Back to School Book List

These books are great reads for the child heading off to school for the very first time, managing those first day jitters, or just on the theme of school. All these selections are available through the Sussex County Library System. You will find board books, picture books, easy readers, fiction, nonfiction as well as teen selections.

Updated August 18, 2025
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Sussex County Library System (NJ)
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Amelia Bedelia goes back to school /
Parish, Herman
Paper Book
Amelia Bedelia Goes Back to School will be featured in the HarperCollins booth at major institutional conferences, including TLA, IRA, ALA and NCTE A finished book will be sent to a list of 550 large school and public library systems and influential librarians and...
Arthur goes back to school
Arthur's back to school day
Hoban, Lillian
Paper Book
While hurrying to get on the school bus, Arthur and his friend unknowingly switch their lunchboxes; later Arthur finds out what surprise his sister had put into hers.
Arthur's back-to-school surprise
Brown, Marc Tolon
Paper Book
Arthur is all set for the first day back at school, but he no sooner sets foot in his new classroom when D.W.'s Mary Moo-Cow, a talking toy for preschoolers, falls out of his backpack in front of all his friends. His friends laugh and begin teasing poor embarrassed Arthur. How did that silly toy get...
Back to school, backpack! /
Rich, Simon
Paper Book
A hilarious yet reassuring back-to-school picture book by humorist, novelist, and TV writer Simon Rich-a clever and sweet follow-up to I'm Terrified of Bath Time, where a child's backpack frets about first-day-of-school jitters!  In this hilarious...
The Berenstain Bears go back to school /
Berenstain, Stan,
Paper Book
*Library listserv feature *The Berenstain Bears Go Back to School featured in the HarperCollins booth at major institutional conferences, including TLA, IRA, ALA and NCTE *A finished book sent...
Countdown to kindergarten
McGhee, Alison
Paper Book
It's just ten days before kindergarten, and this little girl has heard all there is to know--from afirst grader--about what it's going to be like. You can't bring your cat, you can't bring a stuffed animal, and the number one rule? You can't ask anyone for help. Ever. So what do you do...
D.W.'s guide to preschool
Brown, Marc Tolon
Paper Book
The annual Elwood City Dog Show is coming up and Arthur wants Pal to enter. They spend all week practising tricks and commands but when it's Pal's turn in front of the judges he does everything wrong. Arthur feels like all his hard work was for nothing until Pal and the judges show him that you don...
David goes to school
Shannon, David
Paper Book
A companion to the Caldecott Honor-winning classic No, David!by bestselling picture-book creator David Shannon!David's teacher has her hands full. From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David's high-energy antics fill each schoolday with trouble -- and are sure to bring a smile to...
Eliza's kindergarten surprise /
McGinty, Alice B.,
Paper Book
Eliza has to go to school for the first time ever. But she doesn't want to leave Mommy. Mommy understands. She places a kiss on her fingertips and gently slides it into Eliza's pocket. But Eliza's pocket still feels empty inside. Then, at school, she sees things that remind her of her mother. She...
First grade jitters
Quackenbush, Robert M.
Paper Book
Here is the story of a young boy who is about to enter first grade and doesn't know quite what to expect. Will his friends be there Will he have to know how to read and spell What if he can't understand anything his teacher says Looks like a case of first grade jitters! ...
First grade stinks
Rodman, Mary Ann.
Paper Book
No share time! Only one recess! Writing is hard! The stories don't end right! FIRST GRADE STINKS! It is the first day of school and Hayley is excited. Things are different now. She isn't a kindergartener anymore; she is a big kid. She is a first grader. ...
First grade, here I come!
Carlson, Nancy L.
Paper Book
After the first day of first grade, Henry's not so sure how he feels about it. The teacher is not like his kindergarten teacher, the fifth-graders hog the monkey bars, and there are too many new things to learn! But as Henry tells his mother about the cool classroom science corner, a new friend who...
