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Starting School

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Starting School Booklist

On this booklist we have picked a selection of recommended books to read to children starting school for the first time. It’s normal for young children to feel all sorts of emotions about starting in Reception, from excitement and anxiety to apparent indifference – and picturebooks can be a great way to open up conversations about those feelings. Here are some of the best children’s books about starting school.

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Janet & Alan Ahlberg
Picturebook

A classic picture book by Janet and Alan Ahlberg, all about a class of children starting school. The story walks through the experiences of the first term of school for a group of children, exploring the different activities and equipment they come across. A gently positive story that also explains that starting school is about more than just the first day!

Anna McQuinn
 & Rosalind Beardshaw
Picturebook

Lulu is going to pre-school for the first time. She has visited school before with Mummy, but this time she will go on her own. She’s excited, but a bit nervous. She gets dressed, packs her bag and makes sure she has her cat Dinah with her. When Lulu gets to school, she quickly settles and makes a friend with Mummy watching close by. When Mummy leaves, Lulu is nervous. Will she find the courage to head off to play again? And how will she feel when Mummy returns to pick her up?

Caryl Hart
 & Rosalind Beardshaw
Picturebook

A fun and gentle introduction to expectations about what to do when you go to school. When a dragon goes to school, will she stamp her feet, hide from the teacher or throw crayons around? Or will she choose to put her belongings on her peg, enjoy the toys and books and eat her lunch politely with her friends? A lovely exploration of how to enjoy the routines, relationships and responsibilities that come with being big enough for school.

Lydia Monks
Picturebook

It’s the first day at school for Mouse and she has already decided that she doesn’t want to go. The teacher sets a challenge for the new children and before long, Mouse finds out plenty of interesting and fun things about her classmates. A gorgeously bright and cheerful picture book exploring feelings of shyness about starting a new setting, from the illustrator of What the Ladybird Heard.

Anna Llenas
Picturebook

Colour Monster is heading to school – but he is not really sure what exactly school is. Is it a spooky castle filled with terrifying animals? Or perhaps a place in the sky, amongst the rainbows and clouds? With a little help from a friend, Colour Monster soon finds his feet at school and throws himself head first into lots of exciting activities.​This is a perfect for the first day of school when children are feeling nervous, as well as being a story that can open discussions about feelings associated with starting something new.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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