Going to Kindergarten

Starting school is an exciting time in your child’s life. You can help them prepare by sharing stories together at home. Discover many things to talk about in these picture books - from getting ready for the first day to exploring what happens at school. Stories can help your child understand that kindergarten is a place where learning and fun go together!

Updated March 28, 2024
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Our favorite day of the year
Ali, A. E.
Paper Book
"Gorgeously inviting illustrations and a joyful theme...the consummate first day read." --Shelf Awareness (starred review) A heartwarming picture book following a group of boys from different backgrounds throughout the school year as they become the best of friends....
The class
Ashburn, Boni
Paper Book
Count along with twenty young students from nineteen different homes as they get ready for their first day of kindergarten. Alarm clocks go off and students all over town wake up and get ready for their big day. Some feel eager, others are nervous, and a few are even grumpy! But...
Becoming Vanessa
Brantley-Newton, Vanessa
Paper Book
Get ready to go back to school with this inclusive, empathetic story that will help kids new to the classroom transform from timid caterpillars into beautiful butterflies who love exactly who they are! On Vanessa's first day of school, her parents tell her it will be easy to make...
The Queen of Kindergarten
Barnes, Derrick
Paper Book
A confident little Black girl has a fantastic first day of school in this companion to the New York Times bestseller The King of Kindergarten. MJ is more than ready for her first day of kindergarten! With her hair freshly braided and her mom's special tiara on her...
The King of Kindergarten
Barnes, Derrick D.
Paper Book
The morning sun blares through your window like a million brass trumpets.It sits and shines behind your head--like a crown. Mommy says that today, you are going to be the King of Kindergarten! Starting kindergarten is a big milestone--and the hero of this story is ready to make...
ABC ready for school : an alphabet of social skills
Delaney, Celeste
Paper Book
Help young children learn social skills and get ready for a successful start to school with this award-winning alphabet book. C is for cooperate. G is for grow. P is for play! This friendly and reassuring alphabet book helps young children (and...
The day my mom came to kindergarten
Fergus, Maureen.
Paper Book
"I liked kindergarten from the very 1st day," begins the narrator of this very funny and touching picture book. However, she notices, "My mom was happy for me, of course, but I got the feeling that she was also a little sad" to leave her. So one day the little girl invites her mom to join the...
Planet Kindergarten
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...
Lena's shoes are nervous : a first-day-of-school dilemma
Calabrese, Keith
Paper Book
In the tradition of School's First Day of School, debut author Keith Calabrese and Pura Belpré Award winner Juana Medina share a sweet, universal story about a clever little girl whose shoes are nervous about the first day of school. Today is a big day! Today, Lena starts...
Move it, Miss Macintosh!
Janousky, Peggy Robbins
Paper Book
It's the first day of school and Miss Macintosh is certain about one thing: she isn't going! As she snuggles back under the covers, the doorbell rings. In comes Mr. Bellweather, the school principal who assures her that all kindergarten teachers have first day jitters. Soon, other...

Canadian author.

Pirates don't go to kindergarten!
Robinson, Lisa
Paper Book
Yo, ho, ho! It's a mutiny against kindergarten! Pirate Emma is about to start kindergarten! But Emma's not so sure she's ready for a new captain and crew. Especially since Cap'n Chu--the roughest, toughest, awesomest preschool cap'n ever--is right down the hall. So Emma decides to...
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...
Dad's first day
Wohnoutka, Mike
Paper Book
Oliver can't wait for his first day of school, but his dad isn't quite ready! Celebrate the new school year with this fun-filled tale about embracing new experiences--at any age! Oliver and his dad spent all summer playing together, laughing together, singing together, and...
Dad's first day
Wohnoutka, Mike
Paper Book
Oliver can't wait for his first day of school, but his dad isn't quite ready! Celebrate the new school year with this fun-filled tale about embracing new experiences--at any age! Oliver and his dad spent all summer playing together, laughing together, singing together, and...

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