The first week of school /
Beckmeyer, Drew,
Paper Book
Follow along as an ensemble cast of characters experience an extraordinary first week of school in this hilarious picture book that's perfect for fans of Jon Klassen and Lucy Ruth Cummins! It's the first day of school. An artist wonders if her drawings are good enough to show. An...
Goodnight school /
Bailey, Catherine
Paper Book
School's First Day of School meets Good Night, Gorilla in this irresistible bedtime story about School getting ready to go to sleep! As the sun sets, a security guard arrives to help this sleepy little school get some rest. From tucking in chairs to...
Kindergarten diary
Portis, Antoinette.
Paper Book
* Outreach to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) * Lead promotion at 2010 ALA Annual, including TENTATIVE finished book giveaway * Extensive F&G distribution at conferences * School & Library...
Kindergarten rocks! /
Davis, Katie
Paper Book
Dexter is ready for kindergarten. Sort of. Well, actually, he's maybe kind of a little bit scared, perhaps even terrified, one might say. Because what if he gets lost? Or, what if the teacher is mean? Or, he misses his mom or dad? Or, worst of all, he loses his most important ally, Rufus?
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...
Llama Llama back to school
Dewdney, Anna
Paper Book
Llama Llama misses Mama /
Dewdney, Anna.
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . Join Llama Llama as he attends his first day of preschool in this charmingly illustrated picture book, perfect for introducing little ones to a big milestone. Strange new teacher. Strange new toys. Lots of kids and lots of noise!...
Louise the big cheese and the back-to-school smarty-pants /
Primavera, Elise
Paper Book
Louise the Big Cheese is determined to make the grade in school this year and that means straight As. But she's stuck with the toughest teacher ever. Will Louise make the grade?
Maisy goes to preschool /
Cousins, Lucy.
Paper Book
Going to preschool is a lot more fun with a friend like Maisy to show you the ropes! Preschool for Maisy means a day filled with friends and things to do, from the time she hangs her coat on a special peg to the time she says good-bye. There’s painting and snack time,...
Monkey : not ready for kindergarten
Brown, Marc Tolon
Paper Book
Marc Brown, creator of the beloved Arthur books and TV show, offers a charming new character-and a fun and reassuring story about preparing for the first day of school. Kindergarten is only a week away...but Monkey is NOT ready. What if he gets on the wrong bus? What if they don...
My kindergarten /
Wells, Rosemary
Paper Book
It's the first day of school, and Emily and her friends are welcomed into the exciting world of kindergarten by Miss Cribbage. The first day marks the beginning of a whole year's worth of new experiences and discoveries: learning the alphabet, drawing a map, counting to ten, telling the time and...
My preschool /
Rockwell, Anne F.
Paper Book
Join a happy little boy during a day at preschool, from cheerful hellos in circle time, to painting colorful pictures and playing at the water table before snack time. The best part of saying good-bye at the end of the day is that the little boy knows he will come back tomorrow. In...
The night before first grade /
Wing, Natasha.
Paper Book
NATIONAL BESTSELLER . Putting an uplifting spin on a classic poem, this charmingly illustrated and lyrical picture book prepares kids-and their parents!-for all the firsts that first grade has to offer. "T'was the night before first grade. I kissed my dog Clover.<...
The night before kindergarten
Wing, Natasha.
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSSELLER . Putting an uplifting spin on a classic poem, this charmingly illustrated and lyrical picture book about starting kindergarten will help kids-and their parents!-prepare for the big day. "T'was the night before kindergarten, And as...
The night before preschool
Wing, Natasha
Paper Book
It's the night before preschool, and a little boy named Billy is so nervous he can't fall asleep. The friends he makes the next day at school give him a reason not to sleep the next night, either- he's too excited about going back! The book's simple rhyming text and sweet illustrations will soothe...
Off to first grade
Borden, Louise.
Paper Book
It's the first day of first grade, and everyone in Mrs. Miller's class is getting ready! Anna is excited about reading zillions of books, Ben's mom gives him a big off-to-first-grade hug, and Claire poses for a first-day picture. In Off to First Grade we hear from all twenty-three of Mrs....
