Books for 4 year old about to start school.

Looking at them in Aldi yesterday in the middle aisle. Key stage books phonics and maths 4/6 years.

We used to get the outgoing Reception class to make a welcome book for the incomers.

Is there a slightly older child you know who would make a little book just for him?

Go into a proper bookshop and ask for advice; they know the books children enjoy, and are good to share; leave phonics and maths alone until he is established.
Teaching him to dress and undress himself, recognise his nametapes and his possessions will be far more useful.

Yes I hope that wasn’t what you were thinking Kittylester. Imagine having to work at that all day and then coming home to more.

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Does he know any other children who will be starting at the same school, kittylester?
Perhaps they could meet up in the holidays before they start so that at least they'll know each other instead of it being all strange?

There are several books on A****n, all could be ordered from other suppliers or your local bookshop 😀
www.amazon.co.uk/Need-Know-Before-Start-School/dp/1409597571/ref=asc_df_1409597571/?hvlocphy=1007420&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=310805555931&hvpone&hvlocint&th=1&hvpos&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=gransnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-553732346280&hvrand=10280953476790152692

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202307/medium-319295-c63ca4f8-f1c9-4d5e-bf8f-beebef9669a4.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202307/medium-207917-de696e43-063a-4b44-b17f-ac27e84e15e6.jpeg

I’ve still got this one, such lovely illustrations, mostly still relevant - except for ‘We have our milk’!

There was an article about this 2 years ago that I read... there are probably more recent now.

www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/kids/books/best-books-about-starting-school-b1895831.html

I am old but didn't Alfie have a starting school book? And the Ahlbergs.

Wolfie will be 5 in October, is quite bright but not looking forward to starting school.

He will be one of the older children in the year, lucky him.
DGD was just four and three days. No exceptions to the rules then - if they had kept her back a year the LA said she would start in Y1, not reception anyway so there was no point.
It was mostly play-based learning in reception.

Will there not be other children who have gone to the same nursery who will also be at the same primary school?

Tha k you for your replies.

There will be other children from his nursery going and his big sister will be there. His big brother is just moving on to Senior school.

I wasn't looking for phonics or numbers book suggestions and he can dress himself, recognise his name ect. He is quite proficient at most things.

We are quite au fait with the process, i' had 5 children, he is 3rd of 3 after all. Wolfie, however, has never started school before.

I only wanted to buy him a book like the Ahlberg one but maybe more up to date.

How about The Colour Monster Goes To School?

Ask the school for a reading list. We always had one and we made an activity book for children starting school.
They might be able to suggest something for you to buy.
We did home visits before the child started and looked at the activity book and then assessed them after we knew how much parent input there had been.

I used to have a list of books that we recommended to our starters. There's the good old Topsy and Tim Start School - it's a bit dated but does do a good general outline of a typical Reception day. There was also I Won't Go There Again ( going to look and see if I still have author and whether book is still in print) Rosie Starts School and Bad Boris Goes To School. Let me know if u want authors. The Reception class will probably send a booklet - I used to get photos of chdn on their starter session and email them in the summer holidays as well- especially good for those not too keen. Is it just the lunch times that are bothering him? You can probably have a look at menus on line and recreate 'school dinner times at home - little tray ( school may even lend you one they use) helping himself etc. is he at nursery? Most nurseries are excellent at preparing child for next step with role play areas / uniforms to dress up and so on.

Do the new pupils visit the school for a day towards the end of this term?

There's a Charlie and Lola book about Lola starting school which may help.

Charlie and Lola: I Am Too Absolutely Small For School

Also a Biff and Chip one about Kipper starting school which might be a useful introduction to the reading scheme characters if appropriate for his school.

Biff, Chip and Kipper: Starting School

If there's a chance to take photos of the classroom door - where he'll be delivered and collected, the loos and the dining hall they would be useful to talk about.

His class teacher came to visit, along with the ta, and was really impressed by the fact he can count to 12 - the boy is a genius obviously!!

This one’s quite good -

www.amazon.co.uk/Five-Minute-Mum-Starting-School/dp/0241621321/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&crid=2HOF1S3V9XQLN&keywords=starting+school+books+for+children&sprefix=Starting+school%2Cstripbooks%2C77&tag=gransnetforum-21&qid=1689078326&sr=1-3

Go on Amazon, you can filter age groups and reviews, there will be more reviews than you will get on here.

Do hope you find an appropriate book to help Wolfe begin school with confidence. He will settle I feel sure but even though he has been happy in nursery it is a big change for him .
I am sure he is being given lots of positive vibes from the family. Let him enjoy the summer, he knows he is going to school soon so best not to keep reminding him about it!
He is fortunate that he will be heading for 5 years old , my son was 4 in August and went to school ( not nursery) in September! I knew he was not ready , although he was happy in school he was not ready for the 3 Rs, he was only interested in play . I had to keep reminding his teacher he was only 4 years old! She expected more from him . A year later he applied himself to learning and went from strength to strength!!! I do hope Wolfe settles easily into school, I think he will.

I recommend the web site Love Reading for Kids. Does Wolfie enjoy being read to? If he can see the attraction of books, perhaps he will soon think about reading them for himself. Children do vary and although some may be early readers, the later readers usually catch up.

Witzend - they still have milk in school, free to the under fives, and free fruit each morning in infant classes.

Anno, he loves books and we buy all of them one at the start of each holiday. Which was why a starting school one seemed like a good idea. Thank you for the website recommendation.

He recognises all his letters and their sounds - as I said - he's a genius.

What about the ‘Jake and Jen’ books by Collins. I think you know of the author 🤔 and the illustrations are such fun. Check out their website.

Look on the school’s website page, they might have recommendations on there. Plus see if there’s information about reception on there, we put this information on our website. There’s a photo of the class teacher and TAs, info about what they will do in the first few weeks etc, more importantly make sure he can use the toilet independently, wash hands etc, and label his uniform and book bag.