Children’s Books about Going to School

Is your child going to school for the first time? Read these children’s books about going to school to get them excited and ready for the big day.

Children's Books about Going to SchoolMy son was 3 years old when we first enrolled him in preschool. He described what he did (“We read Pete the Cat!”) and the projects he worked on. He talked about his new classmates, what they played, and even what they wore (“Paul is the one with the black and white striped shirt”).

That said, going to school hasn’t always gone so smoothly.

All my kids have felt both excitement and anxieties about spending hours in a classroom, away from their norm. They’ve cried and clung to our arms, refusing to let go. Even returning to the same school the following year meant adjusting to a new teacher and unfamiliar faces.

As I do with major changes, we read children’s books about going to school to sort through the emotions and expectations they may have.

Going to school, whether a new preschool or re-entering their campus, can be overwhelming. These books can help your kids feel excited or address the worries they might feel. To get the conversation going, check out my top picks:

Children’s books about going to school

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes

The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes

Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney

Lola Goes to School by Anna McQuinn

Lola Goes to School by Anna McQuinn

A New School Year by Sally Derby

A New School Year by Sally Derby

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi

The Night Before Second Grade by Natasha Wing

The Night Before Second Grade by Natasha Wing

My First Day at Nursery School by Becky Edwards

My First Day at Nursery School by Becky Edwards

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis

Kindergarten ROCKS! by Katie Davis

Chu's First Day of School by Neil Gaiman

Chu’s First Day of School by Neil Gaiman

Sounds Like School Spirit by Meg Fleming and Lucy Ruth Cummins

Sounds Like School Spirit by Meg Fleming

The Color Monster Goes to School by Anna Llenas

The Color Monster Goes to School by Anna Llenas

David Goes to School by David Shannon

David Goes to School by David Shannon

School's First Day of School by Adam Rex

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex

Our Class Is a Family by Shannon Olsen

Our Class Is a Family by Shannon Olsen

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman

Back-to-School Rules by Laurie Friedman

Back-to-School Rules by Laurie Friedman

Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can't Go to School! by Christina Geist

Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go to School! by Christina Geist

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child

How to Get Your Teacher Ready by Jean Regan

How to Get Your Teacher Ready by Jean Regan

This School Year Will Be the BEST! by Kay Winters

This School Year Will Be the BEST! by Kay Winters

The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray

The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray

The Kissing Hand

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

Rufus Goes to School by Kim T. Griswell

Rufus Goes to School by Kim T. Griswell

Starting School by Allan and Janet Ahlberg

Starting School by Allan and Janet Ahlberg

A Pirate's Guide to First Grade by James Preller

A Pirate’s Guide to First Grade by James Preller

Mae's First Day of School by Kate Berube

Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube

The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts and Christian Robinson

The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by James Dean

Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by James Dean

Free resource: Want even more book selections? Join my newsletter and grab the Read Aloud Book List! You’ll get hundreds of favorite selections to read aloud with your kids. Get it below—at no cost to you:

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