Starting School

by Allan Ahlberg, Janet Ahlberg

Janet and Allan Ahlberg's classic, Starting School. From first day nerves to finding your peg, this reassuring read is full of humour and fun for children and parents alike. A classic picture book which offers advice and enjoyment for the whole family before school starts. Allan Ahlberg, a former teacher, postman, plumber's mate and grave digger, is in the super-league of children's writers. He has published over 100 children's books and, with his late wife Janet, created such award winning picture books as EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM and THE JOLLY POSTMAN - both winners of the Kate Greenaway Medal. He has also written prize-winning poetry and fiction and lives in Bath.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, School, Fiction, Back To School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Allan Ahlberg was one of the UK's most acclaimed and successful authors of children's books - including the best-selling Jolly Postman series. Born in Croydon in 1938, he was educated at Sunderland Technical College. Although he dreamed of becoming a writer since the age of twelve, his route to that goal was somewhat circuitous. Other jobs along the way included postman (not an especially jolly one, he recalls), gravedigger, plumber, and teacher.

Ahlberg wrote his first book when he was thirty-seven, after a decade of teaching - a profession that he maintains is "much harder" than being a writer. He says that if he hadn't become a writer, he would have loved to be a soccer player. He was married for many years to fellow children's author Janet Ahlberg, with whom he often worked. Their daughter, Jessica Ahlberg, is also a children's author.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute story that begins with the first day of school, and continues until the Christmas holiday. This would be a great book for younger kids who are wondering exactly what happens at school. The Ahlberg's illustrations are adorable.

[Alyssa Casto · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book would be great to read to the class on the first day of school because it's a preview of what the students can expect for the school year.

[Neha Jain · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book focuses on places/ activities that children may see & do in the school rather than the emotions they experience.

And as this book is not set in the Indian context, I find that my child is not able to relate to many of those activities like collecting dinner money, having a pet in the school etc.

Emotions, on the other hand, are universal. Children are excited as well as apprehensive of going to a new place like school. Telling the kids that it turns out alright is what I want such books to do. This book doesn't fully make my kid feel that way!

[Ree Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book with my children before each has started preschool has been a joy, and a beautiful ritual. The book has helped inspire them to look forward to the adventures ahead, and eased their nerves about the great unknowns. Although as other reviewers have noted, it is very English and Christian in terms of what happens at school, it is also a great way to start a conversation on how the experience of school differs around the world, and what will happen at the school the child you are reading it to will attend.
I particularly love that some of the kids are enthusiastic and fly into all activities, while others are more reserved, and need to think and observe things for a while before joining in.
Beautiful illustrations with lots for kids to find within each page. Another gorgeous book from the Ahlbergs.

[Clwseattle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather than being just about what happens when starting school, Starting School goes through the whole year ... up until Christmas. It's quite a gentle book and the illustrations reflect that.

[Jessica Jeffs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant book - perfect for a reception class! Helps the children to settle into their first year of school, showing them all the exciting things that they will be able to do within their first year.
Would be great to attach some of the features from the story to your classroom routine.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet but rose tinted and definitely dated

[Zoe Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to read to children once they start school. Transition book

[Jaimie Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enchanting picture book for reassuring children who are about to start school for the very first time. The colourful pictures and large, simple text make Starting School a great book to share.

[Poppy Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous story that covers lots of the things little ones will be doing on their first term of school. I can tell we'll be reading this a lot between now and September!

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the first few pages, I thought this was just a cute story that would help kids learn what to expect when they start school. But then it got weird. First, whatever school these kids are going to is a lot fancier than any preschool/elementary school I have ever heard of. They teach kids to swim, cook, dance. . . and they pray? Must be a private school, but either way, this isn't going to give most kids a realistic expectation of what they will be doing at school.

Second, the authors make an attempt to convey multiculturalism by showing children with a variety of skin tones, ethnic names, and ways of dressing. However, they all pray the same prayer and celebrate baby Jesus in the school play. I wonder how the sari-wearing Sushma felt about that? This is an older book and there are definitely better options for books about kids starting school.

[David Mensah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the book and wondered what the point of it was. However,on reflection I remembered that the writers target audience is children. Then a thought a bit more carefully to consider how the book would read from a child's perspective. I realised that if I was a child then the book would have a lot of relevance to my daily life. As a child I would be interested to know that their are other characters like myself doing exactly the same as I do. The book captures the initial excitment of starting school and then enters into the mundane routine that it can become.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard the authors went to an actual school and illustrated and wrote about what they saw for this book. It is definitely in depth!
It assumes the school is Christian~~the kids say their prayers and at the end "do a play about baby Jesus."

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

A group of kids start kindergarten. The book is nice in that it walks you through a day at school, the second day of school, a week, and special events. Good for calming nerves. Does have a semi-religious theme, such as a prayer before school, Christmas pagent about the baby Jesus, etc.

[Kristi Biltoft · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book brought in multicultural and also religious points of view into the idea of starting school. It is a good book to help little ones with adjusting to school from the first day all the way up until Christmas break.

[Emily Augustus --Louisville KY · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book for the beginning of the year when preschoolers are just starting school. It gives them an idea of what goes on during the day, and throughout the year. It can help ease any worries they may have.

[Hillingdon Libraries]

Find this book at Hillingdon Libraries

[Sienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's excellent for reception children because there's fun pictures and it's about when they start school, there are easy words too.
My favourite part of the book is the page with the home corner because it has a bed and ironing board which is nice for children to play in.

[Cana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mommy says: Cute, friendly book about starting school with lots of tiny, detailed pictures for kids to look at as parents read.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

the children got ready for the first day in school. They did some painting and END UP IN A MESS!!!

[571 · Rating 4 out of 5]

PreSchool-Grade 1 SLJ
multicultural school experiences, comprehensive story about what kids can expect in Kindergarten. uses repetition, good illustrations
preschool- Kindergarten

[Molly Darr]

This is a great read for the first day of Pre-K. Reading this book with help calm your students nerves. They will be able to connect with the children in the book and feel more relaxed at school.

[Jennifer (sullivan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book/Non Fiction

I liked how the book was illusrated with all the different things that can happen at school. I think most young biys and girls will enjoy it too.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An iconic picture book that is now largely a social document of its time - it's fun to reread every few years and see how much has changed, and how much has stayed the same.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

talks about children being nervous for school. would be a good book to read on the first day, so that children realize that they aren't the only ones nervous.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

so darling!

[Mfoot]

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