Books for School Transitions

Moving Up by Christian Foley

THE title to have for kids transitioning from primary to secondary school.

Moving up from primary to secondary school can be scary. Going from being the bosses of the benches, to the youngest in a massive playground is hard. The classrooms are bigger, older students look like adults and don’t even start on the piles of homework, stressful exams and complicated friendships.

Whether you’re heading to secondary school next year, or you’ve just started and still adjusting, Moving Up is here to help you on your journey. From choosing your new school and your first day all the way up to your final exams and your leaving party or prom, this handy guide book will be the perfect companion for transitioning to secondary, and get you feeling confident, building strong friendships, achieving great things and generally being the greatest that you can be.

Hear Christian Foley’s top tips for starting secondary school!

Welcome to Dinosaur School by Rose Cobden and Loretta Schauer

All through the land, little dinos were stirring. They opened their eyes and their brains started whirring. The BIG day is here, they thought from their beds – some leapt with excitement, some trembled with dread…

Jewel the dinosaur is very nervous about her first day of school. There are so many new dinos to meet, the dining hall is noisy and her new classroom is so big!

But as the day goes on, and Jewel settles into her new class and makes new friends, she realises that school isn’t that scary after all.

With adorable illustrations by Loretta Schauer and rhyming, reassuring text, this fun starting-school picture book will encourage young readers to explore their own feelings or nerves around this big milestone so they can have a roar-some first day too!

Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott

With diary entries written by eleven-year-old Libby Scott, based on her own experiences of autism, this pioneering book, written in collaboration with esteemed author Rebecca Westcott, has been widely praised for its realistic portrayal of autism.

Tally is eleven years old and she’s just like her friends. Well, sometimes she is. If she tries really hard to be. Because there’s something that makes Tally not the same as her friends. Something she can’t cover up, no matter how hard she tries: Tally is autistic.

Tally’s autism means there are things that bother her even though she wishes they didn’t. It means that some people misunderstand, her and feel frustrated by her. People think that because Tally’s autistic, she doesn’t realise what they’re thinking, but Tally sees and hears – and notices – all of it. And, honestly? That’s not the easiest thing to live with.

Worry Boots by Lisa Thompson and Aysha Awwad

A first-day-at-school picture book like no other, by award-winning author Lisa Thompson and illustrator Aysha Awwad!

Connie slipped her feet into her new, shiny boots. They felt hard and awkward and very, very different. “Let’s get going,” said Connie’s mum. “It’s an exciting day today – your first day at school!”

As Connie and Mum make their way to the bus stop, they realise that their journey to school going to be very unusual. Why? Because there is something surprising in Connie’s shoe! And that means she can’t possibly go to school until she’s sorted it out…

Frankie’s World #2: Finding My Voice by Aoife Dooley

How do you find your voice when everyone around you is telling you to be quiet?

Frankie is different, and so is her best-friend, Sam. So when they both start secondary school, it’s tough. Particularly when there are so many rules to follow, like: No talking in class! Be quiet in the hallways! Silence for assembly! Frankie doesn’t know how she’ll manage, because constantly talking is how she copes. So when she gets the chance to compete in a Battle of the Bands contest, Frankie couldn’t be more excited. Except, to have a band, you need to have band members. And to have band members, you need to be good at making friends… Can Frankie learn to find her voice and stand out?

Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival

A perceptive and poignant story that is a must-have for all children’s bookshelves.

Ruby loves being Ruby. Until, one day, she finds a worry. At first it’s not such a big worry, and that’s all right, but then it starts to grow. It gets bigger and bigger every day and it makes Ruby sad. How can Ruby get rid of it and feel like herself again?

After School Crime Club by Hayley Webster

This wise, warm and uplifting story from the acclaimed author of Luna Rae is Not Alone explores what it feels like to lose yourself and the joy of discovering you’re perfect just as you are.

Willow has always felt like an outsider at school, but she and her Nanna were so alike that she never felt alone. Now Nanna is gone and Willow is adrift. So when a group of girls offer her friendship in exchange for “fun” stealing dares, Willow can’t say no. But as the dares escalate, she has to ask herself: How far will she go to fit in?

Peppa’s First Day at School

What will Peppa think of big school and how different will it be to playgroup?

Peppa and her friends want to know what starting school will be like, so Madame Gazelle suggests they pretend to have a first day at big school together. Peppa loves playing first day at big school. EVERYONE loves playing first day at big school.

Nat Enough

Making friends isn’t easy, but losing them is even harder!

Natalie has never felt that she’s enough – athletic enough, stylish enough, or talented enough. And on the first day of middle school, Natalie discovers that things are worse than she thought: now she’s not even cool enough for her best friend, Lily! As Natalie tries to get her best friend back, she learns more about her true self and natural talents. If Natalie can focus on who she is rather than who she isn’t, then she just might realize she’s more than enough, just the way she is.