Going to Kindergarten

Starting school is an exciting time in your child’s life. You can help them prepare by sharing stories together at home. Discover many things to talk about in these picture books - from getting ready for the first day to exploring what happens at school. Stories can help your child understand that kindergarten is a place where learning and fun go together!

Updated March 28, 2024
W
Winnipeg Public Library
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Our favorite day of the year
Ali, A. E.
Paper Book
"Gorgeously inviting illustrations and a joyful theme...the consummate first day read." --Shelf Awareness (starred review) A heartwarming picture book following a group of boys from different backgrounds throughout the school year as they become the best of friends....
This is a school
Schu, John
Paper Book
A moving celebration of school and all it may signify: work and play, creativity and trust, and a supportive community that extends beyond walls A school isn't just a building; it is all the people who work and learn together. It is a place for discovery and asking questions. A...
The class
Ashburn, Boni
Paper Book
Count along with twenty young students from nineteen different homes as they get ready for their first day of kindergarten. Alarm clocks go off and students all over town wake up and get ready for their big day. Some feel eager, others are nervous, and a few are even grumpy! But...
I can, too!
Autio, Karen
Paper Book
A wonderful story of new friendship between two children with diverse abilities. Piper and Kayla love to move. They ride bikes, glide on ice, swoosh down mountains and much more -- each in her own way. While Piper pedals her tricycle with her feet, Kayla uses her hands to move her trike...
Canadian author.
Roi de la Maternelle
Barnes, Derrick D.
Paper Book
See below for English description. Commencer la maternelle est une étape importante, et le héros de cette histoire est plus que prêt! Il s'habille tout seul, mange une pile de crêpes et pénètre enfin dans le royaume des enfants. La journée est chargée, mais il relève le défi et vit...
Becoming Vanessa
Brantley-Newton, Vanessa
Paper Book
Get ready to go back to school with this inclusive, empathetic story that will help kids new to the classroom transform from timid caterpillars into beautiful butterflies who love exactly who they are! On Vanessa's first day of school, her parents tell her it will be easy to make...
Not yet, Yeti
Freitas, Bethany V.
Paper Book
Yeti learns about the importance of patience and perseverance as he uses growth mindset on his first day of kindergarten. It's Yeti's first day of school and there are so many new things to try! Maybe he can't do everything he wants to do perfectly just yet, but his...
Tayra's not talking
Button, Lana
Paper Book
Tayra won't talk to her new classmates. Is there anything they can do? Why doesn't the new student in Miss Seabrooke's kindergarten class say anything when the other students talk to her? Speaking LOUDER doesn't help. Tayra won't even answer the teacher! They're about to give up. But then Kitty...

Canadian author.

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...
The King of Kindergarten
Barnes, Derrick D.
Paper Book
The morning sun blares through your window like a million brass trumpets.It sits and shines behind your head--like a crown. Mommy says that today, you are going to be the King of Kindergarten! Starting kindergarten is a big milestone--and the hero of this story is ready to make...
ABC ready for school : an alphabet of social skills
Delaney, Celeste
Paper Book
Help young children learn social skills and get ready for a successful start to school with this award-winning alphabet book. C is for cooperate. G is for grow. P is for play! This friendly and reassuring alphabet book helps young children (and...
1, 2, 3, off to school!
Dubuc, Marianne
Paper Book
In this playful take on school readiness by award-winning author-illustrator Marianne Dubuc, a child visits their friends' schools and discovers how many wonderful things kindergarteners do in a day! Pom is ready for the first day of kindergarten. Not the real first day, that's not...

Petit lutin entre en maternelle l'annee prochaine. Il observe les differentes ecoles des animaux pour savoir laquelle choisir.

Auteure canadienne.

1, 2, 3, off to school!
Dubuc, Marianne
Paper Book
In this playful take on school readiness by award-winning author-illustrator Marianne Dubuc, a child visits their friends' schools and discovers how many wonderful things kindergarteners do in a day! Pom is ready for the first day of kindergarten. Not the real first day, that's not...

Canadian author.

The day my mom came to kindergarten
Fergus, Maureen.
Paper Book
"I liked kindergarten from the very 1st day," begins the narrator of this very funny and touching picture book. However, she notices, "My mom was happy for me, of course, but I got the feeling that she was also a little sad" to leave her. So one day the little girl invites her mom to join the...
Planet Kindergarten
Ganz-Schmitt, Sue
Paper Book
A genius way to ease kids into the new adventure that is kindergarten." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review This clever picture book will prepare young explorers to boldly go where they have never gone before: Planet Kindergarten. Suit up for a daring adventure as our hero...
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...
Move it, Miss Macintosh!
Janousky, Peggy Robbins
Paper Book
It's the first day of school and Miss Macintosh is certain about one thing: she isn't going! As she snuggles back under the covers, the doorbell rings. In comes Mr. Bellweather, the school principal who assures her that all kindergarten teachers have first day jitters. Soon, other...

Canadian author.

Le Premier Jour d'école de Madame Pépin
Lands, Meghan
Paper Book
See below for English description. C'est la rentrée, et madame Pépin ne veut pas aller à l'école Alors qu'elle s'apprête à retourner dans son lit douillet, le directeur de l'école tente de la convaincre que c'est normal pour les professeurs peur le premier jour d'école. ...
Pirates don't go to kindergarten!
Robinson, Lisa
Paper Book
Yo, ho, ho! It's a mutiny against kindergarten! Pirate Emma is about to start kindergarten! But Emma's not so sure she's ready for a new captain and crew. Especially since Cap'n Chu--the roughest, toughest, awesomest preschool cap'n ever--is right down the hall. So Emma decides to...
Butterflies on the first day of school
Silvestro, Annie
Paper Book
The first day of school is exciting--but it can be scary, too! Meet Rosie, a brand-new student who just happens to have butterflies in her stomach.   "Silvestro and Chen take a common figure of speech and transform it, literally, into a lovely...
Dad's first day
Wohnoutka, Mike
Paper Book
Oliver can't wait for his first day of school, but his dad isn't quite ready! Celebrate the new school year with this fun-filled tale about embracing new experiences--at any age! Oliver and his dad spent all summer playing together, laughing together, singing together, and...
La rentrée de papa
Wohnoutka, Mike.
Paper Book
See below for English description. Tout l'été, Olivier et son papa jouent ensemble, rient ensemble, chantent ensemble et lisent ensemble. Quand vient le jour de la rentrée, Olivier est fin prêt... mais son papa, lui, ne l'est pas. Il est anxieux... Olivier le convainc de le conduire...

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