School's First Day of School by Adam Rex and Christian Robinson. What would the first day of school be like for a brand new school building? For kids who are nervous for the first day of school, this book is especially delightful, leading kids to imagine if the school itself feels nervous! Read my full review here.
The Day You Begin by Jaqueline Woodson and Rafael Lopez. It's hard to be different, especially on the first day of school. This beautiful book reminds us that whether we speak a different language, wear different clothes, or eat different foods, we all can make room for each other.
We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins. Penelope Rex is excited to start school, but is surprised when all of her classmates are children! So she eats them. (Because children are delicious.) This laugh-out-loud story is one of our very favorites!
The King of Kindergarten by Derek Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton. The enthusiasm this little protagonist feels on his first day of school is contagious! This is a great one to get kids pumped up for school!
The Pigeon Has To Go To School! by Mo Willems. We love all the Pigeon books, and this one is yet another winner. My kids love all of Pigeon's ridiculous reasons for not wanting to go to school, and can't help giggling when he realizes school is the very place he wants to be!
The Cool Bean by Jory John and Pete Oswald. The Cool Bean tells the story of a bean who wants to be like the gang of "cool beans" at school. He tries cool clothes and hair styles before realizing that what makes the cool beans so cool is their kindness. Such an important message for kids--it's cool to be kind!
Maple and Willow Apart When Maple goes to school, Willow feels sad to be left behind. But even though they are each having new adventures apart, the sisters learn they will always have special times to share together. This is a great one for younger siblings!
Truman by Jean Reidy and Lucy Ruth Cummins. This is an adorable story about a little girl and her pet tortoise who both have to be brave on her first day of school.
Be Kind! by Pat Zietlow Miller and Jen Hill. While not specifically about back-to-school, this is my favorite book for teaching kids about kindness! Whether it's as simple as saying hi or as difficult as standing up to a bully, one kind act can inspire others, spreading kindness throughout the world!
Speak Up! by Miranda Paul and Ebony Glen. Published just this year, this book has such a powerful message for kids, especially in a school setting! Written in rhyming verse, the story teaches kids when it is important to speak up--whether it's to include someone new, stop an unkind rumor, or to tell an adult about an unsafe situation. I especially love the end pages that include examples of real life kids who have spoken up to make a difference. It also has a checklist to help kids recognize when they should "be quiet, let it go" or "speak up, let others know!"and a list of ways to speak up without saying a word!
What books do you like to read to your kids at the beginning of the school year?
