Starting school, kindy, daycare or kōhanga reo

The early years of a child's life are filled with milestones, but one of the biggest changes to their social environment will be when they start at a new school, kindergarten, daycare, or kōhanga reo. There will be a lot of new people to meet, new routines to get used to, and of course a whole lot to learn! Here are some books that may help your whānau prepare for the big first day.

Updated July 15, 2024
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Wellington City LibrariesChildren's team at Wellington City Libraries
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Puppy bus
Brockington, Drew
Paper Book
When a boy and his family move, he has to start all over at a new school-and gets plenty of first day jitters. The teachers will be different, he'll have to make new friends, and he won't even know where the bathroom is! On the first day, he nervously gets on the bus, only to end up...
Lena's shoes are nervous : a first-day-of-school dilemma
Calabrese, Keith
Paper Book
In the tradition of School's First Day of School, debut author Keith Calabrese and Pura Belpré Award winner Juana Medina share a sweet, universal story about a clever little girl whose shoes are nervous about the first day of school. Today is a big day! Today, Lena starts...
We don't eat our classmates
Higgins, Ryan T.
Paper Book
It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her classmates. But it's hard to make human friends when they're so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all...
The invisible string backpack
Karst, Patrice
Paper Book
This companion book to The Invisible String--which has sold 1.5 million copies to date--offers a complete socio-emotional toolkit for back-to-school--and your whole life! It's Mila's first day of school, but mixed with...
I am ready for school! : a book about transitions
Krensky, Stephen
Paper Book
I fit just right in every chair. With toys and books for me to share. Reassuring rhyming text introduces preschoolers to their first day of school where a welcoming teacher, a cheery classroom, and new friends await! The Empowerment series addresses the small...
Henry at home
Maynor, Megan
Paper Book
The love between a brother and sister shines through in this reassuring picture book about a common childhood transition--an older sibling starting school and leaving the younger one behind. Liza is Henry's big sister, and Henry is Liza's little brother. As long as there has...
The pigeon has to go to school!
Willems, Mo
Paper Book
Mo Willems, #1 New York Times best-selling creator and three-time Caldecott Honoree, presents everyone's favorite Pigeon trying to escape . . . SCHOOL.   Why does the Pigeon have to go to school? He already knows everything! And what if he doesn't like it? What if the...

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