Starting School

Updated March 17, 2025
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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...
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...
Bear's big day
Yoon, Salina
Paper Book
It's Bear's very first day of school! He wants to be grown up, so he leaves his stuffed bunny Floppy at home along with all his familiar things. But being away from his best friend is hard--and the first day doesn't turn out quite how like Bear wanted it to. Bear learns that...
Mae's first day of school
Berube, Kate
Paper Book
"A reassuring, gently amusing picture book for children anticipating (or remembering) their first day of school" (Booklist). As Mae's first day of school approaches she decides she IS. NOT. GOING. School is scary! What if the other kids don't like her?...
Puppy Bus
Brockington, Drew
Paper Book
When a boy and his family move, he has to start all over at a new school-and gets plenty of first day jitters. The teachers will be different, he'll have to make new friends, and he won't even know where the bathroom is! On the first day, he nervously gets on the bus, only to end up...
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...
Not Yet, Yeti
Freitas, Bethany V.
Paper Book
Yeti learns about the importance of patience and perseverance as he uses growth mindset on his first day of kindergarten. It's Yeti's first day of school and there are so many new things to try! Maybe he can't do everything he wants to do perfectly just yet, but his...
Chu's first day of school
Gaiman, Neil.
Paper Book
A picture book school story featuring the New York Times bestselling panda named Chu from Newbery Medal-winning author Neil Gaiman and acclaimed illustrator Adam Rex! Chu, the adorable panda with a great big sneeze, is heading off for his first day of school, and he's nervous. He hopes the...
Maisy goes to preschool
Cousins, Lucy
Paper Book
"Maisy is confident and acquainted with the routines of preschool. She clearly has no separation issues. . . . As always, Cousins's bright color illustrations are simple and appealing." - School Library Journal Preschool for Maisy means a day filled with friends and things...
Mina Belongs Here
Niebuhr-Siebert, Sandra
Paper Book
"Tender, lyrical text brings to life moments that many immigrants will recognize... visually engaging." -- Kirkus Reviews Mina is worried about starting a kindergarten in her new country where the only word she can understand is her name. A warm and emotive story that explores how sharing...
Olu's Teacher: A Story about Starting Preschool
Campbell, Jamel C.
Paper Book
First-day-of-school fears are eased when a child discovers his new teacher is warm and approachable--and looks like him--in a tender picture-book debut. Olu is nervous about going to school for the first time--his legs are shaking and his tummy feels wobbly. He knows his...
I'm telling you, Dex, 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?

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