Archie and Pip: The First Day of School

As animalian siblings Archie and Pip prepare for the school year’s start, each grapples with different anxieties while drawing strength from their bond in this straightforward back-to-school story. Headed to kindergarten, pink pig Archie worries about whether he’ll be able to sit still all day. Meanwhile, rising first-grader Pip, a blue platypus, wonders whether Archie will make so many new friends that he’ll forget about Pip. Nerves simmering, they revisit favorite summer spots with friends and gather school supplies until, at last, the anticipated day brings before-school photos and “one last high five for good luck!” Wodarz’s conflict-free plotting has a reassuring effect, concluding in a day that goes off without a hitch while presenting school as both fun and doable. Richards’s playful cool-toned cartoons emphasize the siblings’ anchoring affection alongside a friendly, small-town vibe. Ages 4–7. (June)