All about starting school or nursery

Lulu is very excited to be starting preschool – but what will the day involve? Lulu’s overall positive experience is a gentle read, and even though there’s a little anxiety when Mum leaves, Lulu has her favourite cuddly toy with her, which gives her comfort. 

Vina loves sharing her smile with people, and when she starts school, she discovers that a smile given to her is the best gift of all. Bright and warm, this delightful book is perfect for the transition to school.

Join a colourful array of monsters as they head to school for a fun-filled day, in this energetic rhyming picture book.  

First days at nursery can be really hard for little ones and grown-ups. What Does The Crocodile Say? is a wonderful and emotive picture book that manages to express all the anxieties, along with a happy reassurance that nursery is actually quite fun.

Connie is donning her new red boots for her first day of school. On the way to school, Connie notices something strange inside her boot. Is it a dinosaur? A shark? A funny, reassuring story about dealing with nerves and worry.

A large board book all about going to school, with tabs to pull and questions to ponder. Playful and friendly.

This warm-hearted picture book about making friends is a perfect read for little ones starting school or nursery who might be a bit nervous, reassuring them that there will be lots of other children who will want to make friends.

This wonderfully empowering picture book for little ones not only assuages their possible fears about starting school or nursery but models a celebratory approach to the big day with an upbeat story about being confident.

Bee and Billy are going to nursery! What will the day hold? This sweet book about the potentially anxiety-making environment of nursery focuses on the friendship between little ones that play there together – and is full of wonderfully creative rhyming text.

This stylish book – all about why it’s very wise not to take your bear to school, no matter how afraid you are – will cheer even the most nervous of new pupils.

This instalment of the Princess Arabella series covers the familiar milestone of starting school, with Arabella’s royal twist. Acknowledging that school isn’t quite what some children might imagine it to be is a good message to include…

Mouse does NOT want to go to school and feels sad when she gets there… but will her classmates help her see how much fun it can be? A gentle and sensitive book for nervous little ones.

This bright and funny picture book shows young children that everyone goes to school – even skeletons and monsters. But Skeleton School is definitely a bit different from Human School…

It’s Mae’s first day of school, but she doesn’t want to go. Instead, she climbs a tree and refuses to come down. This charming, stylish and reassuring picture book acknowledges the anxiety that children might have about starting school.

With bright bustling illustrations fizzing with quirky details and insect jokes, this cheery, rhyming introduction to starting school from a unique bugs-eye point of view is reassuring and fun.

Starting School by Janet and Allan Ahlberg is an enchanting picture book for reassuring children who are about to start school for the very first time.

It’s Harry’s first day at school. He and his dinosaurs are very excited and perhaps a little bit nervous.

Find out what happens on the twins’ first day at school.

Olu’s nervous about going to nursery – but luckily his teacher is the very cool Jay! A reassuring, gentle story to allay any worries about this first step.