A Worcester mum has written a book to help children worried about starting school.
Bonnie Morris, who is also a teacher, is celebrating publishing her first book, Starting School.
The first batch of copies of the book arrived recently.
Ms Morris was inspired to write the book, which is packed with colourful illustrations and rhymes, to help children with what can often be a daunting leap to first school.
She said: “As an early years teacher and mum, I was always looking for a great book to help children settle into their new class when starting school.
“I couldn’t find anything that truly reflected the 'ups' and 'downs' of those first few days of being in a classroom, so decided to write my own.
“It lets your little one know there will be happy and less happy moments, and that is ok.
“This book can be shared with children in a classroom or with little ones at home. Children can see the illustrations whilst the book is read with rhyme and repetition for them to join in.”
When it came to illustrating Starting School, Ms Morris enlisted the help of Youcef Henni.
The pair met at the University of Worcester, where Ms Morris studied teaching, which she’s loved doing for more than 20 years.
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Ms Morris, who lives in St John’s, is assistant head teacher at Rednal Hill Infant School, near Bromsgrove, and specialises in early years teaching and learning.
She added: “It only seems like yesterday that I was dropping my son Ben off to his first school and driving to work with tears in my eyes worrying that he wouldn’t settle.
“That was almost 15 years ago - where did that go? He is now in the process of writing his own novel.”
It is hoped that Starting School, which has been printed by Aspect Design in Malvern, can help parents, teachers and support workers to help children make sense of those natural worries in a fun way.
To get your copy, visit https://linktr.ee/infant_environment. You can also order online at aspect-design.net
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