Back to School Book List

These books are great reads for the child heading off to school for the very first time, managing those first day jitters, or just on the theme of school. All these selections are available through the Sussex County Library System. You will find board books, picture books, easy readers, fiction, nonfiction as well as teen selections.

Updated August 18, 2025
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Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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Bear with me
Kerascoët
Paper Book
An endearing picture book from two New York Times bestselling creators about a little girl who learns to cope when she is asked to leave her beloved stuffed animal at home. A child's favorite stuffed animal is a member of the family. This little girl and her bear are no...
Bitsy Bat, School Star
Windness, Kaz
Paper Book
Three starred reviews! 2024 Bank Street Best Children's Book Selection A little bat struggles to fit in only to learn to celebrate differences in this "darling book for all children but especially those with autism" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)...
Clifford goes to kindergarten
Bridwell, Norman
Paper Book
Join Clifford as he spends the day with Emily Elizabeth in kindergarten! 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...
The day you begin /
Woodson, Jacqueline
Paper Book
A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Featured in its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices! National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner Rafael López have teamed up to...
Goodnight school /
Bailey, Catherine
Paper Book
School's First Day of School meets Good Night, Gorilla in this irresistible bedtime story about School getting ready to go to sleep! As the sun sets, a security guard arrives to help this sleepy little school get some rest. From tucking in chairs to checking all the locks to listening to the...
The Kissing Hand /
Penn, Audrey,
Llama Llama back to school /
Duncan, Reed,
Paper Book
A Netflix Original series From bestselling author and storyteller Anna Dewdney comes a back-to-school story featuring the beloved Llama Llama! Summer days are getting shorter and it's almost time for the first day of school for Llama! But Llama Llama isn't ready for...
Llama Llama misses Mama /
Dewdney, Anna.
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . Join Llama Llama as he attends his first day of preschool in this charmingly illustrated picture book, perfect for introducing little ones to a big milestone. Strange new teacher. Strange new toys. Lots of kids and lots of noise!...
Old School
Korman, Gordon
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unteachables comes a hilarious story about a boy who is homeschooled in his grandmother's retirement community...until he is forced to go to public school.  Dexter Foreman is twelve going on...
The Queen of Kindergarten /
Barnes, Derrick,
Paper Book
A confident little Black girl has a fantastic first day of school in this companion to the New York Times bestseller The King of Kindergarten. MJ is more than ready for her first day of kindergarten! With her hair freshly braided and her mom's special tiara on her...
Ups and downs :
Wohnoutka, Mike,
Paper Book
In a feel-good concept book, the Geisel Award-winning illustrator of See the Cat gives young children a vocabulary for naming--and managing--their emotions. From delight to disgust, excitement to fear, worry to confidence, boredom to curiosity, feelings can shift in a...
We share this school :
Saks, Dan,
Paper Book
A rhyming, heartfelt celebration of school communities and the vital role they play in young children's lives. This formative board book is an appreciation of school communities and the many ways in which they help develop empathy, compassion, and collective responsibility....

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