Starting School

by Jane Godwin, Anna Walker (Illustrator)

Tim, Hannah, Sunita, Joe and Polly are all off to school for the first time. Would you like to meet them and see how they go? There are new friends to make, fun ways to learn, and lots of different things to discover.

From Jane Godwin and Anna Walker comes this beautiful book focussing on the experiences and feelings of five very different children as they begin at school for the first time.

Jane's simple words and ideas combine with Anna's gentle and detailed illustrations to help children feel comfortable about taking this big step.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, School

30 pages, Hardcover

First published August 9, 2013

About the author

Jane Godwin is the Publisher, Books for Children and Young Adults, at Penguin Books Australia. She is also a highly acclaimed author of many books for children. Her work is published internationally and she has received many commendations. The Family Tree won the 2000 Queensland Premier's Award (Children's Books); Sebby, Stee, the Garbos and Me was shortlisted for the 1999 New South Wales State Literary Award (Patricia Wrightson Prize) and was a YABBA finalist; and The True Story of Mary was shortlisted for the 2006 CBCA Book of the Year Awards, Younger Readers. In 2009 her picture book with illustrator Anna Walker, Little Cat and the Big Red Bus, was a notable book in the CBCA Awards and was also shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Australia Awards, Lower Primary division. Jane's most recent novel is Falling From Grace, and her most recent picture book is All Through the Year, illustrated by Anna Walker, due for publication in October 2010.

Jane lives in Melbourne with her family. Her hobbies seem to have fallen by the wayside a little since she has taken on the role of publisher, but from what she remembers, they were playing tennis, walking, reading (things other than manuscripts), doing cryptic crosswords, talking about the need to do gardening (and sometimes even doing it), cooking, playing piano, spending time with friends and mucking around with family which consists of partner Michael and two adolescents, Wil (19) and Lizzie (17). She still manages the cryptic crosswords, friends and family.

Jane also enjoys working creatively with school students, encouraging them to develop confidence in their own creativity, ideas and abilities.

Reviews

[Katey Flowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of five different kids and how they each settle into school. Great for preparing children starting primary school. Feels very Australian.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I have read quite a few "first day of school" type books this year and found this one to be one of the best for Australian audiences (my all-time favourite for any audience is We Don't Eat Our Classmates!). This is an excellent resource to read to your child as you prepare to start school, or during those early days, with many relateable situations and positive messages.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gentle and intricate journey for those at the cusp of starting school. Each little child depicted brings their own personality and thoughts to the start of their school life, and then we see them settle in and enjoy the bonds that they make with Miss Quick, their teacher, and with their classmates. Jane Godwin's gentle insights are beautiful, and Anna Walker's illustrations are full of life and extra details that can be pored over again and again. This book beautifully snapshots a moment in time in the life of every child who starts school.

[Sarah Gunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

We want our Kinder children to experience a positive transition to school. Knowing what to expect and having the opportunity to explore all the emotions that come with such a big change can be a huge help.

"Starting School" by Jane Godwin is the perfect story for this. Simple, engaging & relatable, it introduces many aspects of school life in a way that is accessible and fun.

A staple in my classroom!

[Siobhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

We bought this book to help my daughter before she started school. It follows a few children as they have their first day at school. The children are quite different so that hopefully most children reading it will be able to identify with at least oned of the characters or their traits. This book is a favourite of ours to gift to our friends starting school.

[Catherine Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable book about 5 youngsters starting school. Beautiful illustrations include lots of school features as well as ideas on what little people can do to prepare for school, ie What will I need? What will I wear? etc. So cute!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nicely done indeed. Great for preparing for starting school. Lots to talk about together. Reassuring and thoughtfully written.