Children's Books About... First Day of School

These books are on the shelves of the Dorothy Henry Branch in Vernon, NJ. It will be updated as frequently as possible to ensure that the titles offered are either still on the shelves, or in some cases, up to date.

Updated February 24, 2025
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Time for school! /
Biggs, Brian,
Paper Book
From New York Times­-bestselling author and illustrator Brian Biggs comes the second picture book in the collectible Tinyville Town series. In this next book in the preschool series, Time for School! shows how the whole community comes together for the first day of class. Mr. Meyer picks...
Monkey.
Brown, Marc Tolon
Paper Book
The new baby is coming soon . . . but Monkey is NOT ready. Acclaimed author and illustrator Marc Brown (Arthur) offers a fun and reassuring story about becoming a big brother. Monkey is very nervous about the new baby. He likes being a little brother! Before the big...
Not this bear :
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin,
Paper Book
The story of an adorable bear's first day of preschool, Alyssa Satin Capucilli'sNot This Bear, featuring illustrations by Lorna Hussey. It's Bear's first day of school, and he's a bit reluctant to go. Mama says all bears love school; Bear isn't so sure. But...
Steve, raised by wolves /
Chapman, Jared
Paper Book
On the first day of school, a wild little boy learns how to fit in--and how to stand out! Just right for fans of Peter Brown's Mr. Tiger Goes Wild. "Be yourself!" Steve's mom tells him on the first day of school, and he knows just what to do. After all, wolves are great at...
Heidi Heckelbeck has a secret /
Coven, Wanda.
Paper Book
Introducing Heidi Heckelbeck--a brand-new young chapter book series with witchy whimsy! Now readers between the ages of five and seven can read chapter books tailor-made for a younger level of reading comprehension. Heavily illustrated with large type, Little Simon's young...
Little Ghoul goes to school /
Czekaj, Jef,
Paper Book
Perfect for back-to-school and Halloween, this is a funny and sweet story about a monster's first day of school by the popular author-illustrator of Cat Secrets. The ideal next read for fans of First Day Jitters, My Monster Mama Loves Me So, and We Don't Eat Our Classmates. Little Ghoul is...
Get ready for second grade, Amber Brown
Danziger, Paula
Paper Book
Amber Brown is excited about starting second grade, but she is also a little nervous. There is a new second grade teacher this year. The old second grade teacher was really nice and used to smile at Amber in the hall. What if the new one isn't as nice? What if she doesn't like Amber?
Pete the cat.
Dean, James,
Paper Book
If you want to be cool, just be YOU! That's the message of this funny, relatable Pete the Cat school story--and kids will laugh and agree. Pete the Cat can't decide what to wear to school in Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School. With so many groovy options to choose from, Pete just keeps...
Ten rules you absolutely must not break if you want to survive the school bus /
Grandits, John.
Paper Book
Kyle is dreading his first trip aboard the school bus. Luckily, his big brother, James, is a school bus expert. James gives Kyle ten rules for riding the bus that he absolutely, positively must obey if he wants to avoid getting laughed at or yelled at, pushed around, or even pounded. During...
Brand-new pencils, brand-new books /
De Groat, Diane
Paper Book
Gilbert, the popular star of deGroat's "New York Times" bestseller "Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink," returns in this humorous and reassuring back-to-school story, in which Gilbert experiences his first day in first grade. Full color.
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...
Spot loves school /
Hill, Eric,
Paper Book
Enjoy the first day of school with Spot! It's Spot's first day of school! He and his friends sing together, play together, and read together. When it's time to go home, Spot can't wait to come back tomorrow! Young readers will love going to school with their favorite puppy Spot.
My first day
Jenkins, Steve
Paper Book
The first day of life is different for every animal. Human newborns don't do much at all, but some animals hit the ground running. The Caldecott Honor-winning team Steve Jenkins and Robin Page apply their considerable talents to revealing how twenty two different species, from the...
Pinkalicious.
Kann, Victoria.
