Ben, a curious little boy, was getting ready for a very important day. He was five years old, and soon it would be his first day at 'big school'! His brand-new blue uniform hung neatly in his cupboard, and his shiny new school shoes were lined up beside it.

He bounced on the balls of his feet, feeling a fizzy mix of excitement and a tiny flutter of nerves in his tummy. "Big school!" he whispered to his teddy bear, Barnaby. "What will it be like?" He imagined tall buildings and lots of new faces.

But then Ben remembered something wonderful. His mum had told him that some of his friends from kinder would be at prep too! Knowing that made his tummy feel much less fluttery and much more ready for an adventure.

The big day arrived with a burst of sunshine! Ben ate his breakfast extra fast, his fork clinking against the bowl. He pulled on his crisp uniform, feeling very grown-up. "Ready, Ben?" his dad asked with a smile.

Holding his mum's hand, Ben walked towards the school gates. The school looked even bigger than he imagined! There were so many children, some laughing, some running, and others hugging their parents goodbye.

Ben squeezed his mum's hand a little tighter. The sounds of all the children chatting and playing filled the air like a busy beehive. "Where's my classroom, Mum?" he asked, craning his neck to see over all the heads.

Inside the bustling school, it felt like a maze of corridors and doors. Ben looked left, then right, his curious eyes wide open. He spotted a colourful drawing of a friendly dragon on a wall and wondered, "What's behind that door?"

He tugged gently on his mum's shirt. "Look, Mum! A dragon!" Following the trail of colourful drawings, Ben peeked into doorways. Each room looked different and interesting. "Maybe the dragon is showing us the way!" he giggled.

Suddenly, he heard a familiar laugh from an open door. "Leo!" Ben shouted, his face lighting up. There, through the doorway, was his friend Leo, already playing with blocks in a bright, cheerful classroom! Ben's curiosity had led him right to his prep room.