Anna McQuinn is an Irish author and editor of children’s books with over 30 years of experience in children’s books publishing. She studied English at University College Cork and holds a post-graduate diploma in Education, specialising in Children’s Literature. Her seemingly simple yet deliberate style of writing is one of her strengths that brings all aspects of a subject together in the most poetic way. She has written over 25 picture books and is published worldwide in many languages. Her Early Years picture books are much valued by CLPE and BookTrust. Lulu Gets a Cat is in Empathy Lab's Collection and Lulu Reads to Zeki was listed in Top 10 Culturally Diverse Books for Toddlers & Infants by The Guardian. Lulu Loves the Library and Lulu Gets a Cat are in CLPE Core Books collections. Lulu’s First Day and Zeki Gets a Checkup (mentioned in the Reflecting Realities report) are some of her latest titles. In 2018 Anna moved back to Ireland after living in London for many years. She continues to write and edit children’s books – always inclusive and deliberately focussed on what matters to small children.
Books For Topics Lulu is going to pre-school for the first time. She has visited school before with Mummy, but this time she will go on her own. She's excited, but a bit nervous. She gets dressed, packs her bag and makes sure she has her cat Dinah with her. When Lulu gets to school, she quickly settles and makes a friend with Mummy watching close by. When Mummy leaves, Lulu is nervous. Will she find the courage to head off to play again? And how will she feel when Mummy returns to pick her up? This simple story tells of a little girl's first day at pre-school. It tells of the preparation, the activities the pre-school session includes and the end of the day. With colourful pictures with scenes and activities that many children will recognise from their own nursery settings I am sure that young children will empathise with Lulu on her first day. The language used is accessible to young children as a group story read by an adult, with some words that will challenge and expand their vocabulary, such as 'huge' and 'exhausting', offering opportunities to talk about the meaning of new words. As a teaching text, I would use this story at the start of the year as part of a 'Welcome to Nursery' unit, as children could be given opportunities to talk about any toy they use to comfort themselves (just like Dinah in the story), the things they like to do at school and how they feel about being in school without their parents. It could also be used when a new child starts in a setting to encourage other children to think about how they might feel coming in for the first time. ;Jill Bennet Lulu is starting pre-school and she’s already been well prepared. There have been lots of story time sessions at the library, a visit to the school, and special gifts from Nana and Tayo that she’ll use regularly for school.She’s even chosen her clothes for the next day and packed extras in her new bag – just in case.The big day dawns, everybody is up early and with a pause for a quick photo, off she goes with her mum. There’s a warm welcome from her teacher and Lulu is soon enjoying all that nursery has to offer.Almost before you can say, ‘circle time’, there she is on the carpet with all her friends and the grown-ups are waiting outside eager to hear of those new experiences. Yes, its’ been a tiring day, but Lulu can’t wait for tomorrow …With all the reassurance that little ones need, Anna McQuinn and Ros. Beardshaw present the pitch perfect book for those who, like Lulu, are about to take those next steps into pre-school.; Read it Daddy Our favourite booky girl is back, and it seems like only yesterday Lulu was getting ready to head to Nursery.But now, like a lot of children (and in particular one of C's cousins) she's ready for big school. In ""Lulu's First Day"" by Anna McQuinn and Rosalind Beardshaw, Lulu is wondering what school will be like. Will it be lots of play and lots of booky fun like Nursery? Will she make new friends? Lulu is excited but a tiny bit nervous as well, but luckily her family are on hand to reassure her - and everyone gets up super-early to make sure Lulu's first day is a special one. For many kids, it's quite an anxious time moving from Nursery to Pre-School then eventually to school proper, and this book beautifully captures those moments with a huge huge dose of feelgood reassurance. School is going to be so much fun for our booky little girl! Sum this book up in a sentence: A perfect introduction to school life for kids who love reading about plucky booky girls, and Lulu is definitely one of our favourite characters in early years books.