We may only just have broken up for the Summer holidays, but it won’t be long until September rolls around, bringing with it a new school year (or indeed the very start of school) for thousands of children.) For some, this is an incredibly anxious time but picture books can provide a reassuring route into discussing what the school day might look like.

“When your job is to introduce the new person to your school, the first thing you need to do is sound very excited! Always start with the most important spots, like the echo-ey bathroom and an emergency meet-up place, like the big chestnut tree on the playground. Share your favorite memories of recess, show off the million-book library, and don’t forget to introduce the new kid to someone you know, like Gary the classroom fish. Most important of all, remember how it feels not to know anyone and be lonely and scared–and extend an offer to be a friend.”

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‘The Tour’ is a big part of starting at a new school. Usually, this is given by a member of staff who points out the key sights and talks a lot about the school values or the latest Ofsted results. The best tours are usually the ones given by your new classmates or assigned buddy for the day – it’s then that you get the really important information!

Children will thoroughly enjoy reading about ‘the new kid’s’ tour around the school by his very enthusiastic tour guide. Knowing which room has the best acoustics for singing and whom to avoid biscuit trades with is vital information!

Katie Clapham’s gentle use of humour and Nadia Shireen’s vibrant illustrations help give the story a reassuring and light-hearted tone. It also gives readers a real lesson in having empathy for others and being brave enough to share your own experiences with others. I wonder if they can spot when things start to become less scary for ‘the new kid?’

Highly recommended for anyone aged 4+ who is about to start school or perhaps go somewhere new in September. If you’d like to see more books about starting school, take a look HERE.

Jo.

*Many thanks to Walker Books for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour*