-yo champ, but his greater gain is in self-confidence.

A children's book can let you know the rules. That's exactly the plan in Jane Yolen and Mark Teague's eighth collaboration How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? (Scholastic, $16.99, ages 4-7). As the giant reptiles enter school, the author poses a string of rhythmic questions that point to behavior one might expect from a dinosaur. "When he gets to the school does he roughhouse and punch? Does he make a quick grab for a classmate's packed lunch?". Illustrations show these oversized students modeling rude behaviors from being late to talking out of turn. Each picture provides an opportunity for giggles and conversation about correct behaviors. Then questions turn to answers near the book's end as positive commentary and behaviors show tranquil dinosaurs who help classmates, challenge bullies, and clean up class.

Richard Hamilton's Let's Take Over the Kindergarten (Bloomsbury, $15.95, ages 4-6) uses humor to quell worry. In a rollicking, rhyming frenzy of furious kindergarten antics we see how "Miss Tuck got stuck in the jungle gym." Adults are barred from the class and water, glue and paint redecorate the room and the children. Kindergarteners order an early lunch and seem to be savoring the freedom until...fighting and accidents snowball. With a powerful 1-2-3 the children pop their teacher free and after a tearful apology the paint-stained children surround their forgiving teacher who stops for a story "then everything was hunky-dory". The ridiculous situation points out indirectly the calming, secure influence teachers bring to classrooms.

Sidebar:

I visited the Chapel Hill library in summer's heat and found patrons and librarians eager to offer recommendations for school's start.
Elizabeth Welsby, Chapel Hill parent of 3, 5,7
Barbara Park's, Junie B. Jones and The Stupid Smelly Bus (Random, $3.99)
"Though the grammar of this early novel bothered me at first, the humor helped my children ready themselves for riding the bus. We also spent times pouring over pictures about school in Richard Scarry's Busy Day books (Golden Books, $14.99).