Off to kindergarten
Johnston, Tony
Paper Book
"I'm off to kindergarten now. I'd better take my bear. He likes to sit beside me, so I'll take a little chair..." On his way to his first day of kindergarten, a boy thinks about what he might need: his bear, a chair, a pillow, cookies, milk, paints-even his swings-until Mom explains that his teacher...
Old School
Korman, Gordon
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unteachables comes a hilarious story about a boy who is homeschooled in his grandmother's retirement community...until he is forced to go to public school.  Dexter Foreman is twelve going on...
On the first day of first grade /
Rabe, Tish.
Paper Book
On the first day of first grade, there will be lots of fun! This is the perfect book to share with a kindergartner getting ready for the step up to "big kid" school! From choosing books to read to building things with clay to performing in a play, there are many exciting...
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?
A place called Kindergarten /
Harper, Jessica.
Paper Book
The animals in the barn are in a tizzy. Tommy didn't show up at his usual time! The dog tells them Tommy is gone-a big yellow bus took him to a place called kindergarten. "Where is kindergarten?" they exclaim. "What will happen to Tommy there? Will he ever come back?!" Eventually Tommy bursts...
Princesses Love School!
Mcnish, Bri Marie
Paper Book
Inside this beautifully illustrated picture book, readers will get to join fan-favorite Disney princesses Belle, Cinderella, Mulan, Tiana, Ariel, Moana, and Raya as young girls during their first day of school! As the princesses go through the day's events in their own worlds,...
School
McCully, Emily Arnold.
Paper Book
A curious little mouse decides to find out what school is all about.
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...
Schoolyard rhymes : kids' own rhymes for rope skipping, hand clapping, ball bouncing, and just plain fun
Sierra, Judy.
Paper Book
"Schoolyard rhymes are catchy and fun. They are easy to remember. In fact, they stick in the mind like bubble gum to a shoe." writes Judy Sierra in her introduction to this lively collection of traditional playground chants. Included are more than 50 verses ranging from the familiar jump rope rhyme...
Screech School
Killick, Jennifer
Paper Book
Let your fears take flight in this scary sequel of the Creatures & Teachers series where a group of friends must protect their school from vampire birds! Angelo and his friends know that together they can handle any pretty much anything together. The scariest thing they think...
Splat the cat.
Scotton, Rob.
Paper Book
Hit the books with Splat the Cat in this funny back-to-school story! This 8x8 storybook adventure is perfect for the start of the school year. It's the first day of school, and there's only time for Splat to share one of his summer adventures with the class. Will it be the time he went...
Tiny T. Rex and the first-day oopsies /
Stutzman, Jonathan
Paper Book
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!  
The top 10 ways to ruin the first day of 5th grade
Derby, Kenneth.
Paper Book
The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of 5th Grade Fifth-grader Anthony Madison, a.k.a. Tony Baloney, can't get enough of the Late Show with David Letterman. He loves the jokes, the silly routines, and most of all the top ten lists Dave features night after night; and Tony will stop at nothing to...
Tyrannosaurus wrecks :
Gibbs, Stuart,
Paper Book
In the latest novel in New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs's FunJungle series, Teddy Fitzroy returns as FunJungle's resident sleuth to solve his most improbable mystery yet--with a victim that's 65 million years old. Teddy was all set for a campout at his friend...
Wemberly worried /
Henkes, Kevin
Paper Book
Wemberly worried about everything. Big things. Little things. And things in between. Then it was time for school to start. And Wemberly worried even more. If you ever worry (or know someone who does), this is the book for you. Wemberly worried about spilling her juice,...
Wilson and Miss Lovely /
Stadler, John
Paper Book
A charming school story with a twist--new from John Stadler Wilson had just finished his first week of school and could not wait for the next one to begin. He was very fond of his new teacher, Miss Lovely. But something was wrong that day--very wrong. There were no school buses, the school...
Wow! school!
Neubecker, Robert.
Paper Book
What could be more WOW than the first day of school? From science and storytime to music and math, Izzy's classroom is full of new things to explore. Tag along with Izzy and experience the wonder and excitement of school from a child's-eye view.

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