posted on 02 Jun 2021

Sienna Starts School by Danielle Harvey, illustrated by Asher Fai

 I have written before about how picture books can be very helpful in preparing children when entering the strange and unfamiliar world of school. It is always good to see more on this subject that reflect the range of experiences – no school is the same but many books present a rather stereotyped , unrealistic classroom.

This one is the first in a beautifully illustrated series of books about Sienna Shay, a happy little girl who loves reading books. This is always an excellent starting point for me and gives the strong message that what happens at home from a very young age is powerful in shaping attitudes to books.

 We first meet Sienna as she wakes up on her first day at school. She is ‘filled with all types of emotions but mainly a touch of excitement’. The facing page shows her very pink bedroom and her school uniform positively glowing with newness as it hangs outside the wardrobe. Next we see her looking in the mirror, starting to have a few questions about how the day might go. Reassured by her mommy who tells her that ‘everyone will love you’, she succumbs to the important photo taken by dad to mark the momentous day.

Sienna certainly seems to be an avid reader as she chooses to calm her nerves as they travel in the car by reading: ‘Dream Big, Little Leaders’ a lovely book by Vashti Harrison which is all about influential and extraordinary black women.  But once she is at the school gates she feels anxious again and joins the line of other Reception class children looking very tentative. It might have been more reassuring if she was welcomed by the teacher in a less formal way which is my experience of settling children at school, but I guess this may vary. Once inside, the first day goes smoothly and she makes new friends. But when they go to choose books from the school library she is disappointed to find that there are no books with characters that look anything like her. The teacher is kind and reassuring when she finds her crying, although I hope that in 2021, most teachers would be able to find several books with a range of black characters stocked in a school library, particularly picture books. Although they are still too rare, there are now an awful lot to choose from when stocking a library.  

When she gets home she tells her parents all about her first day experiences and is reassured when dad reads her favourite books to help comfort her. I loved the tender image of her dad reading to her in bed.

Better late than never, her teacher has been busily ordering ‘books for all children to see themselves in’. They arrive in time for Siena’s second day at school and everyone is delighted with the new selection.

The final page shows Sienna reading with her big sister Harmony in bed. This home is definitely a place where books are treasured and thank goodness the school has upped its game with providing  more inclusive resources. We can only hope that the staff are about to review the books and curriculum as a priority.

This is not just a book aimed at young children. The story will provoke plenty of discussion with children and adults about how books are viewed in the home and at school. Do they have favourite books? Do teachers ever ask children about this during the first days of school? The most important message might be for teachers to reflect on some of their assumptions about reading in terms of content and purpose. Sienna clearly enjoys reading because she associates books with warmth, comfort and pleasure as well as identifying with many of the characters. This early love of books is something to build on and learn from as the best schools already do in partnership with all families.

I look forward to reading about Sienna’s next adventures soon.

Karen Argent

June 2021