Children's Books About... First Day of School

These books are on the shelves of the Dorothy Henry Branch in Vernon, NJ. It will be updated as frequently as possible to ensure that the titles offered are either still on the shelves, or in some cases, up to date.

Updated February 24, 2025
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Time for school! /
Biggs, Brian,
Paper Book
From New York Times­-bestselling author and illustrator Brian Biggs comes the second picture book in the collectible Tinyville Town series. In this next book in the preschool series, Time for School! shows how the whole community comes together for the first day of class. Mr. Meyer picks...
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,...
Not this bear :
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin,
Paper Book
The story of an adorable bear's first day of preschool, Alyssa Satin Capucilli'sNot This Bear, featuring illustrations by Lorna Hussey. It's Bear's first day of school, and he's a bit reluctant to go. Mama says all bears love school; Bear isn't so sure. But...
Heidi Heckelbeck has a secret
Coven, Wanda.
Paper Book
Introducing Heidi Heckelbeck--a brand-new young chapter book series with witchy whimsy! Now readers between the ages of five and seven can read chapter books tailor-made for a younger level of reading comprehension. Heavily illustrated with large type, Little Simon's young...
Get ready for second grade, Amber Brown
Danziger, Paula
Paper Book
Amber Brown is excited to be starting second grade--and a little nervous, too. But Amber Brown decides she's ready for whatever happens, and second grade had better be ready for Amber Brown!
Pete the Cat : too cool for school
Dean, Kim
Paper Book
If you want to be cool, just be YOU! That's the message of this funny, relatable Pete the Cat school story--and kids will laugh and agree. Pete the Cat can't decide what to wear to school in Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School. With so many groovy options to choose from,...
Ms. Bitsy Bat's kindergarten
Edwards, Pamela Duncan.
Paper Book
This reassuring introduction to kindergarten tells the story of Groundhog, Snake, Possum, and their kindergarten class, who are getting a new teacher--and she's a bat. Full color.
Ten rules you absolutely must not break if you want to survive the school bus /
Grandits, John.
Paper Book
Kyle is dreading his first trip aboard the school bus. Luckily, his big brother, James, is a school bus expert. James gives Kyle ten rules for riding the bus that he absolutely, positively must obey if he wants to avoid getting laughed at or yelled at, pushed around, or even pounded. During...
We don't eat our classmates! /
Higgins, Ryan T.
Paper Book
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...
School rules!
Kann, Victoria.
Paper Book
Readers can watch Pinkalicious and Peterrific on the funtastic PBS Kids TV series Pinkalicious & Peterrific! A Pinkalicious I Can Read story from New York Times bestselling author Victoria Kann: It's time for school! Pinkalicious usually likes school, but she thinks of something to...
Lionel at school
Krensky, Stephen.
Paper Book
The new school year brings lessons for Lionel to explore with his class. But Lionel has to find out some things by himself. For example, what will his teacher tell his parents on Back-to-School Night? Can the new boy really wrestle polar bears? And how can Lionel make classtime go by as quickly as...
Chicken in school /
Lehrhaupt, Adam,
Paper Book
Join Zoey the chicken for a tour of her unusual classroom in this celebration of creativity, friendship, and tasty snacks. When Zoey decides to turn the barn into a school and become a teacher, everyone in the barnyard learns that the best part of school is using your imagination. Named...
Logan likes Mary Anne!
Martin, Ann M.,
Paper Book
Another Baby-sitters Club graphic novel adapted by New York Times bestselling author Gale Galligan! It's the first day of a new school year, and while Mary Anne doesn't know what to expect from the eighth grade, she's looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. One...
Lucky Ducky's very first day of school /
Mayer, Mercer,
Paper Book
Join Mercer Mayer's beloved character Little Critter and Little Sister as they get ready for school in this My First I Can Read book! It's the night before the first day of school and Little Sister is ready. Backpack--check! Pencils--check! Notebook--check! But...
Vivian Lantz's second chances /
Ormsbee, Katie.
Audiobook
My first day /
Phung, Nguyen Quang,
Paper Book
A visually stunning story of resilience and determination by an award-winning new author-illustrator team, perfect for back to school. This is no ordinary first journey. The rainy season has come to the Mekong Delta, and An, a young Vietnamese boy, sets out alone in a wooden boat...
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?
Birdie's first day of school
Rim, Sujean
Paper Book
Tomorrow is Birdie's first day of school and she is just SO nervous. What will her teacher be like? What should she bring? What should she WEAR? When Birdie walks into her brand-new classroom . . . oh my! A whole new world opens up as she discovers all the fun and adventure...
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. ...
It's the first day of school-- forever!
Stine, R. L.
Paper Book
On the first day of school, Artie falls out of his bed and hits his head. Hard. He tells his mom he's dizzy and she says, "You're just worried about your first day in a new school." At breakfast, his little brother, Eddie, splashes syrup in his hair, and there's no time to wash it. Artie...
Amanda Pig, schoolgirl : a Puffin easy-to-read
Van Leeuwen, Jean.
Paper Book
Finally it is the day Amanda Pig has been waiting for. It is the first day of school. Whether making a new friend, coloring a picture to put up in the classroom, or twirling around in the sandbox, Amanda is everyone's favorite schoolgirl.
Max at school /
Wells, Rosemary
Paper Book
Learn to read with beloved bunnies Max and Ruby in this fun rhyming story! Max waves good-bye to his parents, boards the bus with Ruby, and heads to school with his book and lunch box in tow. There he sings songs, paints pictures, and even gets to dress up like a pirate! Once the...
On the Night Before Kindergarten
Wells, Rosemary
Paper Book
Beloved author-illustrator Rosemary Wells tells the story of a young cat who goes to bed worrying about what might happen on the first day of school--only to be pleasantly surprised in this engaging and reassuring picture book! On the night before kindergarten, Milo's dreams are...
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...

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