Wagner's operas inspired this Valkyrie-themed look at the first day of school.Choosing to define Valkyrie as "an ancient Norse goddess who guides and protects heroes" (rather than the more common life-or-death decision-maker for warriors), Auerbach's choice of protagonist is an unusual one that may simply go over the heads of young readers, though they will certainly empathize with her. Off to school to meet kids her own age, Edda is not sure Earth compares favorably to her life back in Asgard. At home, Edda can do as she pleases, whereas at school, she will get a timeout if she doesn't follow the rules. No one wants to share or trade lunches with Edda, who has brought a flagon ofsomething and a huge hunk of meat still on the bone, and she misses the amazing wildlife of AsgardRex the classroom guinea pig is no substitute. But things begin to look up when Edda uses a difficult writing assignment to describe Asgard for her classmates, who suddenly want to know more about Edda and where she lives. Auerbach's pen-and-ink illustrations were colored digitally, giving them a flat, matte aspect. The two worlds are just as incongruous as adult readers might imagine.While this will introduce readers to aspects of Norse mythology, there's not enough detail to satisfy; the questions this will raise far outweigh any comfort those new to school may gain from it. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Adjusting to the rhythms and rules of school can be tough for any kid, but imagine how much of a challenge it is for a young Norse warrior maiden. Edda wants to spend time with people her own age, which is why she asks her kindly papa (though he's never named, with his eye-patch, it's safe to assume he's Odin) to fly her from Asgard to a typical neighborhood elementary school. But making the transition from helping "search the land for unruly monsters" to sitting still in class and waiting in line for the slide is asking a lot. Auerbach-an accomplished editorial artist with an approachable line drawing style and a sly, sympathetic wit-makes a terrific children's book debut in this folklore-meets-first-day story. He doesn't get too specific with his Norse inspirations (Edda's magical home is as much Adventure Time as Asgard), but Edda is a fresh, funny twist on the kid who can't quite find a groove. While most readers won't have access to a dragon to help smooth the way for themselves, they should find her story encouraging. Ages 4-8. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Even though Edda, the littlest Valkyrie, has plenty of fun in Asgard, it would be a whole lot better with a friend. Her understanding and wise father, Odin, flies her to Earth on his eight-legged horse for her first day of school, but Edda immediately has trouble fitting in. First of all, she is not used to sitting still (in Asgard, she chases wolves and talks to narwhals all day). Then, no one wants to trade lunches (a leg of lamb has limited lunchroom currency). Finally, she has to write in a journal when all she wants to do is daydream about dragons. But those daydreams make for a great journal entry, and before she knows it, she has a friend. Auerbach hilariously depicts often-grumpy Edda, always wearing armor and a winged helmet among her T-shirt-clad classmates, in spare and cheerful line drawings. Little ones on their way to school for the first time won't need to know anything about Wagner's Ring Cycle to sympathize with this Nordic tyke learning how to behave in class.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2014 Booklist

Edda's home is in Asgard, "a land full of magic and adventure." But Edda, the littlest Valkyrie, doesn't have quite enough to do, until her father flies her "all the way to Earth for the first day of school." The contrast between home and school is hard to get used to (in one, she can ride reindeer; in the other she gazes through glass at the classroom guinea pig). In his first picture book, Auerbach mingles the two worlds unapologetically. Children are likely to appreciate the joke. MY TEACHER IS A MONSTER! (NO, I AM NOT.) Written and illustrated by Peter Brown. 40 pp. Little, Brown. $18. (Picture book; ages 4 to 7) Brown, who won a 2013 Caldecott Honor for "Creepy Carrots!," can really make a teacher look terrifying. Ms. Kirby is as enormous as a rhino, with pointed teeth and big clawed hands. She stomps around and yells, and Bobby, one of the boys in her class, has gotten on her bad side by throwing a paper airplane. Later, when they meet by accident in the park, it's awkward. But "a gust of wind changed everything," and Bobby learns that appearances are not always as they seem. PLANET KINDERGARTEN By Sue Ganz-Schmitt. Illustrated by Shane Prigmore. 32 pp. Chronicle. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 7) After careful preparations and a successful blastoff, a boy finds himself in a very unfamiliar environment. "We're aliens from many galaxies on Planet Kindergarten," he reflects as he sees his very varied classmates for the first time. Prigmore, who designs for the movie industry, deploys black backgrounds, bright, popping colors and crazy layouts to give this space adventure visual excitement and madcap humor. THE SMALLEST GIRL IN THE SMALLEST GRADE By Justin Roberts. Illustrated by Christian Robinson. 32 pp. Putnam. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) It makes sense that the author of the long, rhyming lines in "The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade" is a children's music performer. This is a ballad, really, about the power of one small person to fight injustice. Sally, whom no one ever seems to notice, is "paying super extra special attention" to the "terrible stuff" happening around her. When she decides to take action, she's not alone for long. Robinson's colored-pencil illustrations give this inspiring story an appropriately childlike style. AND TWO BOYS BOOED By Judith Viorst. Illustrated by Sophie Black-all. 32 pp. Margaret Ferguson/Farrar, Straus & Giroux. $16.99. (Lift-the-flap picture book; ages 4 to 8) Ever felt quietly confident one minute, and a shivering mess the next? In Viorst's witty story about perseverance, a little boy wakes up thinking about singing his song in the class talent show. Blackall, who brings quirky expression to every illustration, shows him under a lift-the-flap patchwork quilt, eyes wide with excitement. But as he waits to perform, even his words get confused: "On the talent of the morning show, I was ready to song my sing." Just doing it turns out to be the solution. ONLINE A slide show of this week's illustrated books at nytimes.com/books.

PreS-Gr 1-Edda is a Valkyrie who helps her family find monsters, but deep down Edda wants to spend time with someone her own age. Edda's father takes her to a school on Earth, where things are very different. When Edda has difficulty adjusting to how things are done on Earth, she finds a way to share her life with the children in her class and make new friends. An upbeat score and animation timed at just the right places make this a fun adaptation, perfect for helping with firsts and finding bravery. © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.