In this Mommy and Me storytime, I’m reading “Sloth’s First Day of School” from Slumberkins. These storytimes aren’t meant to be perfect or wildly creative—I’m literally recording them for my kids’ iPads—but my kids love these books, and I wanted to share them with you too. This one is all about that night-before-school mix of excitement and nerves, and how routine, planning, and a little reassurance can make “new” feel less scary. We follow Sloth as he sticks to his bedtime routine, dreams about meeting teachers and friends, and then heads into school holding onto his grown-up’s loving goodbye (handshake + hug included). I love how the story makes space for big feelings—“all of your feelings are always welcome here”—and still gently builds confidence with simple, repeatable phrases like “I can do hard things both big and small” and “I will learn and grow.” If you’re navigating anxiety, depression, or just the everyday emotions that come with motherhood and little kids, these easy-read books can be such a comforting tool (and Slumberkins has free printable resources too).