First day of school gift
A story for the first day of school
A new uniform, a school bag that's slightly too big, and a door your child has never walked through. A story that has walked through it already makes the first morning a little more familiar.
An example scene, in the Ligne claire style
Read the whole story for free
All 14 double pages, the hero and the cover are yours to see before you buy: you only pay if you love the story.
Photo optional
A short description is enough for a lovely hero. Whether you add a photo is up to you. GDPR-compliant.
Illustration styles to choose from
Many styles from the picture-book tradition, from watercolour to ligne claire, kept from the first page to the last.
Starting school, in Ireland and the US
In Ireland, children start primary school in Junior Infants in September. A child must be at least four on 1 September of the year they start, and school is compulsory from six at the latest; some schools decide for themselves whether they take four- or five-year-olds.1
In the United States, when a child starts kindergarten depends on the state: the cut-off date is 1 September in California, 31 August in Massachusetts and 1 October in New Jersey, to name three.2
Unlike in some countries, there's no big school-start present here: the first day is marked with a photo at the door, the new uniform, maybe a card. A book fits that quieter tradition: given the week before, read on the evenings leading up to the day.
In the story, your child walks into the classroom for the first time, finds their peg and their seat, meets the teacher and the child they'll sit beside. Up to 5 characters can appear: a big brother or sister who already knows the way, a friend from nursery, a grandparent at the gate.
You read the whole story for free before you decide. The eBook is ready about half an hour after you buy. The hardcover is delivered to 214 countries and territories, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States and Canada; in Europe and North America it arrives in up to 13 working days after you approve the finished book. For September, order it in August.
School also brings days such as World Book Day; our World Book Day guide has the date and the book token.
Three story ideas
- The school bag packs itself the night before, and on the way to school it tells the child everything that's inside and why.
- On the first day, the child helps another new child who feels even smaller, and by home time they're friends.
- The child discovers that the school has a secret room that only the new ones know about.
See also Christening, Godparent gift, Letter from Santa. Also worth reading: Starting nursery. And to read on, all illustration styles and frequently asked questions.
- 1.Citizens Information: Starting primary school.What it confirms: A child must be at least four on 1 September of the year they start; school is compulsory from six at the latest; some schools decide whether they take four- or five-year-olds.
- 2.World Population Review: Age to start kindergarten by state.What it confirms: Kindergarten cut-off dates differ by state, for example 1 September in California, 31 August in Massachusetts, 1 October in New Jersey.
Three steps to your book
No risk: you read the whole story before you pay anything.
- 1
Describe
30 seconds
Tell us about the main character in a few words: name, looks, what they love. No photo needed.
- 2
Read for free
6 to 8 minutes
We prepare the story, the hero and the cover, and you read everything for free before you decide.
- 3
Give
eBook £4.50
Love the story? After you buy, you confirm your characters, then we paint every page in about half an hour. You can order the hardcover at the same time or later, and the eBook price is fully credited.
Simple and clear
No subscription, no hidden costs, and the preview is always free.
eBook · on screen and as a PDF
£4.50
14 illustrated double pages, ready about half an hour after you buy.
Hardcover · printed in the EU or the US
£37.90+ £5.90 delivery to the United Kingdom
Quality printing in the EU, or in the US for US orders, and the price of your eBook is fully credited.
You read the whole story for free first, and only pay if you love it.
Good to know
When do children start school in Ireland?
In Junior Infants, in September. A child must be at least four on 1 September of the year they start, and school is compulsory from six at the latest.
When do children start kindergarten in the United States?
It depends on the state. The cut-off date is 1 September in California, 31 August in Massachusetts and 1 October in New Jersey, for example.
When should we read the book?
In the week or two before the first day, in the evenings. A story read several times makes the first morning more familiar.
Will the book arrive in time?
The eBook is ready about half an hour after you buy. The hardcover is printed once you approve the finished book and delivered to 214 countries and territories, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States and Canada; order it a few weeks before September.
You read the story first, and pay afterwards
Preview in 6 to 8 minutes. Free. Photo optional.
Create a first day of school book