Is it time to get back into the swing of school? Hopefully, not just yet! We have a few more weeks of summer and I hope you do too. But, it’s a good time to talk about school starting to ease any anxieties. These five books do the trick.
How about you? What are your favorite back-to-school traditions or books? Thanks for sharing!
p.s. A few more Back to School book lists here:
Top 10 Diversity Starting School Books
Top 10 Starting School Picture Books
Books for Back-to-School Issues
6 Back-to-School Picture Books
A New School Year: Stories in Six Voices by Sally Derby, illustrated by Mika Song
Six kids in grades kindergarten through fifth grade start school with anxieties and fears. Ethan, a kindergartener, hides something in his pocket for comfort. Zach, in first grade worries about learning everything over again. Katie frets that her new teacher in second grade isn’t her old teacher in first grade. Jackie isn’t the only third grader to get dropped off early. Fourth-grader Carlos wonders if he will make new friends. Fifth-grade Mia has hearing aids that almost make her late. As each child navigates the first day of school, their free-verse poems show how everything turns out fine. [free verse poetry picture book, ages 5 and up]
Tinyville Town Time for School by Brian Biggs
It’s Ellie Emberley’s first day of school! Everyone from the principal to the lunch lady, to the playground attendant and bus driver, and, of course, her teacher and classmates make her feel at home. Tinytown is a bright, happy place to visit! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
The Twelve Days of Kindergarten by Deborah Lee Rose, illustrated by Carey F. Armstrong-Ellis
Sing along to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas in this picture book that reflects a day in kindergarten. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Boo Who? by Ben Clanton
It can be scary being new and having to make new friends, especially if you are a ghost who is quite shy. A ghost can’t participate in all the games that require solidity, like bounce-ball or pick-up twigs ,or tag. It’s ok. His new friends find a game that Boo is especially good at. An encouraging book for shy kids who might be starting something new, like a new sports team, classroom, or school. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
Barnaby Never Forgets by Pierre Collet-Derby
With the start of school comes some responsibility, like remembering things. Barnaby never forgets … except for some things that relate to school. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
2 Picture Book Back to School GIVEAWAY!
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Barnaby Never Forgets
The Twelve Days of Kindergarten
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“What back to school books or traditions do you read or celebrate?” Mmm, I don’t know–“Stuart Little” has such an excellent portrait of school life for slightly older kids!
Hi John,
Love Stuart Little!
I love the new K is for Kindergarten by Erin Dealey. The rhyme is spot-on, and the Kinder Challenges and Kinder Countdown sidebars add new layers of readiness and extension for families. A must!
Thanks for your great book recommendations Patricia! I like sidebars myself in books!
Back to school always means a discussion of what the children are looking forward to in the new year, along with the challenges and fears they think await them,.
Hi Barbara Ann,
Yes, it’s a time of transitions no matter if the kids are starting a new school or returning to an old one.
Barnaby Never Forgets is cute. A New School Year is on my tbr list. I have to check out the others.
Thanks for your great book suggestion Lisa! I’ll have to find Barnaby Never Forgets!!
I love First Day Jitters and making Jitter Juice
Such great back to school books Jen! Thank you!
The Kiss Box is a favorite in our house. I think The Twelve Days of Kindergarten looks really cute!
Thanks for your great recommendation! I will look for The Kiss Box!!
We just try to ease our son into the new routine. I cry. A lot. lol
And we do drop off the first several days.
Hi Bianca,
We had tears at drop offs too. It helps to get the teacher on board to assist. Our Kindergarten teacher let my child go to the prize box everyday for the first week for not crying. That really helped!
I always enjoy your book recommendations! Classroom teachers need to be more conscious in choosing diverse literature as mentor texts!!
Thanks so much for your kind words Emily!