Back-to-School! A Reading List for KidsUnpublished

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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...

In this hilarious yet reassuring back-to-school picture book, a backpack deals with first-day-of-school nerves and feeling out of place. Filled with crowded hallways, lonely cafeteria tables, toilet stalls, and the signature existential angst of Simon Rich, this fun read-aloud will have kids braving...

A joyful picture book about a young alpaca's first day back at school, from powerhouse team Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen and Leeza Hernandez The first day back to school is always a little scary, but Alpaca is ready to face the new year! With shoes tied and snack-a all packed-a,...

What do glow-in-the-dark glue sticks, an electronic garbage truck pencil sharpener, and neon paper clips have in common? Not one of them is on the list and yet they all end up in the back-to-school cart when Daddy, Jake, and Jenny pick out school supplies while Mommy's off shopping in another part...

What will distract first-time students from first-day jitters? Entering secret-agent mode, of course! The team from Mission- New Baby is back with a new assignment- turn school into a thrilling action adventure! After rendezvousing at the vehicle checkpoint (meeting at the bus...

It's Tiny T. Rex's first day of school! In this new addition to the bestselling series, Tiny is certain he's ready for anything at his BIG new school--but learns that even the best-prepared dinosaur will still meet some "oopsies" along the way!  

It's time for school in this Step 1 reader featuring the family from Pumpkin Day!, Apple Picking Day!, Garden Day, Snow Day, and Beach Day! The start of the new school year means new friends and new experiences! It's big sister's first day of...

Follow a girl through her day in a busy city as she travels to school and back again in this inviting book that teaches directional concepts like over, under, and through. Out the door, down the stoop, past...

Dora the Explorer meets No Reservations in this delicious picture book debut! Follow Kalamata and her alligator sidekick on the first of many exciting food adventures in a charming story about facing fears and overcoming back-to-school jitters. Grown-ups never...

Dany, Madison, and... wait -- another Dany?! -- must navigate some very complicated friendships while trying to capture a magical dog that is turning their town upside down!Almost everything is going great for Dany. She and Madison are still best friends, she still has her magic...

Eighth-grader Jared Shotpouch loved lacrosse--until his grandmother moved them off the reservation. Now he's at a new school and on a new team where nothing feels right. The other kids tease Jared about everything from his last name to his long, braided hair--and the worst bullies are his own...

A younger sibling's curiosity about school opens up a world of possibilities in this ode to the great outdoors. Tomorrow is the first day of the new school year, and big sister Mona can't wait to go back. "What do you do at school?" asks little brother Milo. As he listens to Mona...

When Pan the Mini-Dragon hides in Eric's backpack and ends up at school, things get pretty awkward! But it's even worse when Eric's annoying neighbor, Toby, steals Pan, thinking he's a flashy new toy. Can Eric rescue the Mini-Dragon before he becomes the star attraction at Toby's show-and-tell?

Ever since he was in kindergarten, Leo has had a hard time making friends. He always has so much going on in his head, and his words come out so slowly that the other kids just run off to play without listening to him. Things are different after he meets Ralph. Ralph is from a different...

What do you do when fear stops you from having fun? From the creator of Ruby Finds a Worry, a story about feeling shy and finding ways to have fun anyway. Sammy LOVES having fun. Especially at home. But in big groups-like at school, birthday parties, even the ice...

A back-to-school picture book about the importance of acknowledging your feelings and using them as tools for navigating new experiences. Inspired by the way teachers talk about emotional literacy with young children, this is the ideal book for any kid facing a big milestone, from...

A back-to-school celebration featuring the beloved characters from the New York Times-bestselling All Are Welcome! This Step 2 early reader is perfect for emerging readers who are excited to learn more at school. The sun is up.      ...

On his first day at his new school, Puffin is thrilled when Penguin is assigned to be his buddy - Penguin's the coolest kid in the school! But Puffin quickly learns that the coolest kid is also the busiest kid, especially with Penguin starring as King Midas in the school play. Puffin realises he's...

A reassuring and empowering book for all incoming kindergarteners, especially those who wonder: Am I ready You are! The unknown can be scary and the first day of school intimidating, for kids and the grownups who love them. Perfect for easing nerves and increasing excitement,...

"A book about a time-traveling app? I'm in! Jen Calonita strikes again with a coming-of-age middle grade full of wit and a little bit of magic. "-Sarah Mlynowski,New York Times bestselling author of the Whatever After and Upside Down Magic series "A...

In the second installment of the bestselling Lottie Brooks series, discover the friendships fails, flirtation fumbles, and fashion faux paus of an 11 (and 3/4!) year-old-girl trying to survive her first year of middle school. Dear diary, I'm back! Sorry it's been SO long but I...

Maple is in fifth grade--again. Now everyone will find out she struggles with reading--or will they? An engaging read for anyone who has ever felt different. Maple Mehta-Cohen has been keeping a secret: she can't read all that well. She has an impressive vocabulary and loves...

