Coping With Growing

Everyone has to start school—even a young orangutan living in the jungle.

Jupe doesn't want to go. Palm Tree Primary is big, noisy, and the days feel far too long. He doesn't like the uniform, he doesn't like the toilets, and he definitely doesn't like his new teacher, Mrs Elephant. But as the term unfolds—through wobbly first days, a proud moment on the bongos, and a school sports day—Jupe discovers that starting school isn't the ending he feared. It's the beginning of something good.

Written by Diane-Louise Jordan, Why Am I Starting School? blends a warm, funny story with three much-loved children's songs—'The Wheels on the Bus', 'Once I Caught a Fish Alive' and 'The ABC Song'—so children can sing along as they read.

The book includes a parent's guide with discussion questions for every chapter and practical advice on preparing a child for their first days of school, handling tears at drop-off, and helping them settle in.

Perfect for children aged 4–5 in the run-up to their first term, and for rereading throughout the school year.