First day of school, new experiences and making friends play centre stage for this book for the pre-school age.
It is Maddie’s first day of school and she has everything ready – her uniform, shoes, socks and hat. But there is one special thing that Maddie can’t leave behind – her blanky! Award winners Penny Matthews and Liz Anelli team up to bring us this wonderful picture book about the excitement of going to “big” school for the first time.
Book Features:
- Perfect book to prepare preschoolers for "big" school.
- Written by award-winning and much-loved author, Penny Matthews.
- Great for encouraging discussion about first experiences, making friends and growing up.
About the Author
Penny Matthews has written more than thirty books for children and young adults. She writes in a variety of genres and has won many awards, including the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award and the Davitt Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature. She is based in South Australia. Finch, a middle-grade novel, is her latest book with Walker.
About the Illustrator
Illustrator Liz Anelli previously lived and worked in England but now resides in Newcastle, NSW. She has a huge passion for drawing and keeps rows of sketchbooks in her studio. In 2017, her book
Desert Lake: The Story of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre (written by Pamela Freeman) was a CBCA Notable Book and was short-listed for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award, NSW Premier’s History Awards, the Environment Award for Children’s Literature and the Educational Publishing Awards. Her last book with Walker was
Our Stories: Ten Pound Pom (written by Carole Wilkinson).
Industry Reviews
This is a delightful story to share as a family, discussing Maddie's emotions and how she coped with the challenges. * ReadPlus *
A charming story of learning to fit in, of facing fears, of finding friends will appeal to all children. * ReadPlus *
My children love getting glimpses into a Big School classroom through this book. * Oh Creative Day *
Another gorgeously illustrated text, with a splash of mixed media and so. much. detail. * The Golden Adventures *
The excitement of the first day of school, new experiences and making friends are the main themes for this book. Matthews focuses on moments throughout the day that might seem small and insignificant to adults, but are extremely important for children. * Finding Myself Young *
An ideal warm-up story for a preppy fretting about leaving a special comforter behind. * The Geelong Advertiser *
...a well-conceived book that prepares preschoolers for what a typical first day at school may bring. * Books & Publishing *