I’m Ready for this Wonderful Series. Are You?

This month author illustrator Jedda Robaard brings us an adorable new series of books.  The I’m Ready series of four board books for the 3-4 years age group, celebrates the exciting milestones and events in your child’s life.

‘I am trying something new soon. Something new and exciting.’

I’m Ready for Preschool starts with a nervous but excited koala who is heading off to be like the big kids at preschool. Everything is checked off: lunch box, water bottle, backpack. Then there is drop off… leading to a warm and wonderful ending in a story that will familiarise young children with what might take place on their first day at preschool.

In I’m Ready for Christmas a young wombat is looking forward to her favourite day along with street parties, picnics and barbeques on the lead up. Australian Christmas traditions such as eating outdoors followed by a game of outdoor cricket are included. There is also a reflection on the year that has passed.

I’m Ready for Christmas and I’m Ready for Pre-School are adorable short stories with Australian native animals illustrated throughout. Koalas, wombats, and kangaroos are the main characters, which we love to see because it gives our children such an important sense of place. We have such an amazing plethora of native animals in which to gain inspiration from, and Jedda Robaard has utilized them beautifully.

Such talent as an author and illustrator is rare, but Robaard is clearly both. The illustrations and themes are iconically Australian, from the plants, food, Christmas crackers and hats. Even down to the season, in which Robaard mentions the “days are getting warmer and longer,” at Christmas. Which is refreshing in comparison to most Christmas books which are set in the northern hemisphere amongst snow men.

These board books are part of a series of four: I’m Ready for Christmas, I’m Ready for the New Baby, I’m Ready for Pre-School and I’m Ready for Easter. These fun, relatable books are about exciting milestones, or events in children’s lives which are ‘handy explainers’ on upcoming life changes or occasions.

Pre-schoolers are ready and eager to learn. The simplicity of the sentences allows for children to memorise and ‘read’, sometimes reciting the lines by heart. These are the best types of books which explain the world to our little readers.

Written from a child’s perspective, keen observations such as “there are more toys than I’ve ever seen in one place,” from I’m Ready for Pre-school. Gently preparing children for what is to come.

This series will make a wonderful contribution to any child’s bookcase. I’m Ready for Easter and I’m Ready for the New Baby are out March 2020.

Purchase a copy of I’m Ready for Preschool and I’m Ready for Christmas

Jedda Robaard grew up in a small town on the island of Tasmania and now lives on the coast of Victoria with her husband, children and a variety of pets.

Jedda trained as a graphic designer, the manual cut and paste way, and ran children’s art and craft workshops for many years. The interaction with her young students, a passion for her craft as well as family life and a discerning eye for the innocuous but evocative little moments in life all contribute to her page-turning, whimsical and imaginative illustrations and stories for children.

Jedda’s books have been published in many languages including English, French, Dutch, Greek, Italian, Korean and Chinese.