Starting School

Updated March 17, 2025
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
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 1947-
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
Puppy Bus is a hilarious back-to-school picture book from the creator of CatStronauts, Drew Brockington. 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...
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...
Play day school day
Yuly, Toni
Paper Book
A younger sibling's curiosity about school opens up a world of possibilities in this ode to the great outdoors. Tomorrow is the first day of the new school year, and big sister Mona can't wait to go back. "What do you do at school?" asks little brother Milo. As he listens to Mona...
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...
I'm telling you, Dex, kindergarten rocks!
Davis, Katie (Katie I.)
Paper Book
Beloved children's book author-illustrator Katie Davis reassures young readers off to their first day of school with this upbeat tale about first day of school jitters. Dexter Dugan is starting kindergarten and his stuffed dog Rufus is terrified for him. Thankfully, third...
Kindergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day
Ahiyya, Vera
Paper Book
Written by kindergarten teacher and Instagram influencer affectionately known as the Tutu Teacher, comes a picture book about a class that creates a kindness pledge to ensure that their class is the kindest it can possibly be. It's the first day of Kindergarten and Leo isn't at...
I am too absolutely small for school
Child, Lauren
Paper Book
"The children's relationship is refreshingly noncombative, with Charlie as the protective and affectionate older brother who is appreciative of, rather than annoyed by, his sister's quirkiness." -- School Library Journal (starred review) Lola is not so sure about...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.