Books to help your child cover the basics before they start school.
Find more resources on preparing for school, including recommended books and a loanable school pack.
Miss Molly’s School of Making Friends
Laura Cowan
The thought of making new friends turns Kerry Koala’s tummy upside down. But luckily Miss Molly’s treetop school is there to help.
Here Kerry will learn how to start conversations, take turns and play fairly, and work through disagreements and apologise – as well as understand different kinds of friendship and how they can change and grow.
A perfect way to start conversations with children about making friends, with humour, fun and a cast of lively animal characters.
Hello, Friend!
Rebecca Cobb
‘Hello, Friend!’ tells the story of one relentlessly big-hearted and enthusiastic little girl who is insistent on befriending a certain little boy. And why wouldn’t he want to be friends with her?
She’s very good at sharing – in fact, she insists on it, even if it’s a sandwich that he doesn’t like. And she’s certain that being outside is their favourite thing to do, however reluctant he looks.
But while he doesn’t seem keen on many of the things that she loves to do, first impressions can be deceptive, and there is one thing he’s very keen on after all – being friends.
I’m Going to Make a Friend
Darren Chetty
Moving to a new neighbourhood comes with many challenges especially when it comes to making new friends.
Will they play how I want to play? the young narrator wonders. Will they hug me when I’m sad, or give me space?
So many questions! But in the end, the only plausible thing to do is to dive in and give it a try.
A Better Best Friend
Olivier Tallec
In this comedic picture book exploring a forever childhood question about friendship, squirrel and a mushroom explore the forest through the seasons, show each other special trees, build snow mushrooms, share the good times and bad-which become good bad times alongside a friend.
Then spring arrives, and so does a new friend. And then another. This raises a profound question for an overthinking squirrel: should we have just one best friend? After much drama, Squirrel doesn’t find an answer-the friends keep coming – and he ends the book with at least three better best friends.
Room For One More
Frances Stickley
Badger and Squirrel are best friends, until one day – along comes Fox! Can you have more than one best friend?
Fox doesn’t think so. He wants to prove to Squirrel that he should be her best friend, not Badger, and he knows just the thing to settle it – a friendship competition! But Badger is terrible at the games Fox sets up, and he starts to think he might not be a very good friend.
Friends: Everyone is Welcome
Alison Green
This is a joyful picture book about friendship and togetherness. Whether you’re big or small, flappy or jumpy, noisy or quiet – everyone is welcome!
With its simple text and endearing animal characters, the book shows how everyone can be a good friend, and how we can all help others to feel welcome.
Alone On My Rock
Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Goat is delighted to be living a life of peace and solitude on his rock! Sun, sea and blue skies, what more could he possibly want? Quite a lot, it turns out. Can he find everything he needs to make his heart content?
A gorgeously sweet and funny illustrated children’s book about friendship, love and what’s most important of all, from award-winning Smriti Halls.
The Bear and the Hare and the Fair
Em Lynas
Hare and Bear are at the fair, but Bear does NOT like rides that swirl and twirl and Hare does NOT like rides that go bump and thump. Will the two friends ever find something they BOTH like?
Step this way for rib-tickling, tongue-twisting fun where friendship always comes first.
Come Back, Gosling
Anne Booth
Once upon a time, there was a little girl and a gosling who loved each other very much – and loved reading books together even more.
But one day, when their new book mysteriously disappears, their friendship is put to the test. Will the girl be able to put things right before it’s too late?
Rainbow and Rain
Jana Curll
Rainbow loves spending time with her best friend, Rain. They do everything together – just the two of them! But one day Rain does something unexpected: she invites the new girl, Star, to join their game.
Rainbow is not happy – why would Rain want to play with anyone else? Watching Rain and Star play together, Rainbow worries that everything is going to change. Has Rainbow lost her best friend forever – or could it be that friendship is even more fun with three?
The Sound of a Smile
Louise Greig
A stunning illustrated children’s book exploring deafness, friendship and the universal ways in which we all communicate.
One girl can’t hear the noisy world around her. In her ears, those sounds are sleeping. But she has found sounds that are hiding. Between the notes of a song. Between the beats of a wing. And she listens.
What if someone in the noisy world listened to the beauty and magic of the silent things, too? Perhaps they might discover the sound of a smile – or even better, the sound of a friend.
The Day the Crayons Made Friends
Drew Daywalt
Duncan’s crayons just can’t seem to stay put! After convincing one group of crayons to go back to work after they wanted to quit and rescuing another group who got lost in the most inconvenient places, Duncan’s crayons have disappeared once more.
But this time they’ve gone into his room to make friends. From Red Crayon, who fulfils his dream of driving a fire engine, to Blue Crayon, who meets a fashion doll desperately in need of a head, to fan favourite Esteban, who is off to tame a teddy bear (or as he would call it, a wild beast).
Each crayon has an exciting story to share about the new objects they’ve met and the new adventures they’ve had.
Word Trouble
Vyara Boyadjieva
A beautiful, moving and sensitively told picture book about language barriers, communication and a very young child’s immigrant experience.
When Ronnie moves to a new house, in a new country, he’s excited to make friends. But when he introduces himself to everyone at nursery he gets his words all mixed up, and the others can’t help but giggle.
Ronnie misses home and laughing with his old friends. But new doesn’t stay that way for long.
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