Paper Book
Readers can watch Pinkalicious and Peterrific on the funtastic PBS Kids TV series Pinkalicious & Peterrific! A Pinkalicious I Can Read story from New York Times bestselling author Victoria Kann: It's time for school! Pinkalicious usually likes school, but she thinks of something to...
Chicken in school /
Lehrhaupt, Adam,
Paper Book
Join Zoey the chicken for a tour of her unusual classroom in this celebration of creativity, friendship, and tasty snacks. When Zoey decides to turn the barn into a school and become a teacher, everyone in the barnyard learns that the best part of school is using your imagination.<...
Logan likes Mary Anne!
Martin, Ann M.,
Paper Book
Another Baby-sitters Club graphic novel adapted by New York Times bestselling author Gale Galligan! It's the first day of a new school year, and while Mary Anne doesn't know what to expect from the eighth grade, she's looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. One...
Lucky Ducky's very first day of school /
Mayer, Mercer,
Paper Book
Beloved I Can Read character Little Critter is making his first-ever appearance in I Can Read Comics! This lively, funny reader is filled with sound effects, panels, and speech balloons--the perfect introduction to young graphic novel storytelling. There's a surprise at Grandma and...
Jojo vs. middle school /
McCullough, Joy
Paper Book
After having hilariously terrible first days of sixth grade, four girls vow to ride out the super highs and cringe-worthy lows of middle school together, no matter how awkward it gets, in this first book in the Team Awkward middle grade series. Jojo has everything planned out for...
Vivian Lantz's second chances /
Ormsbee, Katie.
Paper Book
Groundhog Day meets Eighth Grade in this time-loop story set on the first day of school, from the critically acclaimed author of Candidly Cline. Vivian Lantz is cursed. Every year, terrible things happen on her first day of school. This year, Vivian has a plan to conquer eighth grade. But...
My first day /
Phung, Nguyen Quang,
Paper Book
A visually stunning story of resilience and determination by an award-winning new author-illustrator team, perfect for back to school. This is no ordinary first journey. The rainy season has come to the Mekong Delta, and An, a young Vietnamese boy, sets out alone in a wooden boat...
A pirate's guide to first grade /
Preller, James
Paper Book
Arr!It's the first day of first grade, and it's all hands on deck for a young pirate and his crew. How much trouble can they get into? What will they do at recess? And, most important, what treasure awaits them at school?
Birdie's first day of school
Rim, Sujean
Paper Book
Tomorrow is Birdie's first day of school and she is just SO nervous. What will her teacher be like? What should she bring? What should she WEAR? When Birdie walks into her brand-new classroom . . . oh my! A whole new world opens up as she discovers all the fun and adventure...
It's the first day of school-- forever!
Stine, R. L.
Paper Book
On the first day of school, Artie falls out of his bed and hits his head. Hard. He tells his mom he's dizzy and she says, "You're just worried about your first day in a new school." At breakfast, his little brother, Eddie, splashes syrup in his hair, and there's no time to wash it. Artie...
Ruby's tools for making friends /
Stott, Apryl,
Paper Book
A little fox uses tools to overcome anxiety and make friends at her new school in this heartfelt picture book from the creator of the New York Times bestseller Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light! It's Ruby the fox's first day at a new school. She's a little...
Max at school /
Wells, Rosemary
Paper Book
Learn to read with beloved bunnies Max and Ruby in this fun rhyming story! Max waves good-bye to his parents, boards the bus with Ruby, and heads to school with his book and lunch box in tow. There he sings songs, paints pictures, and even gets to dress up like a pirate! Once the...
On the Night Before Kindergarten
Wells, Rosemary
Paper Book
Beloved author-illustrator Rosemary Wells tells the story of a young cat who goes to bed worrying about what might happen on the first day of school--only to be pleasantly surprised in this engaging and reassuring picture book! On the night before kindergarten, Milo's dreams are...
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...
Mom, it's my first day of kindergarten! /
Yum, Hyewon.
Paper Book
It's a child's first day of kindergarten, but who is worried about all the new people and the different things he'll meet--the child? No! The mother. In a refreshing reversal of roles, the child takes it upon himself to comfort and reassure his mother that everything will be fine, she'll get used...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.