When Miss Cluck tells her little pupils that there is going to be a new animal in their class, they are all very excited. In fact, there are squeals of delight. Nobody expects the new animal to be a grizzly bear! So, when a rather bashful Boris enters the room, Leticia the rabbit, Fergus the fox cub, Maxwell the mole, and the little mice . . . scream! Boris is upset. He doesn't mean to be scary. He just wants to make friends. But he spends a lonely, miserable first day at school, he's just too big to fit in. When it's home time, Boris trudges through the woods, far behind the others. After all, it seems to him that none of them wants to be his friend. Then he sees some rats up ahead as they jump out from behind the trees. Boris hurries along to introduce himself (ever hopeful of making new friends) but, once again, his big bear grin terrifies the rats. However, to his astonishment, in scaring off the bullies Boris has truly endeared himself to Maxwell, Leticia, Fergus and the mice. A beautifully-observed story with a positive message about friendship and acceptance.

Even a big bear can feel small when starting school!

About the Author
Carrie was born in a village in Kent in 1966 - the year that England won the World Cup! Perhaps this explains her lifelong love of football. After doing her first degree at Warwick University, Carrie taught in schools in London before returning to Kent where she now lives with her husband, two children and various animals. She lectures at the University of East London in both Children's Literature and Special Educational Needs. Carrie's hobbies include skiing, surfing on Cornwall's North Coast and watching football. Tim Warnes lives in the Dorset countryside with his wife and two young sons. Tim helps at the village school and his careful observations can be seen in all the authentic details of an infant classroom that he has included Boris Starts School and also in the way he has successfully captured the caring demeanour of Miss Cluck and the mannerisms of her little pupils. Tim is best known for illustrating the Little Tiger and Santa books for Little Tiger Press. I Don't want to have a Bath! won the Nottinghamshire Children's Book Award in 1997.


Book Information
ISBN 9780192758323
Author Carrie Weston
Format Paperback
Page Count 32
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 164g
Dimensions(mm) 245mm * 245mm * 3mm