03 5226 8900Starting kindergarten is a big milestone. It might be the first time your child is spending a long period of time away from family. It is also the start of years of learning that will set your little one up for adulthood.
Research has found that reading storybooks to children is one of the most important activities for developing the knowledge required for eventual success in reading. Reading to pre-schoolers has been found to be related to language growth, emergent literacy and reading achievement.
There are many books available to help relate all kinds of situations to our children. Starting kindergarten is no different.
The Victorian Department of Education has recommended a list of books to read to your children prior to starting kindergarten or school.
These books could be ones you already own, found at your local library, or available at a bookstore in your area.
Books for children starting school
- Starting School by Jane Godwin & Anna Walker
- Miffy at School by Dick Bruna
- Old Friends, New Friends by Andrew Daddo and Jonathan Bentley
- This Is Our House by Michael Rosen and Bob Graham
- First day by Andrew Daddo
- Wombat goes to school by Jackie French
- All the ways to be smart by Davina Bell
- I am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child
- Maddie’s First Day by Penny Matthews & Liz Anelli
- Just Jack by Jane Tanner
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- My first day at school by Meredith Costain
- Kindness makes us strong by Sophie Beer
- The Berenstain Bears go back to school by Stan and Jan Berenstain
- Hammie Goes to School by Cathie Whitmore (illustrated by Cathy McCulloch)
- Tom Goes to Kindergarten by Margaret Wild
- First Day by Margaret Wild (illustrated by Kim Gamble)
Books with themes of building confidence and self-esteem
- You be you by Linda Kranz
- Invisible String by Patrice Karst
- Whoever you are by Mem Fox (illustrated by Leslie Staub)