On the Way to School

by Vikki Conley, Vikki Conley

"On the way to school, I can see . . . my friends racing just like me. Way up high, we touch the sky. I ride to school. I almost fly." Every day, children all over the world are traveling to school―by bus, by canoe, through valleys, over mountains and snow. How do you get to school? Exploring all the diverse ways that children journey to school across the globe, this book celebrates the universal joy of childhood, friendship, and learning. A wonderful starting point for discussions about other cultures and lifestyles, this book begs to be read again and again!

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published July 4, 2023

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children around the world all have differing means of arriving at school. Whether on a bus, on foot, by boat, or by train, the destination is similar even when the journey is not. And even in extreme weather, children look forward to joining one another at school to learn more about the many secrets found on planet Earth and beyond. This rhyming picture book introduces young readers to the many ways in which children get to school each day. Using a variety of skin tones and settings, this relatively short story features a wide representation of humanity and the civilizations in which humans reside. Though the human body types are fairly uniform across cultures and settings, the varying situations in which people are pictured helps to support a young child’s understanding of the planet's overall diversity. Short, rhyming couplets propel the storyline, and these often invite listeners to complete the rhyme with a word that is somehow pictured on the page. A range of font sizes and creative text placement give the narrative a playful quality that will appeal to readers of all ages. Together, the text and imagery invite readers to investigate and compare the similarities and differences found within this book to their own individual environments. Well-suited to a read-aloud setting thanks to large imagery and a singsong rhythm, this book is a positive addition to storytime collections for very young children.

[Paul Sutter]

This is most interesting book, showing children around the world on their journey to school. The illustrations are most entertaining, and show that the children are most pleased about going to school, greatly anticipating arriving there.
Whether traveling on foot, by boat, on cable cars, zip lines or a variety other methods, children from around the world, arrive at school through various means. It shows how special and unique they are, and although these children are thousands of miles away from many other children, the way they arrive is very interesting and similar.
The book is perfect for children, as it shows diverse cultures and ethnicities, and the joy that children find when they actually make it to school. This is a great learning tool, to show children we are all the same, no matter where we live.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the Way to School is a fun read-aloud that is perfect for preschoolers. The audience sees the myriad ways children get to school across the globe. Happy kids commute to school in diverse settings, some wearing uniforms, some traditional garb, and others contemporary fashions that are universal for little ones. On the Way to School would be perfect for sparking discussion and fostering connections between classmates and with the literature. I can just see a teacher reading this at circle time, then asking the children how they came to school that day and which mode of transport they would most like to try. This could even spark a geography lesson. The possibilities for integrating this picture book into a lesson are endless. And of course you could have these conversations one on one at home, either sharing literature or homeschooling. On the Way to School just begs to be discussed.

[Laura Farrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

All around the world... So many different ways to travel to school! Bus, Car, Boat, Horse and Walk.
A great story to read for an around the world Storytime, suitable for younger readers, with fantastic illustrations to talk about.

Shortlisted for Australian Speech Pathology Book of the Year 2023 - Ages 3-5

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a book to share with kids in helping them widen their world-view! It may surprise them to learn all the different ways kids use to get to school. A perfect springboard for some very interesting discussions with the young people on our lives.