1. Pete the Cat Rocking in my School Shoes
2. A Letter from Your Teacher on the First Day of School
A Letter from Your Teacher on the First Day of School is a heartwarming book that helps teachers welcome their new group of students on the first day of school. Through a letter written from the teacher’s point of view, students are given the message that their new teacher is someone they will get to form a special bond with. Their teacher is not only there to help them academically, but also to cheer them on, and to provide a caring, safe environment for them to learn and grow.
Use this book to set the tone for the new year as you begin to build positive relationships while establishing rules and procedures.
3. Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
It’s the first day of kindergarten and Miss Bindergarten is hard at work getting the classroom ready for her twenty-six new students. Meanwhile, Adam Krupp wakes up, Brenda Heath brushes her teeth, and Christopher Beaker finds his sneaker. Miss Bindergarten puts the finishing touches on the room just in time, and the students arrive. Now the fun can begin!
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten is a rhyming, brightly illustrated book is that uses the alphabet while it introduces young children to kindergarten.
4. The Night Before Kindergarten
5. The Kissing Hand
6. Our Class is a Family
Our Class is a Family is a book that will help build and strengthen class community. Kids learn that their classroom is a place where it’s safe to be themselves, it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s important to be a friend to others.
Students are sure to feel like they are part of a special family whenever a teacher reads this book at school.
Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect—until her first day of school. “You’re named after a flower!” teases Victoria. “Let’s smell her,” says Jo. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again?
Chrysanthemum is a classic break-the-ice book for the first week of school. It get children thinking about and bonding with their own names and the names of everyone else in the class, and it’s the perfect vehicle for starting a discussion about treating classmates with tolerance, kindness, and compassion.
8. The Crayon Box that Talked
Yellow hates Red, so does Green, and no one likes Orange! Can these crayons quit arguing and learn to cooperate? Shane DeRolf’s deceptively simple poem celebrates the creation of harmony through diversity. In combination with
The Crayon Box that Talked helps children understand that when we all work together, the results are much more colorful and interesting.
9. School is Cool
In this exuberant picture book, a friendly narrator prepares young readers for their very first day of school with humor and encouragement.
School is Cool is the perfect back-to-school book to read aloud to any students that are worried whether they are worried about not knowing the rules, how to make friends, or how to fit in.
10. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Of course there is always enough room for this rollicking alphabet chant that has been a children’s favorite for more than twenty years!
Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault’s rhythmic text keeps the beat with Caldecott Honor illustrator Lois Ehlert’s bold, cheerful art. You can never go wrong reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom when it’s time to go back to school.
11. Can I Play Too?
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
Can I Play Too?
12. The Day You Begin
There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it’s how you look or talk, or where you’re from; maybe it’s what you eat, or something just as random. It’s not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.
The Day You Begin uses Jacqueline Woodson’s lyrical text and Rafael López’s dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.
13. Wemberly Worried
14. If You Take a Mouse to School
15. David Goes to School
David Shannon’s beloved character is back and heading to school and his teacher has her hands full. From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David’s high-energy antics fill each schoolday with trouble — and are sure to bring a smile to even the best-behaved reader.
David Goes to School is perfect for teaching students school rules in a way that makes them laugh and learn from all of David’s behavioral mistakes.
16. My Mouth is a Volcano
Louis always interrupts! All of his thoughts are very important to him, and when he has something to say, his words rumble and grumble in his tummy, they wiggle and jiggle on his tongue and then they push on his teeth, right before he ERUPTS (or interrupts). His mouth is a volcano! But when others begin to interrupt Louis, he learns how to respectfully wait for his turn to talk.
Told from Louis’ perspective, My Mouth is a Volcano provides parents, teachers, and counselors with an entertaining way to teach children the value of respecting others by listening and waiting for their turn to speak.
17. Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker
Lacey Walker loves to talk. She talks all day, and sometimes all night. But when she loses her voice, Lacey learns the importance of listening. She learns about all of the things she misses out on every day.
Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker teaches an important life lesson for preschoolers and older.
18. First Day Jitters
With a little convicing from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly heads to class. Shy at first, she’s quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton and reminded that everyone at school gets the jitters sometimes.
First Day Jitters is a back to school staple, that will delight seasoned students and new faces alike who are anxious about their first day.
19. Planet Kindergarten
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 navigates the unknown reaches and alien inhabitants of this strange new world.
Hilarious and confidence-boosting, this exciting story will have new kindergarteners ready for liftoff!
20. Mouse's First Day of School
Mouse decides to hide inside a bright red backpack…and ends up at school! As he explores this place full of colors, letters, and numbers, Mouse discovers a world beyond his imagination–and makes some friends along the way.
Mouse’s First Day of School is sure to entertain children with its simple, energetic text and sweet illustrations, as well as get readers excited about their own first trips to school.
21. The Rainbow Fish
22. Do Onto Otters: A Book About Manners
23. I Promise
24. Fill a Bucket: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Young Children
25. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
27. You're Finally Here!
Hooray! You’re finally here! But where were you? A bunny bounces through a range of emotions in this funny picture book about how difficult it is to wait. At first he’s ecstatic that you, the reader, has arrived. But then he can’t help letting you know that waiting for you took too long, was way too boring, and even became insulting. The bunny is ready to forgive everything if you will promise to stay. But hold on—he has to take a phone call. Wait! Come back! Where are you going?
You’re Finally Here is a funny, energetic, in-your-face story is just right for anyone who needs to practice a little patience, or for welcoming a new friend, student, or family member.
28. Rufus Goes to School
29. Llama Llama Misses Mama
It’s Llama Llama’s first day of preschool! And Llama Llama’s mama makes sure he’s ready. They meet the teachers. See the other children. Look at all the books and games. But then it’s time for Mama to leave. And suddenly Llama Llama isn’t so excited anymore. Will Mama Llama come back?
Of course she will. But before she does, the other children show Llama Llama how much fun school can be! Llama Llama Misses Mama is a great classroom read for any students struggling with separation anxiety as school begins.
30. Too Much Glue
31. A Bad Case of Tattle Tounge
Josh the Tattler doesn’t have any friends. He tattles on his classmates, on his brother, and even on his dog! He tattles so much that he wakes up one night to find that his tongue is yellow, unusually long, and covered in bright purple spots! Will a bad case of Tattle Tongue teach him a lesson?
A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue gives teachers a humorous, cleverly creative way to address the time-consuming tattling-related issues that often sap classroom energy and thwart teaching opportunities. Every adult that desires to help children understand the differences between unnecessary tattling and the necessity of warning others about important matters needs this book!
32. Interrupting Chicken
It’s time for the little red chicken’s bedtime story — and a reminder from Papa to try not to interrupt. But the chicken can’t help herself! Whether the tale is Hansel and Gretel or Little Red Riding Hood or even Chicken Little, she jumps into the story to save its hapless characters. Now it’s the little red chicken’s turn to tell a story, but will her yawning papa make it to the end without his own kind of interrupting
Interrupting Chicken turns an old familar joke on it’s head to teach a lesson of waiting your turn to talk in a fun and silly way.
33. The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others
34. The Name Jar
35. Press Here
36. It's OK to Be Different
Save these Back to School Books for Kids
Don’t forget to save this list of Spring picture books for kids for later! Pin this post to your favorite children’s book or Springtime board on Pinterest so you can easily find it whenever you need it.