Cherry hides under the table because she doesn't want to go to playschool. Charlie wants to go instead, but dad uses psychology on Cherry and tells her that her toy hippo, Hoppy, wants to go to playschool, but can only go if 'a very grown-up girl goes with him'. Cherry immediately claims to be grown-up and the next day they start off, much to Charlie and Baby Lou's disgruntlement. When they get to playschool and Cherry sees all the children, she whispers to dad that Hoppy seems 'a bit nervous', but by the time she has met the teacher, Mrs Martin, hung up her coat, and sat by a new friend, Lizzie, she is willing to let daddy go. It's a wonderful day, of course, and when dad comes to collect her, she tells him that Hoppy has had a great time. The comic-style pictures are bright and cheerful, and while there is more background in this book in comparison with the others in the series I've seen, that is because of the playschool setting - nicely pictured. The activities in school are very realistic, including a visit to the toilet, often a worry for children. The children are very much centre-stage. A good introduction to a first day at school.