Brother and Sister Bear celebrate their new teacher in this heartwarming addition to the classic New York Times bestselling series The Berenstain Bears! Brother and Sister Bear are very excited to be going back to school! But there's one big question on their minds--who will be their new...

With multiple starred reviews, don't miss this humorous, poignant, and original contemporary story about bullying, broken friendships, social media, and the failures of communication between kids. From John David Anderson, author of the acclaimed Ms. Bixby's Last Day. In middle school...

Amelia Bedelia goes to school and mixes up just about everything in this bright and funny picture book about the childhood of the iconic character. In the first book in the nationally bestselling series about the childhood of America's favorite literal-minded housekeeper, Amelia Bedelia is...

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 expression of a universal experience." --Kirkus"A cheering...

Daisy and Yeh-Yeh return in this schooltime story about being eager to make new friends and making up with them if things go wrong. Daisy's grandpa, Yeh-Yeh, is visiting from China, just in time for her new school year. But when she starts school, she realizes that none of her...

It's the first day of school for Hedgehog and her forest friends in this cozy classroom caper about overcoming doubts and letting your light shine, with full-color art on every page from a beloved Caldecott Honor winner. We all have different strengths and weaknesses,

A teacher welcomes a new group of students as they prepare for an exciting and collaborative year ahead in this uplifting ode to educators from the bestselling creators of All Are Welcome. Includes a poster on the flip side of the jacket! On the first day of...

A reassuring introduction for those precious first days of school by a teacher who yearned for a book like this to share with her students The time to start preschool is a huge transition for young learners--emotionally, socially, and psychologically. Many children suffer from...

Join a young boy as he takes readers through his day at school in this charming Spanglish picture book companion to Laurenne Sala's Mi Casa Is My Home. It's where I learn números, letras, kindness y amistad. Meet under el gran árbol, where...

Meet Max, a Little Axolotl! He's new to school and just a little bit shy, but he's already making waves. This graphic novel is perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly! It's Max's first day at Coral Elementary school. The school is filled with marine animals, like dolphins,...

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...

Get ready for first grade in this exciting new series for kids embarking on new adventures! Vera Ahiyya, the Tutu Teacher, knows everything your family needs to get ready... and to celebrate every precious moment! This edition includes an adorable press-out sign for first day photo...

Bunny Baxter thinks nothing could be worse than starting seventh grade at a school where she knows no one. But after her first day, she realizes things can actually get much worse. If Bunny Baxter were an insect, she'd have so many ways to slip through seventh grade unnoticed....

A middle schooler's plan to fit in with her new friends by writing herself a fake love letter backfires spectacularly in this funny and all-too-relatable graphic novel perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and the Berrybrook Middle School series. Jackie and Milo have been best...

A gentle tale sure to help children transition with ease to a new learning environment. (Picture book. 3-5) - Kirkus Reviews Today my mom and dad drop me off at preschool for the very first time. They think I'll have fun, but they're wrong! At first, I'm super sad, but the...

Twelve-year-old Ming Lee hopes middle school will be the fresh start he needs. But stepping into school with the same bowl haircut his mom insists on giving him, and wearing the extra-discounted thrift shop clothes she buys him doesn't quite make for the first day of his dreams...

Bulldozer is nervous about his new school year and worried he won't fit in. His friend Millie tries to reassure him, but Bulldozer isn't convinced...especially when he gets to his classroom and things start going wrong. But just when he's sure his day couldn't get worse, something amazing happens...

Meet everyone who works in a school in this fun, interactive story that is the book to introduce kids to how a school works.  Perfect for fans of Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy World. Welcome to Sunnyside School! It's the first day of school, and Ali...

An adorable and reassuring book for kids who are starting school for the first time, and a funny look at the similarities and differences between kindergarten and doggie daycare It's the first day of kid school for Sammy and the first day of puppy school for Sunny. They both feel...

WINNER, 2024 FOREWORD INDIES, HONORABLE MENTION, JUVENILE FICTION CBC 2025 MIDDLE-GRADE & TEACHER FAVORITES A DÍA READING LIST 2025 PICK A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS 2024 PICK From New York Times essayist Raj Tawney comes All Mixed Up<...

NATIONAL BESTSELLER * Laugh out loud with the iconic Junie B. Jones--now starring in "a dynamic new graphic ­novel series that stays true to the curious, ­energetic Junie of years past" (School Library Journal, starred review). "Hilarious. Barbara Park makes reading fun."--Dav...

Get ready to conquer those back-to-school jitters with this exciting new Dealing with Feelings beginning reader! This Step 2 reader is perfect for kids who recognize familiar sight words and are working on sounding out new ones! It's natural for children to feel anxious about the...

"Now I know why Mom made me ride my bike to school. I missed so much!" -Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert "Josh Lieb continues to put out hilarious children's books that make up for his conspicuous lack of hilarious children's existential one act...

