Children's Book Suggestions | First Day of School Picture Books

A few of our favorite books about the first day of school for incoming preschoolers and kindergarteners. You can view all of our first day of school books in the library's online catalog.

Updated June 13, 2024
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Kindergarten : where kindness matters every day
Ahiyya, Vera
Paper Book
Written by kindergarten teacher and Instagram influencer affectionately known as the Tutu Teacher, comes a picture book about a class that creates a kindness pledge to ensure that their class is the kindest it can possibly be. It's the first day of Kindergarten and Leo isn't at...
Isabel and her colores go to school
Alessandri, Alexandra
Paper Book
English, with its blustery blues and whites, just feels wrong to Isabel. She prefers the warm oranges and pinks of Spanish. As she prepares for class at a new school, she knows she's going to have to learn--and she would rather not! Her first day is uncomfortable, until she discovers there's more...
A tiger tail
Boldt, Mike
Paper Book
From the creative mind of rising star Mike Boldt comes a hilarious and original tale about overcoming back-to-school jitters, making new friends, and taking things in stride. Anya wakes up to discover that she has grown a tiger tail. Yes, a striped tiger tail. It also happens to...
The giggles are coming!
Eliopoulos, Chris
Paper Book
A couple of friends can't keep from laughing during class on the first day of school, in this companion to The Yawns Are Coming from the illustrator of the Ordinary People Change the World series! Two best friends are so excited to go back to school. They're in the same...
Planet Kinder-garten
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...
Field trip to volcano island
Hare, John, (Children's book illustrator)
Paper Book
A wordless picture book adventure takes a group of students to visit a thrilling volcanic island. Perfect for fans of Field Trip to the Moon, Field Trip to the Ocean Deep, and field trips in general! John Hare's rich, atmospheric art invites all...
El Cucuy is scared, too!
Higuera, Donna Barba
Paper Book
A boy and his monster confront their mutual fears in this unlikely friendship story that's rooted in Mexican folklore Ramón is a little boy who can't sleep. He is nervous for his first day at a new school. And El Cucuy is the monster who lives in Ramón's cactus pot. He...
¡El Cucuy también tiene miedo!
Higuera, Donna Barba
Paper Book
Un niño y su monstruo confrontan sus miedos compartidos en una improbable historia de amistad, con raíces mexicanas. Ramón es un niño pequeño y está tan asustado por el primer día en una nueva escuela que no puede dormir. El Cucuy, que es un monstruo que vive en la maceta de su...
Danbi leads the school parade
Kim, Anna
Paper Book
An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book Meet Danbi, the new girl at school! Danbi is thrilled to start her new school in America. But a bit nervous too, for when she walks into the classroom, everything goes quiet. Everyone stares. Danbi wants to...
The Color Monster goes to school
Llenas, Anna
Paper Book
PERFECT FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL! This fun and inviting introduction to the joy and wonder of first school days stars the lovable, mischievous hero from the beloved bestseller The Color Monster. The Color Monster feels a little nervous. Today is...
I'm smart!
McMullan, Kate
Paper Book
From the popular creators of I Stink! and I'm Dirty!--now a streaming animated series--comes the perfect school-time addition to their noisy series: a school bus! Smarter than a rocket scientist, more powerful than a monster truck, able to halt traffic with the flick of a switch! Drive you...
School day!
Ransom, Candice F.
Paper Book
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...
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...
The secret life of squirrels : back to school!
Rose, Nancy
Paper Book
Get ready for the first day of school in this fourth book in the popular series featuring photographs of wild squirrels! Mr. Peanuts' teacher friend Rosie needs help preparing for the first day of school! The two squirrels go shopping for school supplies, set up the library and...
I got the school spirit
Schofield-Morrison, Connie
Paper Book
Celebrate the new school year with this lively back-to-school read-aloud! Summer is over, and this little girl has got the school spirit! She hears the school spirit in the bus driving up the street--VROOM, VROOM!--and in the bell sounding in the halls--RING-A-DING!<...
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...
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...
One boy watching
Snider, Grant
Paper Book
Everyone knows what it feels like to be a passenger--and this book finally puts this universal feeling into words. Climb aboard Bus Number Four as it travels along country roads and city streets, past train tracks and farm fields. Through the window, countless details rush by,...
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...
School of fish
Yolen, Jane
Paper Book
From acclaimed, prolific author Jane Yolen comes a Level 1 Ready-to-Read story bursting with all the excitement and a little bit of the nervousness that color a fish's first day at a new school. I look around. What do I see? Another fish who's just like me! A...

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