The best children’s books to prepare for nursery or school

Lily is starting school – so of course, her wingman, Blue Kangaroo, is coming too. With the focus on Blue Kangaroo and his antics in their new classroom, Come to School too, Blue Kangaroo! is perfect for children who like a fantasy element in their books. The result is a charming and indirectly reassuring story, with plenty of real-life detail about reception, too. Plus, Emma Chichester Clark's illustrations are a treat.

Five Minute Mum: Starting School is a gentle and funny guide all about starting school. From getting ready in the morning to meeting their teacher for the first time and making new friends, it'll help guide your child through what to expect. It also has lots of five-minute activities and games to help your child feel more confident and excited.

Puddle is excited to start nursery - but when the big day comes, he gets cold feet. Mummy cleverly packs some special things in his bag to help him: a feather to remind him of her, biscuits to share with his new friends and his cuddly for nap time. Her tokens see him through an exciting first day, counting caterpillars, jumping between lily pads and decorating twigs. Puddle's Big Step is a perfect confidence boost for two- to three-year-olds.

This is the all-time classic reception-ready book, and rightly so. The Ahlbergs' delightfully accurate account of the first term at primary school has barely dated in the book Starting School – from the first day when the children' look at the toilets' to the Nativity play, via chickenpox and phonics. Unusually, it's about a whole group of children, rather than an individual: a great way to show children that their peers are going through the same things that they are.

Marshall stands out from the other children (his laces are straight, not crisscrossed, and he's always looking at the blackboard), but he quickly wins everyone over and shows you can be different and still loved. Marshall Armstrong Is New To Our School is an important story for all children that teaches them to celebrate their individuality and embrace their own quirks. Not only that, but it encourages them to embrace others who are different.

Shirley Hughes is the master of making every day into a warm, humorous story, and Lucy and Tom at School – told from the point of view of an older and younger sibling – is no exception. There are plenty of familiar classroom and playground scenes to provide talking points, with a nice balance between home and school.

Straightforward, fun and factual, all the Topsy and Tim books are geared toward helping children navigate new situations. In this case, it's Topsy and Time: Start School. They might seem a bit bland, but they really appeal to young children - perhaps because there's something comforting about the way the twins are a little team. You can even download some activity sheets courtesy of Penguin.

Important subjects like bullying, problem-solving and friendship are tackled in this fun semi-fantasy story of a future inventor who finds an ingenious way to beat the bullies. Don't be put off by the open discussion of bullying. Many children respond well to having their fears voiced in a safe way like this. Nicholas and the Wild Ones: How to Beat the Bullies is a good one for slightly older children who may already be in their first term at reception and a nice way to ignite discussion of how to deal with bullying in the real world.

All toddlers seem to love Maisy, and Maisy Goes to Nursery is no exception. We see Maisy find her coat peg, play outside with sand, make a lot of noise with instruments, and have a snack and loo break. Try this if you have a child on the autistic spectrum. Lucy Cousins' bold illustrations tend to work well with children with ASD as there isn't a load of background detail to distract their focus.

This book is such a sweet, gentle story. Chester Racoon is nervous about going to school and wants to stay at home with his mother. Gradually, Chester learns that her love is always with him, even when he's at school. A Kissing Hand for Chester Raccoon is perfect for anxious children who hate to say goodbye to you in the morning.