Starting School (Picture Puffins) [Paperback]

Janet Ahlberg (Author), Allan Ahlberg (Author)

Book Description

Series: Picture Puffins

This story describes what going to school entails. It aims to calm anxieties and encourage the enthusiasm of pre-school children.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In what amounts to both a primer and a catalogue of a schoolchild's "firsts," the Alhbergs have combined a pleasing design with salient bits of information, driven home by a band of roly-poly children. The level of schooling is not referred to, so this works for either preschoolers or kindergartners. A variety of scenarios are imagined and depicted: one child weeps on a teacher's lap, while parents, too, shed a few tears on the way out the door. Singing, learning to read, cleaning up the room, getting used to a rabbitthe day is over before the children realize it. The next day, those who had been accompanied by their parents only 24 hours earlier head out to school on their own. Each day and week of the semester is packed with activities and realities: the children are not always happy, teachers not always serenegrumpiness is part of the school term, too. Children looking at this book will sense the Alhbergs' honest approach; this is a generous and sprightly view of school. Ages 2-6.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1 The first four months of school for eight first graders are chronicled in wonderful watercolor detail. Lines of text interrupted by numerous small pictures, perfect for sharing in laps or small groups, show a multi-racial class of children getting used to things on ``The First Day''a book corner, a box of dress-up clothes, the toilets, lockers, classroom routines, and saying goodbye to parents. Three other parts, ``The Second Day,'' ``Time Goes By,'' and ``Christmas Comes,'' follow with learning to read and write, show-and-tell, and the class rabbit who is finally named Ronald. Numerous pictures show the small school obstacles that each five year old must overcome. However, no book can depict the first year of school accurately for all audiences. Here, toilets flush with pull chains, children say a prayer at mealtimes and ``put on a play about baby Jesus'' at Christmas, dance in the gym in leotards and slippers, and swim each Friday in the school pool. Still, this school is a friendly place, and children everywhere share at least some of the experiences pictured. Susan Hepler, formerly at Windsor Public Library, Conn.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Penguin UK (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014050737X
• ISBN-13: 978-0140507379
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,297,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > First Day of School

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Detailed and informative pictures and text, February 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Starting School (Picture Puffin) (Paperback)

The pictures are detailed and interesting, showing kids doing just about anything you could do in the early weeks of school---circle, outdoor play, lunch, reading, assembly and even fighting! The text takes you step by step from the first day of school to Christmas break. A note---this school seems like a private religious school, as the children do pray and put on a play about Baby Jesus. One annoying part is the repeated repetition of a whole list of children's names---I am not sure what the point of this is---each time they are referring to the group of children they list each of the nine names---tiring when reading aloud! But an enjoyable good and a good introduction to preschool or kindergarten.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and useful too, April 23, 2007

By 

Susan A. Jones "Mumtothreegirls" (Penarth, Wales and St. Louis USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Starting School (Picture Puffins) (Paperback)

This is a great book for a child nervous about (or excited about) starting school. The original book is British, which explains the references to saying a prayer in assembly and a Christmas nativity play (common in a British state school, unlike an American public school). Most of the experiences of the children, however, are similar to those in an American school. British children start school at age 4, so the children appear young, which makes the book work for an American kindergartner or one starting nursery school or day care. These authors are great - daily events are presented in a matter-of-fact, and yet charming, way! and we recommend their other books too!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great for preschool prep, August 6, 2006

By 

Ann T. "Ann" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting School (Picture Puffin) (Paperback)

Another sweet, adorable book from the Ahlbergs. I was looking for a book to prepare my son for preschool and could only find books that focused on the negatives (being nervous, being homesick). This book follows a group of 8 kids and shows all the fun that they have, casting school in a very positive light. I also liked that the children were ethnically diverse - although I was surprised to see several religious references (the kids pray in (the apparently public) school, and at the holidays put on a play about Jesus).