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Original poster

Your favourite book about starting school

16 replies

Diospyros · 05/09/2023 16:55

Well, maybe not your favourite, your DC's favourite book about starting school.

I want to send a book about starting school as a gift to a nephew who is starting in reception next week. My DC are grown up and I don't remember any good books about the first day of school from when they were little.

Nothing I've found on Google really inspires me.

Anyone have any recommendations?

OP posts:
nofuturewithout · 05/09/2023 18:03

Billy and the Big New School by Catherine and Laurence Anholt.

Needmorelego · 05/09/2023 18:05

Starting School by Janet and Allan Ahlberg.
I reckon every child should be given a copy with their school application !
It's the best 🙂

Jayneisagirlsname · 05/09/2023 18:05

Boris starts school is lovely and was much enjoyed in this house! In fact all the Boris books are lovely 😊

Your favourite book about starting school

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Children's books General education Primary education
Original poster
Diospyros · 05/09/2023 19:29

Thanks, everyone!

OP posts:
OwlDoll · 05/09/2023 19:33

Don't Go To School https://amzn.eu/d/8N160CM
This book is great for little ones starting school.

https://amzn.eu/d/8N160CM?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum--chat-4888554-your-favourite-book-about-starting-school

RapidlyApproachingEndOfMyTether · 05/09/2023 19:36

Janet & Alan Ahlberg, every time!
Lovely book, lovely illustrations

Original poster
Diospyros · 05/09/2023 19:55

I had thought about the Ahlberg book, it's beautiful, but it seemed a bit old fashioned even when my DC were little 20 years ago 😂Rabbits in the classroom, school assembly with prayers and nativity plays, mums coming into school to teach baking or play the piano for music and movement seems more like my school days (TBF, it was probably written when I was at primary school)! They weren't a thing when my DC were little. Please tell me they don't still have pets in the classroom?

DN is a huge rabbit lover so he will be sorely disappointed to find out there is no rabbit in his class if I buy it 😂

OP posts:
Mummynextdoor · 05/09/2023 19:57

First day at Bug School by Sam Lloyd

Your favourite book about starting school
RapidlyApproachingEndOfMyTether · 05/09/2023 20:03

My kids had caterpillars (and subsequently butterflies which they released) in their classrooms! But no, no class pets! I have heard of a school with a dog though (therapy dog - in a mainstream primary).
They also had people (not parents I'll admit) who came in to play the piano and take singing assembly. And parents coming in to listen to readers. This is all current/recent.
It's true it is an old fashioned book but it's also warm and relaxed and lovely.

Needmorelego · 05/09/2023 20:07

@Diospyros the Ahlberg book is still very realistic. Yes modern classrooms have more tech, children usually have uniforms etc but the day to day school life is very much the same.
My favourite line is "had a look at the toilets". A very important part of the first day at school 😂
There's also so much just happening in the illustrations. There's a mum with a baby bump early in the book - but by the school play at the end...... she's holding a baby. I love that bit.
I love the whole book 😍

thekingfisher · 05/09/2023 20:12

Any of these ??

usborne.com/gb/books/browse-by-category/early-learning/going-to-school

SkankingWombat · 05/09/2023 20:21

Diospyros · 05/09/2023 19:55

I had thought about the Ahlberg book, it's beautiful, but it seemed a bit old fashioned even when my DC were little 20 years ago 😂Rabbits in the classroom, school assembly with prayers and nativity plays, mums coming into school to teach baking or play the piano for music and movement seems more like my school days (TBF, it was probably written when I was at primary school)! They weren't a thing when my DC were little. Please tell me they don't still have pets in the classroom?

DN is a huge rabbit lover so he will be sorely disappointed to find out there is no rabbit in his class if I buy it 😂

I was going to recommend this book too. It is a little dated, but not hugely so as a reflection of my DCs' primary. They have guinea pigs, but in the playground rather than in the class room, and there is a 'pets as therapy' dog who comes in every few weeks. Parents come in to read with the DCs (rather than bake), assemblies include prayers (unfortunately for us as we're not Christian) and many of the same songs I sang at that age. One of the teachers plays piano to accompany the DCs. Nativity plays are still very much an institution of Early Years.

SunsetGirl · 05/09/2023 20:49

We had the Lucy and Tom book which was nice.

JustMaggie · 05/09/2023 21:31

My kids both loved "The kissing hand". It's such a feel good book

Original poster
Diospyros · 06/09/2023 12:51

They are all lovely books but I wanted to avoid any books about being scared or worried about starting school. DN can get anxious (ASD) but he is excited and not at all anxious about starting school so I don't want to plant that idea in his head 😂

The Tom and Lucy book and the Ahlberg book are making me feel very nostalgic (School milk! Music and movement!) but his French DM is horrified about religion/communal worship in British schools and might not be impressed with the hymns and prayers in assembly in the stories. She'll be the one getting anxious 😂

Maybe I should just get him a pencil case or educational book instead! 😂

OP posts:
csiaddict · 06/09/2023 21:28

This isn't about starting school but
Class Two At The Zoo by Julia Jarman is quite a funny story in rhyme about a class of school children who visit the zoo and one by one get eaten by an anaconda before being saved by one of the children.

Your favourite book about starting school
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