Back-to-School! A Reading List for KidsUnpublished

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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<...

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,...

Go back to school with Amelia Bedelia! This special edition of the bestselling picture book includes a fold-out poster, stickers, and punch-out cards perfect for celebrating schools, teachers, and friends. Hooray! Amelia Bedelia is sure that she...

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 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...

There's always something new happening at Dino-School! Whether they're decorating the classroom, celebrating the 100th day of school, or racing across the schoolyard during Field Day, the dinos of Room 3 are always busy. Join them for a full school year of discovery and fun with rhyming...

From Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca and critically acclaimed illustrator Abhi Alwar, an authentic celebration of friendship and finding your place in this back-to-school picture book, the follow-up to the beloved Summer Is for Cousins Ravi can'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...

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...

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...

In This Classroom is a heartwarming celebration of the school year, capturing the joy, struggles, and growth of students and teachers as they embark on an unforgettable journey of learning, friendship, and personal achievement In Andrew Hacket's classroom manifesto,...

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...

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...

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...

The book every new kindergartner needs to get them excited for school, brought to vibrant life by Pete Oswald, the New York Times bestselling artist of The Good Egg. Join kindergarten teacher Mr. Bee as he gets ready for the new school year. Watch as...

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 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...

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...

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...

"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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

"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...

"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...

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...

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...

This playful, gently spooky picture book about back-to-school jitters features a mischievous group of ghosts and is "[p]articularly fun to read aloud" (School Library Journal, starred review) and perfect for fans of Gustavo the Shy Ghost...

Becoming a writer is a real adventure. This humorous and informational account of a pencil's journey from cedar tree to classroom is told by a stubby little pencil himself. For fans of The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors and The Day the Crayons Quit. It all...

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...

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...

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...

Ride along to school with the #1 New York Times bestselling Little Blue Truck and meet Blue's new friend: a bright yellow school bus. Beep-beep! Little Blue Truck and his good friend Toad are excited to meet a bright yellow school bus on the road. They see all the little...

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!  

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...

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...

Join the call for a better world with this New York Times bestselling picture book about a school where diversity and inclusion are celebrated. The perfect back-to-school read for every kid, family and classroom! Includes a poster on the flip side of the jacket!

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...

Gear up for back-to-school season with this hilarious picture book that's sure to become a favorite storytime read-aloud in every little reader's library--human or dragon. Perfect for fans of Dragons Love Tacos and We Don't Eat Our Classmates! The...

What happens when your BFF is no longer forever? A fresh and honest graphic novel about friendships lost and found. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier! Charise and Casey have been best friends for years. It never mattered that Casey was older by two years-...

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...