The Tour at School

4.8

0.0 (0)

1524 0

Write Review Add to favorites

Author(s)

Katie Clapham

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Nadia Shireen

Publisher

Candlewick

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

July 01, 2025

ISBN

978-1536242980

Buy This Book

"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 (starred review)

A student leads a very enthusiastic first-day tour in a comical, reassuring story sure to calm the nerves of kids about to start something new.

When your job is to introduce the new person to your school, the first thing you need to do is sound very excited! Always start with the most important spots, like the echo-ey bathroom and an emergency meet-up place, like the big chestnut tree on the playground. Share your favorite memories of recess, show off the million-book library, and don’t forget to introduce the new kid to someone you know, like Gary the classroom fish. Most important of all, remember how it feels not to know anyone and be lonely and scared—and extend an offer to be a friend. Nadia Shireen’s playful illustrations pair with Katie Clapham’s lively text and funny asides in a book sure to strike a comforting chord for trepidatious readers who may be facing a new adventure.

Editor review

1 review

Fun at School with New Friends

September 06, 2025 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

4.8

Plot

4.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

There’s a new kid at school, and it's your job to introduce them to the school and show them around. You have to make sure that you sound excited and show them the best spots, like the bathroom, and an emergency meet-up space. Make sure you share someone you know, like Gary the classroom fish, and your friends, even if they are bad at making swaps. Through this whole tour, make sure you remember what it feels like to be new and lonely and scared because you don’t know anyone, and make an offer to be a friend.

What I Liked: This story is told as if you are the person giving the tour to the new kid, and it provides instructions on just how to give a great tour. It was fun going on this tour with the main character and seeing just what she thought it was important to share with a new kid. This book jumps from one thing to another, much like an excited child, which was fun to follow along with.

The way that this book was written builds up anticipation and excitement to see just what we will be encountering next. It also then switches to a calm tone as we realize that we may have overstimulated our new friend, and it's time to put ourselves in their shoes.

The illustrations throughout this book add lightness and humor as the person giving the tour is enthusiastic about everything. There are illustrations included of silly things like a lonely glove, a random animal, and funny moments in which she shares just what the bathroom is good for, like the echo it has.

Final Verdict: The Tour at School is a delightful and humorous book that will make children feel less scared when they start school. Children ages 3 and up will enjoy the vibrant colors in this book and just how quickly the tour jumps from one place to the next. Adults will laugh at the silly things that the character thinks its important to introduce a new child to, and also find the ending heart-warming as we make a new friend from the new student.