Starting school or kindergarten can be a scary experience - for children and their parents. Children can become anxious before starting school or kindy, and common concerns are worrying about making friends, and what do you do at school?
Picture books
Billy and the big new school
Catherine and Laurence Anholt
Billy is about to start at a new school - but he is worried about what school will be like and what the other children will think of him. Billy is so nervous that he has trouble sleeping and eating, and his only real comfort is his bird feeder in his garden. Then on his first day of school Billy finds that he was really worried about nothing.
This is a rather lengthy picture book that would be best suited to a child who is about to start school, rather than a younger child who is about to start kindergarten. This is a warm-hearted story that has loads of comforting images and has a generally positive message about starting school.
Reviewed by Erika.
Recommended for ages 4 +.
Meet the Barkers: Morgan and Moffat go to school
Tomie De Paola
Morgan and Moffat are twin Welsh terriers. Moffat, the girl, knows a lot of things - the alphabet and numbers; but Morgan, her quieter brother, knows how to make friends.
Reviewed by Annie.
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Dumpy at school
Julie Andrews Edwards & Emma Walton Hamilton; illustrated by Tony Walton
Dumpy the truck is a bit scared of his first job away from the farm; Charlie is a bit scared of his first day at school.
Reviewed by Annie.
Where's my peg? : my first day at school
Jen Green; illustrated by Mike Gordon
A reassuring book about a child's first day at school.
Off to school, Baby Duck!
Amy Hest; illustrated by Jill Barton
Baby Duck loves all the important things inside her new school bag - ready for her first day at school - but she still has some worries: what if her teacher is mean? What if she won't make any friends? But Grandpa Duck knows how to help his grand-daughter.
Reviewed by Annie.
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Kindergarten with Teddy Bear
Jacqueline McQuade
Teddy bear is going to kindergarten for the first time. There is painting to do, a snack to eat at break time, and a story from the teacher. A great book for introducing younger children to the idea of kindergarten - it may also help when introducing toddlers to day care.
Reviewed by Erika.
When an elephant comes to school
Jan Ormerod
When an elephant comes to school there are all kinds of things that they have to learn about school. They have to know where the toilets are, and where to hang their bag, they want to know that they have friends, and they have to have lots of cuddles and fun.
This is a bright and cheerful book that will help your child to learn more about what school and kindy are like before they start classes for the first time. Your child can share the good times and the sad times with their new elephant friend.
Reviewed by Erika.
Recommended for ages 3+.
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Pete and Polo's nursery school adventure
Adrian Reynolds
Pete's feeling a bit wobbly about starting nursery school, especially when he finds out all the other children have brown bears and no one has a white bear like Polo. By the end of the day both Pete and Polo think it was their best ever adventure.
Reviewed by Annie.
Tiptoe into kindergarten
Jacqueline Rogers
A little girl tiptoes into her older brother's kindergarten class. She spends the day watching the older children in their activities.
Reviewed by Annie.
Freddie goes to playgroup
Nicola Smee
Freddie's quite excited to be starting playgroup, but Teddy's a bit scared. Freddie has lots of fun during the day - including painting, playing on the slide, and listening to stories.
Reviewed by Annie.
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Timothy goes to school
Rosemary Wells
Timothy is so looking forward to starting school - it's going to be great - but then he meets Claude. Claude wears the right clothes, says the right things, and everyone likes him. Timothy's week just gets worse and worse until he meets someone who understands.
A realistic portrayal of some of the problems of school - and life, really!
Reviewed by Annie.
Tom goes to kindergarten
Margaret Wild; illustrated by David Legge
Tom can't wait to start kindergarten - until his parents start to leave him there. So his mum and dad stay for the day. They have so much fun they don't want to rejoin their 'real' lives, but Tom doesn't need them for reassurance now.
Reviewed by Annie.
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