The first day of school is a big moment! A new grade, a new classroom, and a new teacher! And while some kids are eager to reunite with friends and dive into learning, others can feel anxious about fitting in and finding their way.
Books are one of the best ways to prepare your child for what’s to come and to soothe any worries about the new school year, because they put your child in the shoes of the character who encounters the same worries or situations your child might.
In the end, those characters usually learn an important lesson and persevere. Think of it as a “test run” for your child: When your kid sees how book characters thrive in back-to-school situations they’re unsure of, they’ll know how to as well.
Here are some fantastic reads that can help your young learner ease back into the routine of school and navigate any jitters with confidence and smiles!
Get all the books and resources you need for back-to-school season here.
How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? (Early Learning-PreK)
Playful text and hilarious pictures capture the high-spirited and playful nature of young children and make this a perfect book to share with any little one heading off to school for the first time. A gentle introduction to classroom behavior and making friends.
Clifford Goes to Kindergarten (PreK-K)
Emily Elizabeth is starting kindergarten and she's a little nervous. Good thing that the teacher sent a note home that says each child can bring something from home to make the transition a little easier. But the teacher didn't bet on a child bringing something — or someone — as big as Clifford!
The Night Before Kindergarten (PreK-K)
Join the kids as they prepare for kindergarten, packing school supplies, posing for pictures, and the hardest part of all — saying goodbye to Mom and Dad. But maybe it won't be so hard once they discover just how much fun kindergarten really is!
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books (PreK-K)
That lovely old lady has returned just in time for the first day of school. Now she's swallowing items to make the very best of her first day back. And just in time for the bus...
A Crabby Book #5: School's In, Crabby! (PreK-1)
It's just another day in the ocean for Crabby and Plankton — until they find themselves INSIDE a school of fish! This gives Plankton a fabulous idea — he and Crabby should play school! But Crabby does not want to play. In four hilarious stories, Crabby uses funny wordplay to distract Plankton from teaching!
Off to Kindergarten (PreK-2)
Award-winning author Tony Johnston and illustrator Melissa Sweet create a joyful story about the first day of kindergarten!
David Goes to School (PreK-2)
Age hasn't dampened the now school-age David's energy, but at least his exhausted mother gets a break! Now teacher has her hands full with her new class clown, truant, and troublemaker rolled into one. Can David ever hope to earn a gold star? Your little one will delight in David's antics and master the simple, repeating text to read on her own.
Wemberly Worried (PreK-2)
This is the adorable and comforting story about a little mouse who’s worried about, well, everything! Her nervousness doubles when she has to face the first day of nursery school. However, in this whiskered tale, Wemberly learns important lessons about confronting and resolving fears — which will also help your little one make the exciting leap into the new school year.
A Bad Case of the Stripes (PreK-3)
Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them. Why? Because the other kids in her school don't like them. And Camilla Cream is very, very worried about what other people think of her. In fact, she's so worried that she's about to break out in...a bad case of stripes!
Clifford's First School Day (PreK-3)
Emily Elizabeth remembers taking her small red puppy Clifford to school and all the comical calamities that occured there. Clifford tries to fingerpaint and, sliding through the paint, makes a very creative masterpiece. Then, during water play, he is captain of the ship, until he tips over the mast and falls into the water! A bag of flour used to make cookies for snack time intrigues Clifford, until it falls on him, and covers him with white powder! Oh Clifford!
Junie B. Jones Complete First Grade Set (Grades 1-4)
First grade is full of wow-worthy adventures, and these books prove it! Paired with paper dolls for your first grader to play with before the first day of school, these elementary school favorites follow Junie’s first grade adventures in the most lovable way — showing kids not only how much there is to look forward to this year, but also how your imperfections make you who you are.
Ready, Freddy! #2: The King of Show-and-Tell (Grades 2-3)
Get your early elementary school child excited about the most fun parts of school with this endearing book. When Freddy Thresher’s best friend Robby brings a real alligator head into class for show-and-tell, he wonders how he could ever compete with that. He never has anything neat to show! But one day, he stumbles upon something incredible, and has to figure out how to get it to school. After reading this book, your child will be excited to share new discoveries with classmates.
Save Me a Seat (Grades 3-7)
Perfect for middle grade students, this book will calm kids’ worries about being without their friends, whether they’re starting at a new school or their BFF moved away over the summer. In this book, Joe and Ravi come from very different places — small-town America and India — but they soon discover that they have a common mission for the school year.
Wonder (Grades 3-7)
Few things soothe worries better than inspiration, and this book set is overflowing with it. Following the story of a fifth grader with facial deformities who goes to school for the first time after being homeschooled, it touches on friendship, teasing, and character, while giving kids a story from a variety of perspectives. Sometimes, the best way to help kids feel confident and prepared to take on what they fear (not fitting in, not making friends, etc.) is to share someone else’s experiences with it, and this book set does that brilliantly.
