All About Starting School

By Felicity Brooks & Mar Ferrero

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Felicity has worked at Usborne for over 30 years and has written and edited hundreds of titles from books on tractors to genetics. Mar was a cartoonist before becoming an illustrator and has writtenand published her own short stories. Togother these two experienced and talented people have created a comprehensive, information rich (and very attractive) handbook for all parents and children about to start school.

Topics covered in the 32 pages start with What is School? School can be anywhere, at the kitchen table, under the shade of a big tree, in one small building or several. From there the reader can explore why go to school; getting ready; school activities; what’s in a classroom and more. We find out about going on a school trip, what lunchtime at a school is like, and about different kinds of schools such as boarding schools, schools of the air, choir school, ballet school, a forest school (my favourite). There is even a floating school in Bangladesh – a boat that goes around picking up the students each day.

Important topics are friendships at school, and interacting with peers and these are covered in the main body and also in the excellent Notes for Grown-ups at the back. The notes also talk about encouraging your child, if able, to put on their clothes and shoes, be toilet-trained, and feed themselves. Social and language skills are also mentioned. There is and excellent glossary of important words a child needs to know which are highlighted in the main text.

The illustrations are masterpieces of condensed information presented in an appealing and inclusive way. There is much territory covered in each double page spread but nothing is cluttered, careful design is everywhere manifest.

Highly recommended for parents and early childhood educators.

Usborne GB 2025