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Books about the first day of school, starting kindergarten, preschool or a new school, books that help kids learn what to expect at school and build social emotional intelligence, plus a few silly stories about school to read anytime of year!

Updated August 30, 2024
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Isabel and her colores go to school
Alessandri, Alexandra
Ebook
English, with its blustery blues and whites, just feels wrong to Isabel. She prefers the warm oranges and pinks of Spanish. As she prepares for class at a new school, she knows she's going to have to learn--and she would rather not! Her first day is uncomfortable, until she discovers there's more...
Goodnight school
Bailey, Catherine (Children's story writer)
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...
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...
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...
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...
Calvin
Ford, JR
Paper Book
In this joyful and impactful picture book, a transgender boy prepares for the first day of school and introduces himself to his family and friends for the first time. Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his...
We don't eat our classmates!
Higgins, Ryan T.
Paper Book
It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her classmates. But it's hard to make human friends when they're so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all...
El Cucuy is scared, too!
Higuera, Donna Barba
Ebook
In El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!, a boy and his monster confront their mutual fears in this unlikely friendship story that's rooted in Mexican folklore from Newbery Medal and Pura Belpré Award-winning author Donna Barba Higuera and illustrator Juliana Perdomo.   ...
Harry versus the first 100 days of school
Jenkins, Emily
Paper Book
An acclaimed author and a #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator team up to bring us a funny, warm, and utterly winning chapter book that follows, day by day, the first hundred days in one first grader's classroom. In just one hundred days, Harry will learn how to...
First day critter jitters
John, Jory
Paper Book
First-day-of-school jitters have never been funnier or more reassuring than in this picture book by the New York Times bestselling author Jory John and critically acclaimed illustrator Liz Climo It's almost the first day of school, and the animals are nervous. Sloth...
Danbi leads the school parade
Kim, Anna
Paper Book
An Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book Meet Danbi, the new girl at school! Danbi is thrilled to start her new school in America. But a bit nervous too, for when she walks into the classroom, everything goes quiet. Everyone stares. Danbi wants to...
Lola goes to school
McQuinn, Anna
Paper Book
In this Lola Reads series book, Lola embarks on a new adventure--the first day of school! A comforting and cheerful picture book read that demystifies the school day, perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Lola and her family prepare for the first day of...
The proudest blue : a story of hijab and family
Muhammad, Ibtihaj
Paper Book
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!   A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad.   With...
All are welcome
Penfold, Alexandra
Paper Book
Join the call for a better world with this New York Times bestselling picture book about a school where diversity and inclusion are celebrated. Perfect for every kid, family or classroom! In our classroom safe and sound. Fears are lost and hope is found. ...
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...
Truman
Reidy, Jean
Paper Book
An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 A New York Times Best Children's book of 2019 A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019 A School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2019 "An enchanting tale of bravery, heroism,...
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...
Creepy crayon!
Reynolds, Aaron
Paper Book
A #1 New York Times bestseller! From the team behind the New York Times bestselling Creepy Carrots! and Creepy Pair of Underwear! comes the third in this hilariously spooky series about a young rabbit and his peculiar encounters--featuring a...
I got the school spirit
Schofield-Morrison, Connie
Paper Book
Celebrate the new school year with this lively back-to-school read-aloud! Summer is over, and this little girl has got the school spirit! She hears the school spirit in the bus driving up the street--VROOM, VROOM!--and in the bell sounding in the halls--RING-A-DING!<...
This is a school
Schu, John
Paper Book
A moving celebration of school and all it may signify: work and play, creativity and trust, and a supportive community that extends beyond walls A school isn't just a building; it is all the people who work and learn together. It is a place for discovery and asking questions. A...
Gibberish
Vo, Young
Ebook
BEST OF THE YEAR Kirkus · Parents · Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association · Chicago Public Library · Washington Post · Evanston Public Library · Los Angeles Public Library Charlotte Huck Recommended Book Common Sense Media Selection It's Dat's...
Luli and the language of tea
Wang, Andrea
Paper Book
Though they may speak different languages, kids from all over the world come together to enjoy the shared pastime of tea in this delicious book for young readers. When five-year-old Luli joins her new English as a Second Language class, the playroom is quiet. Luli can't speak...
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 Day You Begin
Woodson, Jacqueline.
Paper Book
A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Featured in its own episode in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices! National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner Rafael López have teamed up to...
Amy Wu and the warm welcome
Zhang, Kat
Paper Book
Amy Wu does her best to make her new classmate feel welcome in this warmhearted and playfully illustrated follow-up picture book to Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao and Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon. Amy's class has a new student from China! Amy tries hard to make Lin...

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