"It's my favorite program of the whole year because kids, parents and grandparents are upbeat and happy about this most momentous occasion, the first day of school," says Karen Flores, the children's librarian at the Willard Branch Library.

Upcoming August programs at three of the branches in the Springfield-Greene County Library District focus on easing the separation anxiety experienced both by the parents and the new student. "We tell the children and the parents reassuring stories about going to preschool and kindergarten," said Flores, the mother of two girls, Lauren, a fifth-grader, and Isabella, a four-year-old preschooler.

"We plan these programs to prepare the parents and kids for this natural succession in a child's life in a fun way. We write the student's name on Popsicle sticks, one letter at a time, and it becomes a little puzzle that their parents help them figure out. We have the kids color a frame to take home so that parents can take pictures of the first day. We make tags for their backpacks."

The librarians also explain listening and other basic school skills. "And, best of all," says Flores, "we read stories to them that make them understand that others go through this same anxiety about going to school."

Books about the first day of school are plentiful on the shelves. Flores's favorite is "The Night Before Kindergarten" by Natasha Wing. "It's the same rhyming scheme as the popular Christmas poem, but with different words."

The book starts off: "The night before kindergarten as they prepared for bed, the kids were excited and a little bit scared. They tossed and turned about in their beds while visions of school supplies danced in their heads."

The book ends: "The children all waved from the door of the school. Don't cry, mom and dad, kindergarten is cool."

Another children's librarian, Tracy Biggers, likes "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn. The popular picture book tells the story of Chester the raccoon, a reluctant first-time kindergartener. His mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him.

Another book, "Take a Kiss to School" by Angela McAllister follows Digby whose mother sends him off to school with a pocket full of kisses.

And then there's the funny "Kindergarten Rocks" by Katie Davis which uses cute cartoons, knock-knock, dinosaur and wacky jokes and tongue-twisters to ease first-day jitters.

GET READY FOR KINDERGARTEN for ages 5-6
Saturday, August 2, 2 p.m., Willard Branch
Monday, August 4, 10 a.m., Midtown Carnegie Branch
Sunday, August 10, 3:30 p.m., Library Center

GET READY FOR PRESCHOOL for ages 2-5
Saturday, August 2, 10 a.m., Willard Branch
Sunday, August 10, 2 p.m., Library Center
Monday, August 11, 10 a.m., Midtown Carnegie Branch