This is the perfect book to share with you the week before most pupils in the UK start the new school year. As a teacher, I love seeing the new picture books that come out over the summer, ready for September. I especially like seeing the new books that focus on children having their first-ever day at school. This book - How to Train Your Teacher by Bethany Walker - is exactly that.
Here is the synopsis for the book:
The first day at school can be scary... especially for the teacher!
A laugh-out-loud picture book about the fun of starting school!
In this picture book, you'll learn all the ways you help your teacher get through the school day: watching over them in the playground, listening to their stories, and spotting missing numbers.
Most of all, you'll see how much fun school can be!
If you saw my review for Worry Boots last August, you will know I love a "back to school" that has a meaning behind it. Anything that taps into the emotions that a young child would be experiencing on their first day at school and makes them feel seen is a hit for me. This book does just that, but in a comedic way that makes it enjoyable for all, especially the adult reading it to a first-year child.
As a teacher, this book had me laughing a lot! Seeing small children believe that their role in school is to keep the teacher going through the day, keeping them safe and on track, is hilarious. A personal favourite was that the register is so that the teacher can remember the children's names each day. It's probably an accurate representation of what small children think it's for too!
Bethany Walker has truly done a fantastic job with this picture book. It's fun and serves a purpose for those about to go into Early Years/Reception. I had read Olly Brown: God of Hamsters by Bethany Walker previously, so I knew her comedic writing style would transfer into picture book form. Sophie Kent's illustrations are also amazing - I love her art style and the warmth of her pictures. They are so soft yet so detailed.
Overall, it is a fantastic book and I would recommend it - especially if you have a little one starting school for the first time or have a child who is a bit worried about returning and would appreciate the laughs this book brings. You can buy a copy
here.
Thank you to Scholastic for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It is greatly appreciated and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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