Books for 4 year old about to start school.

Take him along to your local library and join him up to the SUMMER READING CHALLENGE - a nationwide event which takes place every Smmer holdiays through the UK for priamry school aged children.

The library will have a huge range of books (including audio books), and as he goes through this 'Challenge;' he will get his stickers and finish with a medal and a certificate. Hopefully, also giving him a lifelong love of books and reading.

I love buying books for my grandchildren.
It's nice if you find the ones that excite them.

I've been really surprised at the differences that pop up early on with my own grandchildren. All our own children had a lot of "listening stamina" early on - but two of my grandchildren really do not. They are harder to buy for as they need quite a lot of action (either in the illustrations or the text).

Not really relevant here I suppose except that some children like diffent books to others!
Honestly- talk about stating the obvious!

NotSpaghetti

The colour monster one does have good reviews!

Have fun Wolfie!

Thank you NotSpaghetti.

eazybea, is probably right - but I didn't ask about phonics or maths and have said that he is more than capable of doing all the things he needs to do to start school - as suggested. I mentioned the Ahlbergs as an example of what I was looking for.

World of Books have a great selection of second hand books for children. I have bought heaps for my grand daughter although she is only 10 months! The Works also have great selection of books usually 10 for £10. Lots of books on the matket about starting school which can help allay any worries wee ones have. As former primary teacher - nursery and infants- I would steer clear of the phonics, maths, handwriting, etc books aimed at 4-5 year old. There is plenty to talk about in ordinary story books to cover these early skills. Far more important he can dress and undress for PE, use cutlery, go to the lavatory independently, have good manners, listen to and follow instructions, etc. My boys were lucky as where we live in Scotland the earliest children can start P1 is 4 yrs 6 months and this year all children can have an additional year in nursery and start in P1 Aug 2024 (previously it was only those who were 5 in the Jan or Feb who automatically had this option).

The colour monster one does have good reviews!

Have fun Wolfie!

eazybee

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.

Listen to easybee She is spot on.

I’m a nursery teacher and I feel the Charlie and Lola books are good. Also the colour monster starts school my class love this.

I agree Charlie and Lola are fantastic books. I read them to my DGSs a few years ago.

Thank you Kate - i will look at the website. And, thank you to the people who read the thread before commenting.

Just to reiterate - He is not my child - he is my grandson. DD3 is a totally competent (if not fantastic) mum. Wolfie is fully ready for school.

He has actually met the class teacher at his home. He has also been to a stay and play day.

I just wanted to buy him a fun book about starting school. And, maybe eating the lunches.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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!!

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.

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

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.

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.

How about The Colour Monster Goes To 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.

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