Starting school, kindy, daycare or kōhanga reo

The early years of a child's life are filled with milestones, but one of the biggest changes to their social environment will be when they start at a new school, kindergarten, daycare, or kōhanga reo. There will be a lot of new people to meet, new routines to get used to, and of course a whole lot to learn! Here are some books that may help your whānau prepare for the big first day.

Updated July 15, 2024
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Wellington City LibrariesChildren's team at Wellington City Libraries
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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...
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...
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...
Los nin?os no se comen
Higgins, Ryan T
Paper Book
No te pierdas esta tierna y divertidísima historia ilustrada. Penélope empieza el colegio. ¡Por fin va a conocer a sus compañeros! Pero le va a costar hacer amigos humanos si son tan deliciosos... ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Don't miss out on this...
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...
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...
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...

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