School will be starting back for us at the end of August. It will be here before I know it. My oldest has been in a preschool program since he was 1.5 yr for a few half days a week. This year will be his first day of official preschool! My baby is getting so grown up already. Little brother will be starting his first day in the preschool program this year a few half days as well. Now, baby brother and I will be home alone a few days each week. My boys are getting excited about going to play and learn at the preschool.
We have a few back to school, or first day of school, books we enjoy and wanted to share them with you. Most of these books we have and a few we need to get. We love books over here and always love to hear what books you and your kids enjoy that may not be on the list. That way we can check out a few new books too.
Top Back To School Books for Kids
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Book descriptions are from authors via amazon.
The Kissing Hand
chool 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 book has become a children’s classic that has touched the lives of millions of children and their parents, especially at times of separation, whether starting school, entering daycare, or going to camp. It is widely used by kindergarten teachers on the first day of school. Stickers at the back will help children and their parents keep their Kissing Hand alive.
Pete the Cat is back—and this time he’s rocking in his school shoes. Pete discovers the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and lots of other cool places at school. And no matter where he goes, Pete never stops moving and grooving and singing his song . . . because it’s all good.
It’s the first day of school, and Curious George has been invited to Mr. Apple’s class to be a special helper! George is just the right monkey for the job—until he starts to wreak his usual havoc, that is. Red and yellow paint makes orange, yellow and blue makes green . . . and a mixture of all the paint colors makes a big mess! Curious George and the First Day of School is a story based on H. A. and Margret Rey’s popular primate and painted in the original watercolor and charcoal style. A full-color twenty-four-page paperback with bonus activities inside, including an “Ants on a Log” recipe, a word search, and a “Color Your World” craft idea.
For more monkey fun, investigate www.curiousgeorge.com and discover all the latest on Curious George books, promotions, games, activities, and more!
Little Critter is a bit nervous about starting school today. There’s a lot to be done before he can even get on the bus—he has to pick out his clothes, find his backpack, pack the perfect lunch, and say good-bye to Mom. Join Little Critter as he gets ready for this exciting day. Lift the flaps and find out what surprises are in store for Little Critter on his first day of school!
Illus. in full color. A sympathetic story about Sister Bear, who conquers her fear of starting kindergarten.
There’s so much to do in school, and Clifford the Small Red Puppy wants to try it all. From finger-painting, to making cookies, Clifford has many hilarious misadventures that make him even more loveable than ever!
Share the love of reading with your beginner reader!
I Can Read books are widely recognised as the premier line of beginner readers. Inaugurated in 1957 with Else Holmelund Minarik’s Little Bear, illustrated by Maurice Sendak, the series has grown to over 200 titles, which include mysteries, adventure stories, poetry, historical fiction and humour. Featuring award-winning authors and illustrators, and a fabulous cast of classic characters, I Can Read books introduce children to the joy of reading independently.
Just like his young fans, Biscuit can’t wait to go to school! Even though no dogs are allowed, he is determined to see and do everything that takes place at school. But what will happen when the teacher discovers a puppy in his classroom?
How can there be homework when it’s only the first day of school? Splat must pick only one of all of his fun summer adventures to share with his classmates at show-and-tell. But in the end, Splat may find that the best part of his summer wasn’t an adventure at all. . . .
David’s teacher has her hands full. From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David’s high-energy antics fill each school day with trouble-and are sure to bring a smile to even the best-bahaved reader.
The bestselling, award-winning team of Yolen and Teague are back with another dinosaur tale–a fourth full-length picture book about how dinosaurs behave at school.
Everyone’s favorite dinosaurs are back–and this time they are going to school. More fun dinosaur antics await. These prehistoric pupils are in a class of their own!
As in their previous books, Yolen and Teague capture children’s rambunctious natures with playful read-aloud verse and wonderfully amusing pictures.
Favorite Little People characters show all the fun there is to be had in and around the classroom through a charming book featuring lots of flaps for little hands to open.
This Little People® flap book is sure to be any toddler’s favorite. Eddie, Sonya Lee, and their friends all enjoy a typical day at preschool in this big book packed with flaps for little hands to open! Whether exploring the classroom, putting on a play, or enjoying the playground, favorite Little People characters show all the fun there is to be had in and around the classroom.
There was an old lady who’s ready for school!
That lovely old lady has returned just in time for the first day of school. Now she’s swallowing items to make the very best of her first day back. And just in time for the bus…
With rhyming text and funny illustrations, this lively version of the classic song will appeal to young readers with every turn of the page–a fun story for the first day of school!
Everyone knows that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach just before diving into a new situation. Sarah Jane Hartwell is scared and doesn’t want to start over at a new school. She doesn’t know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it. With much prodding from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly pulls herself together and goes to school. She is quickly befriended by Mrs. Burton, who helps smooth her jittery transition. This charming and familiar story will delight readers with its surprise ending.
Fun, energetic illustrations brighten page after page with the busy antics surrounding Sarah Jane. FIRST DAY JITTERS is an enchanting story that is sure to be treasured by anyone who has ever anticipated a first day of school.
Strange new teacher.
Strange new toys.
Lots of kids and lots of noise!
What would Llama like to do?
Llama Llama feels so new . . .
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!
Crayons have feelings, too, in this funny back-to-school story illustrated by the creator ofStuck and This Moose Belongs to Me–now a #1 New York Times bestseller!
Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.
What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?
Kids will be imagining their own humorous conversations with crayons and coloring a blue streak after sharing laughs with Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers. This story is perfect as a back-to-school gift, for all budding artists, for fans of humorous books such as Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Sciezka and Lane Smith, and for fans of Oliver Jeffers’ Stuck, The Incredible Book Eating Boy, Lost and Found, and This Moose Belongs to Me.
A brand-new picture book adventure about 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 other boys and girls will be nice. Will they like him? What will happen at school? And will Chu do what he does best?
Chu’s First Day of School is a perfect read-aloud story about the universal experience of starting school.
Supports the Common Core State Standards.
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Awww, love the Berenstein Bears! Thanks for this great list.
Great selection. Also Miss Nelson is Missing! One of my favorites growing up.