The Tour at School

A reassuring (and funny!) guide for anxious children starting at a new school or nursery.

Katie Clapham author Nadia Shireen illustrator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Walker Books Ltd

Published:3rd Jul '25

Should be back in stock very soon

The Tour at School cover

- "A fun and pacy picture book on the important job that is showing a new kid around school, aka giving them 'The Tour'. Shireen’s illustrations ramp up the chaotic energy." - The Bookseller

- "A simultaneous knee-slapper and heart-warmer that is sure to become a read-aloud hit. A first purchase for collections, offering a humorous, inviting, and fresh approach to the new kid experience." - School Library Journal

"A remarkably sweet, funny, and thoughtful picture book. The depiction of school-life is brilliant, with noise, business, games and chaotic fun, all illustrated beautifully to match the energy of a primary setting. " - Booktrust

The hilarious and heartfelt debut picture book from Katie Clapham, illustrated by Nadia Shireen - creator of the bestselling, highly acclaimed Grimwood series and Barbara Throws a Wobbler - will help kids feel better about those first-day-at-school nerves, as well as encouraging all children to create a safe and welcoming space for others.

Because, really, starting school can be scary. And being a New Kid in a new school can also be very scary. Luckily, this book will help soothe first-day nerves, make kids feel excited about the challenge and also show children how to be the PERFECT Tour Guide and make any New Kid feel right at home. And did we mention this book is very funny? Because it really is.

So, come along and join THE TOUR with Katie Clapham and Nadia Shireen. First stop? The toilets. Because they're great for singing in. (And also for weeing.) And don't forget to show them the library and its one MILLION books (remember to use your quiet mouse voice!), the playground (where you can play Worldwide Hairdressers!) and ... the EMERGENCY MEET UP PLACE (just in case anyone gets lost). But REMEMBER, sometimes when you're a New Kid it can all be ... a bit too much. And that's when the New Kid doesn't need you to be a tour guide anymore, they need you to be ... a friend.

Aimed at anxious children starting at a new school or nursery, this gently funny debut picture book from writer and bookseller Clapham is the perfect reassuring guide. Award-winning illustrator Shireen provides bright and relatable illustrations to match the tone of the children’s-POV of the writing style. * The Bookseller *
A fun and pacy picture book on the important job that is showing a new kid around school, aka giving them “The Tour”. Shireen’s illustrations ramp up the chaotic energy. * The Bookseller *
A gloriously empathetic and genuinely funny guide to everything you need to know about school… Nadia Shireen’s highly expressive illustrations of this diverse school population are fully of humorous detail and really extend the skilfully naturalistic narration… A wonderful primer to discuss the importance of kindness and empathy and will be marvellously reassuring to any preschoolers or to any potential new kid. An absolute must have! * Joy Court, LoveReading4Kids *

ISBN: 9781529505740

Dimensions: 290mm x 254mm x 10mm

Weight: 440g

40 pages