Vrrrm! Trucks and other vehicles are zooming by! But in this relatable board book, why is the school bus the one to watch for? One eager little brother is at home, playing alone. He listens and looks out for a variety of trucks and vehicles that pass by his home. But he's...

An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller A #1 Indie Bestseller Get ready for back-to-school season and hop on board with The Yellow Bus, #1 New York Times-bestselling creator Loren Long's tender and hopeful modern classic about a...

Bigger, better, and bursting with laughs--school is back in session with 1,001 Laugh-Out-Loud Back to School Jokes for Kids! The #1 bestselling Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids series is heading to homeroom with its biggest collection yet--1,001 side-splitting school...

How many people make the school day possible? Let's say thank you to every single one, in this picture book of thank you poems from kids to their school community helpers. THANK YOU to our custodians who care for our school and fix...

Perfect for fans of Jeff Kinney and Terri Libensen, A Kid Like Me is a timely exploration about finding your place in the ever-evolving social landscape that is middle school, written and illustrated by award-winning graphic novelist Norm Feuti. Ethan doesn't...

Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli returns to the characters from Third Grade Angels and Fourth Grade Rats for FIFTH GRADE TOP DOGS! George, aka "Suds," is about to start the fifth grade, where he, his best friend Joey, and the rest of his classmates will be the top dogs of the...

Maeve Mulvaney goes from "family raincloud" to Feminist Superhero in this upper middle grade novel perfect for fans of Carrie Firestone, Julie Murphy, and Barbara Dee. A Jane Addams Children's Book Award Finalist Fourteen-year-old Maeve feels more at home in the...

In this hilarious installment of a #1 New York Times bestselling series, Rafe is finally getting a taste of the cool life--but his problems are red-hot!   Rafe Khatchadorian has never been cool. But all that changes when he becomes the guitarist in an...

ALA Notable Children's Book Regional Indie Bestseller Audie Award Winner Edgar Award Nominee Cybils Award Nominee YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults New York Public Library Best Book of the...

What happens when your BFF doesn't feel like forever anymore? A fresh, honest, and emotionally sharp graphic novel about what it means when friendships change--and whether "forever" can sometimes mean something different than you expected. "Perfect for...

Told from the perspectives of two friends-one with a disability and one without-Special is Wonder for Down syndrome. Madison has always helped and protected Meg. Why wouldn't she? They're "M&M"-best friends and always together. Meg's Down syndrome never mattered. ...

From the bestselling author of the Okay Witch series comes a contemporary graphic novel about the only thing standing between the kids of Orange Grove Junior High and summer break-one party, and a whole lot of drama. "Judy Blume level . . . Honest and heartfelt, the book's dialogue...

For fans of The Breakfast Club who wished every member was a nerd, this new middle grade novel stars a totally uncool boy who gets adopted by a group of other uncool kids in a bid to take over their school. Jimmy Stern can't catch a break. As the new kid at...

New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia has returned with a middle grade graphic novel about the struggles of a game-loving girl who gets diagnosed with dyslexia and her loving support network that help her along in the journey. Stella knows fifth grade will be...

Outstanding Comics Award for Children Honor Book * Asian/Pacific American Award Honor Book From New York Times bestselling author Gale Galligan comes a funny and vibrant semi-autobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about friendship and belonging. Ollie Herisson's...

Meet Murphy! His first picture book is a hilarious and heartfelt reminder that time apart makes every second together that much sweeter. Perfect for fans of Llama Destroys the World and Grumpy Monkey. Murphy is an irresistibly cute and rambunctious French bulldog...

A tender sibling story about how we make unlikely friendships as seasons shift and hearts grow. A sweet picture book for ages 3 to 7 where friendships with ducks helps a boy face change and appreciate his growing sibling bond. Nothing feels the same after a young boy...

A brand-new Penelope Rex book from Ryan T. Higgins, the #1 New York Times best-selling author-illustrator ofWe Don't Eat Our Classmates and Mother Bruce! Just when she has gotten used to being the only dinosaur in a class full of children, Penelope Rex is...

"Fresh and funny." --New York Times Book Review Over 2 million copies of the Real Friends series sold! Newbery Honor author Shannon Hale and New York Times bestselling illustrator LeUyen Pham join forces in this graphic memoir about how hard it is...

From the bestselling author of Sometimes I'm Bombaloo comes another sweet and heartwarming tale about dealing with BIG feelings! Katie Honors is a really sweet kid. She has a smile for everyone, almost all the time. She can clean right up and say goodbye at a playdate when her mom...

Do you dread Mondays? Does the thought fill you with anxiety? Then this humorous picture book on tackling anxiety about the week ahead might be just what you need to get rid of the Sunday scaries. Josie loves the weekend. She gets to do all her favorite things with mom and dad...

A fresh take on first-day-of-school-jitters with Penelope Rex, a dinosaur with a taste for children, from the author of the New York Times bestselling MOTHER BRUCE series, Ryan T. Higgins. It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her...