Can you believe it’s already August? Summer has flown by and it’s officially back to school time.
If your kiddo is starting Kindergarten, they (and you!) might be feeling some butterflies about this big transition.
We have compiled a list of the best back to school books for Kindergarten to help your family prepare for the new experiences ahead.
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If You Take a Mouse To School by Laura Numeroff
We love all of the books by Laura Numeroff, but this one is perfect for making your kiddos laugh and creating some excitement around the first day of school!
Take action – Get the conversation started by imagining with your child what might happen if they brought a pocket-sized friend to school and had to keep track of them all day…you are sure to get lots of giggles!
A Place Called Kindergarten by Jessica Harper
Reassure your new Kindergartener that school is a fun place to be and that they will be coming back home at the end of the day with this sweet book.
Take action – Ask your kiddo what they will miss from home and remind them those things will still be waiting when they get back!
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Most kids will feel some kind of anxious excitement over starting a new school year, especially when it comes to meeting their new classmates. This lyrical tale explores the complexities of being different from other people while reminding your child that their uniqueness is special and makes them who they are!
Take action – practice introductions with your child. Beyond their name, choose one fun thing they feel comfortable sharing about themselves with new friends.
Hello World by Kelly Corrigan
This best-selling book takes a look at what it means to broaden your horizons and get to know the world around you. As your child transitions to Kindergarten, they will meet many new people and expand their world. Reading this book is a great way to introduce that concept to them.
Take action – My favorite thing about this book are the question balloons that feature questions for deep thought. Use these to practice active listening with your child.
A Letter From Your Teacher: On the First Day of School by Shannon Olsen
An absolutely darling book, this one is sure to ease your child’s fears about meeting their teacher. I love rhyming books, and this one is so sweet paired with the cute illustrations.
Take action: Make sure your child knows their teacher’s name so they will be ready for formal introductions!
The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola
One of my favorite books as a kid, this one is a keeper. When Tomie goes to school for the first time and learns that there are rules he must follow in art class, he gets discouraged. This story teaches a wonderful lesson about creative problem solving and reminds kids that school may have different rules from home.
Take action: Discuss with your child some of the rules they may need to follow in their classroom. Ask them how they think being in school will be different than home.
Follow the Line to School by Laura Ljungkvist
Take your child on an exploration through the school building with this fun and colorful book! This interactive story helps them see what their own new school building may look like. There are also related questions on each page. I absolutely love how many ways you can engage with this book!
Take action: Talk with your child about what their school day might look like and what rooms they may visit in their own school building.
The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing
Based off the popular Christmas poem and part of the bestselling “The Night Before” series, this is a cute book about the anticipation on the night before school starts. I love how it embodies that nervous excitement that you feel as a kid before a big day. Even parents will feel a tug at their heartstrings thinking about leaving their big kid on the first day of school!
Take action: As your child what things they are looking forward to about school and what they may be nervous about.
On the First Day of Kindergarten by Tish Rabe
Another book based on a popular Christmas song, this delightful tale follows a little girl on her first few weeks of Kindergarten as she explores and discovers new things. Just like the song, the story builds on itself which reiterates to your child what types of activities they will be doing as a Kindergartener!
Take action: Make a list of important new skills your child will need for school, such as opening their lunchbox, and practice together.
Starting Kindergarten is an exciting time!
We love these books because they don’t shy away from the anxiety and newness of going to school for the first time, but also highlight all the fun and amazing things that wait in their new classrooms.
Normalizing these fears will help your kiddo build their confidence in overcoming them. The action steps provide concrete ways to help your child prepare for this new adventure and bring the concepts from the books into real life.
We hope these books will put your child’s fears to rest and open the door for you and your brand new Kindergartener to talk through the experiences ahead.
Explore more amazing books
For more back to school fun, check out our list of Best Back to School Books and 10 Encouraging Back to School Books for Preschoolers.
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