King of the Classroom

It is a special morning, the first day of nursery school for one little boy. Encouraged by his mother to feel proud and confident he is told today he will be ‘King of the Classroom.’ This theme continues throughout the book from the moment the child rises with sunlight creating a golden crown around his head, he has a ‘golden’ brush to clean his teeth and a carriage to take him to nursery. He enters the classroom majestically and sails through the challenges of school with a strong sense of self-worth and support. Fortunately, his confidence is matched with kindness, for example he notices another child has less lunch than him and so shares with him. After a successful day he cannot wait to tell his parents about his new friends and experiences.

The story focuses on a landmark in a young child’s life, seeking to smooth the transition on starting nursery school and preempt any anxiety, undoubtedly on the part of the parent as much as the child! The theme is informed by the epigraph which contains the words of Benjamin Moys, thinker behind the civil rights movement on the importance of a child feeling protected, loved and developing self-belief. This is a picture book which reflects diverse classroom contexts and promotes aspiration and achievement for all. The illustrations are gorgeous, vibrant and full of warmth, smiles and colour perfectly matching the sentiment of the story.