Jan Stradling (text), and Jedda Robaard (illustrator), Ready, Set, Big School (A Play School mindfully me story), ABC Books, November 2023, 24 pp., RRP $22.99 (hbk), ISBN 9780733342875
I am a huge fan of Play School. It engages young people in all sorts of creativity and develops skills that embrace their learning. Play School. Ready. Set. Big School is another picture book in the series, ‘A mindfully me story’. Maurice is getting ready for school. Big Ted lends a hand and the familiar characters in Play School welcome Maurice. There’s Humpty Dumpty, Jemima, Joey, Kiya, and Little Ted, all who help Maurice get ready for school. Of course the normal nervousness of starting school and meeting many new people, worries Maurice. Luckily Big Ted understands and helps Maurice practice introducing himself before he starts school.
Familiar characters, making friends and the challenge of starting school looms large in Maurice’s thoughts. He not only makes it through the day, but he has lots of fun and things to learn such as reading, building a sandcastle with his new friend Jemima. Maurice ultimately announces to Big Ted that, ‘I like big school.’
This is an enjoyable introduction to Big School.
Suitable for ages from 4 plus.
Reviewed by Susanne Gervay
Read Anna Tran’s review of Ready set big school here.