Geraldine is a giraffe who feels like an outcast in a world where she is the only giraffe. Indeed, all of the other students at her new school are children. She’s understandably worried about going to school until she bonds on the first day with a girl who’s also an outcast, because she wears glasses, likes math, and organizes her food. Most of Geraldine’s emotions are communicated through her body language and, since she’s a giraffe, she has a particularly expressive neck. Although first-day-of-school jitters is a common theme in children’s books, this one stands out for its unusual characters, and its well-realized theme of learning to accept oneself and to be open to others. (Ages 4–7)