22 Jan Book Review: Do you know a youngster about to start school?
Do you know a youngster about to start school? There are some great new books available to help ease the introduction.
Starting School
All About Stating School
by Felicity Brooks, illus. by Mar Ferrero, an Usborne Book, pub. HarperCollins, h/b RRP$19.99. Ages 3+
Usborne books are always fun and interesting, and this one is packed full of facts and other information for any child about to start on their learning journey. Illustrated with little cartoonish children doing everyday things at school, it answers just about every question a small child might want to know, from ‘What is school?’ through ‘who works there?’ and ‘making friends’, to words to use such as ‘book bag’ and ‘lunchtime’. There’s an addendum for adults, which suggests that reading this book with your child will help fill in the bits of information the child might never ask about!
How to Go to Big School
by Sarah Ayoub, illus. by Mimi Purnell, pub. by HarperCollins, h/b RRP$24.99. Ages 3+
Unlike the Usborne book, this is a story about a child’s first day at school. It follows a small girl through her first day and covers a lot of important things to know. There’s the lunch box, handwashing, sun hats and making friends – all done through rhyme. The illustrations are colourful and blocky in style, featuring a range of ethnicities as well.
“You’ll need your sun hat for outdoor play,
a bottle of water that’ll last all day,
a bag to put the whole lot in
and a uniform to fit right in”
How to Have the Best School Year Ever
by Jess Saunders, illus. by Andrea Onishi, pub Affirm Press, h/b RRP$22.99
This ‘back to school’ style of book takes a different view of a school’s returning because it is designed to refresh and provide positive intentions at the start of every new school term or year for younger children.
Speaking directly to the child, the author provides lots of positive thoughts, goals and ideas to get through the highs and lows of school. Hopefully, to help them develop resilience and to have the ‘Best School Year Ever’. Cute illustrations match the encouraging words that cover many ethnicities.
The Pigeon Has to Go to School
by Mo Willems, pub. Walker Books, h/b RRP$16.99. Ages 3-7
Willems is an award-winning, prolific American illustrator/writer of children’s books (amongst other achievements). He has written many stories about the Pigeon. His first book: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! was adapted into a short video in 2003. Now The Pigeon Has to Go to School.
He frets about maths, learning the alphabet, heavy backpacks, and what the teacher and other birds will think of him.
Soft tones, gentle humour, and familiar experiences make the following stories a delight for youngsters. With expressive artwork and easy-to-follow text, they invite the beginning of a lifelong love of picture books.
I’m Very Busy (a nearly forgotten birthday book)
by Oliver Jeffers, HarperCollins, h/b RRP$24.99 Ages 3+
Another prolific illustrator/writer, Jeffers is known for his distinctive illustrations, which use white space and simple, colourful drawings to tell the story. Bridget sets out on her lovely day to be with friends, only to find they were all too busy doing other things – more important things – until one friend, Pearl, realises that they had all forgotten that it was Bridget’s birthday. What was more important than that?
“It was a lovely day to spend with friends after all.
Friends who would NEVER forget a birthday,”
Also see our reviews for Meanwhile Back on Earth and What We’ll Build: Plans for Our Together Future, Where To Hide A Star.
If We Were Dogs
by Sophie Blackall, Hachette Aust, h/b RRP$24.99, Ages 3+
This book follows her most recent one If I was a Horse.
The first page spread shows two children playing by hiding under a table and asking, ‘If we were dogs, what kind would we be’?
This is a sweet story of childhood and imaginary play that develops into a game of ‘big dogs’ and ‘small dogs’. It unfolds as the children follow each other’s moves: when one does doggy things, the other does, too. Eventually, the ‘small dog’ tires – he wants to be a duck now.
Sophie has written over 50 books for kids and has twice been awarded the Caldecott Medal, in part for the exceptional illustrations that accompany her stories.
