17 Back to School Books for Kids We Love
There is just something about this time of year. New backpacks by the door, freshly sharpened pencils, and those big feelings that come with a brand new school year. Around our houses, back to school season brings a mix of excitement and butterflies, for the kids and for us!
One of our favorite ways to help our little ones get ready is snuggling up with a good book. Stories have a way of putting words to the feelings kids cannot always explain, and these seventeen picture books do it beautifully. Some will make you laugh, a couple might make you cry, and every single one has earned its spot on our shelves.
***This post contains affiliate links. If you click the title of each book it will take you directly to the Amazon link to purchase. We earn a small commission from each purchase with no extra cost to you***
Our Favorite Back to School Books for Kids
The Day You Begin
There will always be a moment when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you. This beautiful book reminds kids that sharing their own story is what turns strangers into friends. We love it for those first week nerves when everything feels new.
Wemberly Worried
Wemberly worries about everything, big things, little things, and especially the first day of school. If you have a worrier at home, this sweet little mouse will feel like a kindred spirit. It opens up such good conversations about what our kids are nervous about.
The Kissing Hand
A classic for a reason! Chester Raccoon does not want to go to school, so his mama shares a family secret, a kiss right in the palm of his hand to carry with him all day. Let’s be real, this one is more of a tearjerker for us than for the kids. We do the kissing hand at drop off now and it helps everyone.
I’ll Love You Till the Sloths Start School
If your little one needs to know just how loved they are, even when they are away all day, this one is pure sweetness. A mama promises to love her child through every silly, made up milestone, right up until the sloths start school. It is the perfect snuggly read to tuck a little reassurance into their backpack.
KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day
This one sets the tone for the whole year. It walks through what kindness looks like in a classroom, sharing, including, encouraging, in a way little kids actually understand. Such a great read before that very first day of kindergarten.
Butterflies on the First Day of School
Rosie has butterflies in her tummy about the first day, and as she finds her courage, real butterflies flutter out one by one. It is the sweetest picture of what bravery feels like. Our kids started talking about their own butterflies after this one.
Mae’s First Day of School
Mae has decided she is absolutely NOT going to school, and honestly, we have all been there. Then she meets a new friend who is just as nervous as she is, and together they find their brave. This one is so tender and funny, and it reminds kids that everyone feels those first day jitters.
How to Get Your Octopus to School
Need some giggles to break up the back to school nerves? Getting an octopus out the door in the morning is not easy, and honestly it feels a little too familiar. This one is pure fun and it makes the whole idea of school feel silly and exciting.
School’s First Day of School
Here is the twist, the school is the one who is nervous! Frederick Douglass Elementary worries about whether the kids will like him. This perspective flip is so clever and it helps kids see that everyone feels new sometimes, even buildings.
All Are Welcome
A joyful walk through a school day where every child belongs, no matter where they come from or what they wear or how they pray. The illustrations are gorgeous and the refrain will stick with you. It is one we come back to all year long.
Welcome to Our Classroom!
From the same team behind All Are Welcome, this one walks little ones through everything new on the first day, from supplies to classmates to teachers. The message that everyone belongs and everyone can soar is woven through every page. We love giving this one as a gift for new students and their teachers alike.
First Day Jitters
Sarah Jane Hartwell does not want to go to her new school, and we totally get it. The ending has a twist that makes everyone smile, and we will not spoil it here! This is the perfect pick if your kiddo thinks they are the only one who gets nervous.
The Name Jar
Unhei just moved from Korea and worries the kids in her new class will not be able to say her name. What happens next is such a tender story about belonging and being proud of who you are. This one leads to the best conversations around our dinner tables.
I Will Be Fierce
One brave girl treats an ordinary school day like an epic quest, facing hallways and lunchrooms like a hero on a mission. It is empowering without being preachy. Send your kids out the door feeling ten feet tall after this one!
A Letter to My Teacher
A grown woman writes a thank you letter to the second grade teacher who never gave up on her. Grab the tissues, seriously. It is a beautiful way to talk with kids about how much teachers do, and it makes a sweet teacher gift too.
Truman
Truman is a tiny tortoise whose girl, Sarah, leaves for her first day of school. So he decides to be brave and go after her. It is quiet and gentle and absolutely darling, and it is perfect for the little siblings watching big kids head out the door.
Maple & Willow Apart
Sisters Maple and Willow do everything together, until Maple heads off to big kid school and Willow stays home. Both girls have their own adventures, but oh how they miss each other, and the way they stay connected is just the sweetest. If you have siblings splitting up for the first time this year, keep the tissues close for this one.
Happy Reading, and Happy First Day!
Whether your kiddo is bouncing off the walls with excitement or hiding under the covers hoping summer lasts forever, we hope one of these books makes the transition a little sweeter. A few pages before bed can do wonders for a nervous heart, ours included.
Which back to school book is a favorite in your house? Tell us in the comments, we are always looking for new ones to add to the stack!
Looking for more book ideas? Check out our Adventure and Imagination Books for Kids!
