Personalised book about your child's first school bus journey
Your child gets ready for a first school bus journey, from waiting at the stop with their bag to saying hello to the driver. As the bus travels towards school, your child follows each step of the new routine and arrives feeling ready for the day.
- Ages 4-7
- Their own home town
- Storybook watercolour
See the cover free before you pay.
What happens in your child's First School Bus
- Your child packs their school bag and checks the time.
- At the bus stop, your child watches for the bus to arrive.
- Your child greets the driver and climbs aboard.
- From a seat by the window, your child follows the journey to school.
- The bus stops outside school, and your child steps down proudly with their bag.
How the first page could read
On the chair by the door, your child's new school bag was waiting. Inside were a book, a small water bottle and a note for lunchtime. Today, your child would take the school bus for the first time. At the stop, the bus appeared around the corner, bright and busy.
Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.
Why this story works
At four to seven, a new bus journey can feel like a whole extra part of the school day. This story lets your child rehearse its small, recognisable steps: waiting at the stop, saying hello, finding a seat, watching familiar streets pass and getting off with their bag ready. The focus stays on the journey rather than the classroom, giving families a simple way to talk through who might be there, what your child could say and what comes next. Add little details from your child's own routine when you create the book, then reread it in the days before school starts or a new route begins.
Reading it together
- Read the story the evening before the first journey, pausing to talk through each part of the routine.
- Point out the place where your child will wait and the school entrance they will use when you read together.
- Let your child practise a simple greeting for the driver, such as “Hello” or “Good morning”.
Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour
Soft storybook watercolour makes the familiar morning route feel calm, warm and easy to follow. A sidekick idea: a friendly bus driver who remembers your child's greeting. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.
Make your child's First School Bus
Add one photo and answer a few questions. This story is picked for you, and you’ll see the cover before you decide.
Start with a photoWhat’s in the book
HardcoverPaperback- pages
- 32pages
- full-page pictures of your child
- 15full-page pictures of your child
- square book (21.6 × 21.6 cm)
- 8.5" × 8.5"square book (21.6 × 21.6 cm)
- years, words matched to their age
- 2–8years, words matched to their age
- Front cover with their name in the title
- Title page with their portrait and your dedication
- 15 spreads: a picture on one page, the story on the other
- “The End” page made especially for them
- Printed: premium full-colour paper, paperback or hardcover
- Digital: PDF and online flip-book reader
Questions
Can the bus story look like my child?
Yes. You can add your child's name, age, chosen art style, adventure and little details when you make the book. Picture to Story uses one photo of your child to draw them as the hero, and you can see the cover before paying.
Is this book suitable before Reception begins?
It is designed for children aged four to seven, with wording suited to that stage. Picture to Story makes books for babies through to age 10, and the number of words on each page grows with the child's age.
Can I see the book before I pay?
Yes. Your child’s cover and the first page of the story are made while you answer the questions, usually in under a minute, and you see them before checkout. You only pay if you love it.
How long does it take?
The digital book is usually ready about 10 minutes after you order. Printed books take 3 to 5 working days to print, then 3 to 7 days to post in the UK and US.