"A Place Called Kindergarten" by Jessica Harper tells of a boy's first day of kindergarten through the eyes of barnyard animals who aren't quite sure what kindergarten actually is. The book is full of reassuring themes to help young children prepare for their first day of school.

For some children, adjusting to the school year doesn't happen immediately upon walking into the classroom. Various concerns and worries may exist for several weeks or more. Whether your child is experiencing some difficulty with this adjustment or perhaps one of their classmates is having some trouble, books can help address this situation.

Today's reviewed books provide three distinctive scenarios to adjusting to academic life. Of equal importance, these books act as a way to open lines of communication between parent and child, provide an understanding for the individual, develop the capacity to understand others and ease concerns. Sounds like a worthwhile investment of time to me. How about you?

The following book is available at many public libraries."My Name Is Yoon" by Helen Recorvits; illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska; Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 32 pages; read aloud: age 5 and older; read yourself: age 7 and older.Yoon and her family have recently moved to America from Korea. Yoon doesn't like her new home and wants to go back to Korea. Her parents tell her she will learn to like America, but Yoon isn't convinced.Before Yoon goes to her new school, her father shows her how to write her name in English. But Yoon resists; she doesn't like the way it looks written in English. Yoon's teacher wants her to write her name on her paper, but Yoon writes other words instead; cat, bird, cupcake — things she wishes she could be so she could go away from this place or at least be able to make friends. Then one glorious day, Yoon does make a new friend and suddenly things look different, bright and possible.Beautifully written and illustrated, this inspiring story provides a slice of what it's like to adapt to change and find happiness in a new place among new friends.

<B>Library:</B> Saxonburg Area Library, 240 W. Main St., Saxonburg<B>Library director:</B> Steve Twentier<B>Children's programmer:</B> Judy O'Brokta<B>Choices this week:</B> <B>"Junie B. Jones"</B> series by Barbara Park; <B>"If You Give a Pig a Pancake"</B> by Laura Joffe Numeroff; <B>"I Hope You Dance!"</B> by Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers

The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>"A Place Called Kindergarten"</B> by Jessica Harper; illustrated by G. Brian Karas; Putnam, 2006; 32 pages; $15.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 5 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8.The animals in the barnyard are waiting for Tommy, the boy, to come down from the big house. Every day, Tommy comes with special treats for each of the animals, spends time talking and singing, then he plays ball against the wall of the barn. But today is different — Tommy doesn't arrive at the regular time. The barn animals are worried.Suddenly the dog saunters by and tells the barn animals that Tommy has gone away in a big yellow bus to a place called kindergarten. No one seems to know where or what kind of a place kindergarten is, and the barn animals fret all day long about Tommy. Then later that day, much to the animal's delight, Tommy comes home and tells them all about his extraordinary day at that place called kindergarten.Full of humor, optimism, and reassurance, this sensational book is perfect for children who have recently gone off to kindergarten and for younger siblings waiting at home for their return.<B>"Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind"</B> by Judy Finchler & Kevin O'Malley; illustrated by Kevin O'Malley; Walker, 2006; 32 pages; $16.95 hardcover; read aloud: age 7 to 8; read yourself: age 8.Principal Wiggins says that he'll dye his hair purple and sleep on the roof of the school if the students read 1,000 books by the end of the school year. Miss Malarkey thinks reading "is about the finest thing a person can do," and she promises her students that she will find each of them a book that they will love.That may be more difficult than she thinks; some students prefer math or lacrosse or art or video games. One boy in particular likes "aliens, race cars, funny jokes, chewing gum, hot sauce, and doing cannonballs at the pool," but he hates to read. Will Miss Malarkey be able to find a book that he loves, too, or will he be the reason Principal Wiggins doesn't dye his hair and sleep on the roof?Promoting a great message in a very comical way, this clever book resounds with lots of good stuff.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached via e-mail at kendal@sunlink.net.