10 best books to read with your child before starting school or nursery
As the first day at primary school or nursery gets closer, these are the books to read with your child – to set the scene, describe the routine and reassure that it's all going to be fine – even fun...
A great way to get your child ready for their first few days at school or nursery, and help them deal with the new routine once the Big Day comes, is to find read one of the best books about starting school.
There has been a lot of research into the benefits of storytelling on children, including "enhanced imagination to help visualise spoken words, improved vocabulary, and more refined communication skills," making them the perfect medium for getting your child ready for this big change in their lives and getting them excited for the friends they'll make and the fun things they'll learn and do.
We've rounded up a list of the best options to help you pick the right story for your child. It's also worth checking out our Yoto Player review and Toniebox review for a look at the two leading kids audio players on the market and the stories they each offer. And if you're not sure which audio player to buy, we've got our Yoto vs Tonies article ready to help you decide.
If you've still got to do some school shopping, we've also rounded up the best back to school sales we could find from UK retailers.
Best books about starting nursery or school at a glance
- Best for timeless advice: Starting School, £5
- Best for Hugless Dougless fans: Hugless Dougless Goes to Little School, £6.97
- Best for explaining the school day: First Day at Bug School, £6.50
- Best lift-the-flap book: I'm Starting Nursery, £6.50
- Best for anxious children: I Have to Start at School Today, £7.06
- Best cute read: Come to School too, Blue Kangaroo, £7.75
- Best sticker book: Starting School Sticker Book, £5.99
- Best for fans of Charlie and Lola: I am Too Absolutely Small For School, £5.70
- Best for dinosaur fans: Harry and the Dinosaurs Go to School, £6.99
- Best for interactivity: Wipe-Clean All You Need to Know Before You Start School, £5.92
Best books about starting nursery or school to read in 2024, recommended by parents
1. Starting School, £5
— Best for timeless advice
Age: 3+
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Why we love it: This is the classic starting-school book that walks your child gently through the first term of school. There may be some small things that don't happen so often now (like collecting dinner money) but they're easily left out. What matters most is that the whole book is teeming with reassurance – from the sweet, funny details about what the children do to the lovely rhymes and charmingly old-fashioned pictures. And it's unusual in focusing on the first term (right up to the Christmas play), rather than just the first day or week.
Available from: Amazon
2. Hugless Douglas Goes to Little School, £6.97
— Best for Hugless Douglas fans
Age: 3+
Why we love it: This warmly written book works well for preschool newbies as well as school starters, especially those who are already familiar with the lovely, affectionate Hugless Douglas. It's rooted less in the routine of the school day, and more in the fun you'll have playing with your new friends – though hopefully slightly less chaotically than Hugless Douglas and his pals, who do seem to do a lot of "bottom printing" with poster paints when Miss Moo Hoo's isn't looking!
Available from: Amazon
3. First Day At Bug School, £6.50
— Best for explaining the school day
Age: 3+
Why we love it: This starting-school book stands out for all the funny, bright pictures – all those different bugs hopping and flying and slithering around – and the sweet rhyming text, and goes into super-helpful detail about the routine of the school day, right down to going to the toilets. We also love the map-like bird's-eye-vew of the school on the inside covers: a really good way to show your child all the different rooms there might be at their school – and what they're all for.
Available from: Amazon
4. I'm Starting Nursery, £6.50
— Best lift-the-flap book
Age: 2+
Why we love it: This sturdy lift-the-flap book is fun but reassuring choice for new nursery starters. It's well pitched at the 2-year-old age range and and takes your child through a typical nursery day – from hanging their coat up to playing with toys and doing paintings to having a snack (spin the wheel to change the snack!), listening to story time and then going-home time. And there are some great tips for parents, too!
Available from: Amazon
5. I Have to Start at School Today, £7.06
— Best for anxious children
Age: 3+
Why we love it: This is a great starting-school book for anxious children. The girl in the story keeps thinking of all sorts of wild (and funny) things that could happen when she starts school – from the rhino who'll block the school gate to the bear who'll take her chair – and it takes her sweet, wise granny to reassure her and suggest that the rhino and the bear might actually turn out to be quite nice. Which, of course, they do.
Available from: Amazon
6. Come to School Too, Blue Kangaroo, £7.75
— Best cute read
Age: 3+
Why we love it: This is the 8th title in the adorable series that follows the adventures of Lily and her much-loved blue kangaroo soft toy. It’s time for Lily to go to a new school and she of course asks Blue Kangaroo to go, too. And although he seems reluctant and Lily is worried, the intrepid pair both soon discover that school is a lot more fun than they thought...
Available from: Amazon
7. Starting School Sticker Book, £5.99
— Best sticker book
Age: 3+
Why we love it: This book has more than 100 stickers to stick in the right places as it follows an average school day, from getting dressed and packing your bag to choosing lunch, painting a picture, having story time – and going home time. Worth noting that the children in this book don't wear school uniform (it might be different at your child's school) and it can be a bit gender-stereotypical in places. But it's a a good-quality activity book that absolutely ticks the boxes in all other respects.
Available from: Amazon
8. I Am Too Absolutely Small For School, £5.70
— Best for fans of Charlie and Lola
Age: 3+
Why we love it: A charming starting-school book from former Children's Laureate Lauren Childs, whose illustrations are as cute as a button. Charlie's little sister Lola says she can't join him at school because her invisible friend is too nervous to go. Oozes with reassurance – but do note that some of Charlie's helpful words ("You won't have to wear uniform", for example) may not actually apply to your child and their school.
Available from: Amazon
9. Harry And The Dinosaurs Go To School, £6.99
— Best for dinosaur fans
Age: 4+
Why we love it: A beautifully pitched book about Harry – of the classic storybook Harry and his Bucketful of Dinosaurs – and his first day at school: Harry's excited but a little nervous because he doesn't know any of the other children. And then he has to leave his beloved dinosaurs outside the classroom. But, of course, in the end, it's Harry's love of dinosaurs that saves the day – and makes him new friends...
Available from: Amazon
10. Wipe-Clean All You Need to Know Before You Start School, £5.92
— Best for interactivity
Age: 4+
Why we love it: If you're keen (or your child is) to get in some pen-control practice before school starts, this nicely thought-out pack is just the job. You get a pen that allows your child to practise forming letters and numbers straight onto the pages – all of which can be wiped off again, ready for next time.
Available from: Amazon
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Authors
Helen is author of the classic advice book Parenting for Dummies and a mum of 3. Before joining MadeForMums, she was Head of Community at Mumsnet and also the Consumer Editor of Mother & Baby.
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