Starting School

By Jane Godwin and Anna Walker, Penguin Viking, 2013.

‘Tim, Hannah, Sunita, Joe and Polly are all off to school for the first time. Would you like to meet them and see how they go?’

Starting School takes us through all the different parts that make up starting at school, from the first day and meeting other students and the teacher, to an orientation around the school and in the classroom.

The story concludes with a question, ‘What do you like about school?’. This can open a conversation between your and your child to discuss their experiences when they have started school, but could equally start as a conversation about what they think they might like about starting school if they haven’t already. Know the rules in school. Put your hand up. Listen to the teacher. Look after your things. Don’t run in the classroom.

There are look and find elements on the opening endpapers, where we are introduced to the names of the children in the class as well as the teacher, and we see all of their favourite things; possibly what they’ve brought to school on their first day and have in their desks. The closing endpapers show the drawings of each of the children in the class.

The sensitive yet detailed illustrations and gentle description will introduce your child to all the elements that they will encounter when they start school. Go to school with Tim, Hannah, Sunita, Joe and Polly. Find out what they like to do at school and who they are friends with. Go forth and conquer!

Awards

Shortlisted: Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, 3–5 Years, 2014.
Notable Book: CBCA Book of the Year Awards, Early Childhood, 2014.