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WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. Julian Caranante starts kindergarten at Church Street School on Sept. 5, but Wednesday he attended his first story time at the White Plains Public Library without his mother, Shari. Childrens librarian Rosemary Rasmussen said that can help children prepare for their first day of school.
The Wednesday afternoon story time was for children going into kindergarten and featured books such as Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come.
For some children, its their first time in there alone, Rasmussen said.
Children were encouraged to go in without their parents to simulate the first day of school. Mojgan Eatemad of Scarsdale liked the idea because her son Rodean, 5, didnt attend preschool, and she hopes this will make the transition easier.
This is going to be the first time he goes into a classroom without me, she said.
Shari Caranante said her son did attend preschool but also liked the Going Into Kindergarten story time, which Rasmussen said the library has been doing for years. At first, she said, it was started because the library didnt have enough books with back-to-school themes to go around.
Im sure hell do fine, Caranante said of her sons starting kindergarten. Im very excited. Its a whole new stage.
Even before her first son begins his first year at Church Street School, she said, she is already on the PTA and is helping to organize the spring carnival.
I feel like its a bigger thing for me, she said.
In addition to this and other back-to-school story times this week, the library is playing a video titled "Kindergarten, Here I Come!" on the television in the children's room cave.
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