One bright morning, Daisy walked to nursery with mummy. It was her very first day.
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Story Time · Books
The Peg with Daisy's Name
Ages 3-5
Open as a book
Full screen, one page at a time — 12 pages
The Peg with Daisy's Name
It is Daisy's first morning at nursery, and the door is about to close behind Mummy. But there is a peg with her name on it, skies waiting to be painted, and a promise that always comes true. A gentle story about the day that goes on anyway — until somebody comes back.
There was a little wooden peg on the wall. On the card, in round letters, it said Daisy. "That's mine," said Daisy.
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Mummy kissed Daisy's soft grey head. "I'll come back after the songs," she said. "I always come back."
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The door went click. It was shut. Daisy stood very still and listened to the quiet.
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A little brown wren with round glasses hopped close. "Hello, Daisy. We're painting skies today," said Miss Wren. "Come and see."
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A mouse slid a brush across the table. "I'm Pip," he said. "Blue is the best colour."
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Daisy dipped her brush. Swish, swish, swish. Her sky grew wide and blue, and her paws felt busy.
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Then came songs on the soft green rug. Daisy sang the words she knew and hummed the ones she didn't.
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At snack time there were apples, cut into little moons. Daisy ate three. The morning flew by.
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After songs and blocks and one short nap, the door went click again. And there was Mummy.
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"You came back," said Daisy. "Come, darling, let's go home!" said Mummy, and gave Daisy a tight hug.
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On the way home, Daisy held her painting tight. "Tomorrow," she said, "I'm going to paint the sun."
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There are 9 more pages of this story
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is this picture book for?+
It is drawn for children aged about 3 to 5, which covers the years when many children start nursery or preschool. Younger children may still enjoy having it read aloud, and children vary, so the range is a guide rather than a rule.
What happens in the story?+
Daisy the coala goes to nursery for the first time and finds a little wooden peg with her name on it. After Mummy leaves, she paints skies with Miss Wren and Pip the mouse, has songs and snack time, and the door opens again when Mummy comes back, just as she promised.
Is this story helpful for a child worried about starting nursery?+
The story follows the whole of a first morning, including the moment the door closes and the ordinary middle that goes on anyway, and it ends with the parent coming back. Many parents use stories like this to talk through what a first day might look like, though every child responds differently.
Can I read this picture book online for free?+
Yes. The full story is published on the Growing Bright Minds site, so you can read all twelve pages on a phone, tablet or computer without downloading or paying anything.
Who are the characters in the book?+
The main character is Daisy, a little coala on her first day. She is met by Miss Wren, a brown wren with round glasses, and Pip, a round green mouse who loves blue, and Mummy appears at the start and the end of the morning.