Reading-sharing is a great way to prepare a child for school. First-timers are always a bit worried about going to a new place like school or kindergarten. So are parents. That’s why I wrote 'Look, There's a Hippopotamus in the Playground Eating Cake' when my children were small and ‘playground’ was used in the title to cover school and kindergarten. Now my younger grandson starts school this year and this picture book is still relevant.
Not having a friend is the BIG worry. Not knowing what to do is another.

The cake-eating hippo is a big friend who has all the answers.

That’s reassuring. Many children have imaginary friends as ways of coping with new situations.

School routines like uniforms, when are the breaks, what do you eat and MAKING FRIENDS are important. It helps to know what might happen.

At a time when parents are worried about their children learning to read and write, children's authors receive wonderful fan letters from very young readers as evidence that specific books have really mattered in a child’s life.

to hazeledweds how do you come up with the i dears about mi skule, love from josephine (5)

Snuggle up and make the experience pleasurable. Re-read and use the pictures as prompts to talk about what happens in a school day. Getting dressed. Packing school lunch. Having a peg for your belongings. Going out to play. Using the play equipment. Listening to the teacher tell a story.

Which is a favourite page? Why? Do funny voices.

Deborah Niland’s illustrations have a mischievous hippo flouting a few rules, but always knowing what to do.

Bibliotherapy is the fancy name for reading books that help you deal with problems. Starting school can be fun, not a problem. You just need a sense of humour and a character like the rooftop-cake eating hippo.

Nanjing Cultural Ambassador & International School Principal Aileen Hall ,’ I recommend this book for students transitioning from kindergarten to school and always buy copies for friends.It even crosses cultures.”’

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'Look, There’s a Hippopotamus in the Playground Eating Cake', illustrated by Deborah Niland. ISBN: 0-14 350140-2 .

Memoir ‘Not Just a Piece of Cake: Being an Author’ (Brolga) is just out and mentions fan mail and literary speed dating with the hippo as imaginary friend.

posted by Hazel Edwards on January, 16