Time for School/Kindergarten for Kids (ages 4-6)

Is it time for Kindergarten? Are there nerves about starting school for the first time? Check out these picturebook and early reader recommendations.

Updated August 8, 2025
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
The kissing hand
Penn, Audrey
Paper Book
School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester's fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. Since its first publication in 1993, this heartwarming...

Picturebook

First day of school
Berg, Esther van den
Paper Book
A funny, heartwarming, and colorful picture book about the first school at day. For children who are a little afraid of this big step and for those looking forward to it. It's Robin's first day at school. He doesn't look forward to it, but he actually ends up having a lot of fun!...

Picturebook

School's first day of school
Rex, Adam
Paper Book
"An essential purchase that is simultaneously funny, frank, and soothing. A perfect first day read-aloud."― School Library Journal, starred review A heartwarming and clever first day of school tale, from New York Times bestsellers Adam Rex (The Legend...

Picturebook

It's your first day of school, Busy Bus!
Shaffer, Jody Jensen
Paper Book
It's the first day of school! But is Busy Bus ready? Find out in this darling picture book that showcases the excitement and worries little ones experience as they prepare for their first day. Today is the very first day of school! Busy Bus is excited, but he also has some first...

Picturebook

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...

Picturebook

Amelia Bedelia's first day of school
Parish, Herman.
Paper Book
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,...

Picturebook (topic: grade 1)

My first day of school
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin
Paper Book
Young readers can learn all about what happens at school in this Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read with sweet text and photographs of first-time students! It's the first day of school in this early reader by Biscuit creator Alyssa Satin Capucilli. What will it be like? At school,...

Levelled Reader (level pre-1)


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