Looking for some books to help prepare kids for starting a new school year? Here are our favorite children’s books for back to school!

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Starting a new school year is a big transition for the whole family. We have new schedules to adjust to and lots of preparations to do at home to get ready. There’s likely to also be some excitement mixed with a bit of nervousness for children as they wonder what their new school year will be like.

One way to ease this transition is with reading books all about school. Reading a variety of books on the subject with your child can help them relate to various situations they might encounter and also help to spark conversations about their thoughts on a new school year.

Here are some of our favorite children’s books related to school. There is a nice variety for different ages and different topics your child might be interested in! (This post contains affiliate links.)

Our Favorite Children’s Books for Back to School

My Best Friend Is As Sharp As a Pencil: And Other Funny Classroom Portraits by Hanoch Piven

This book is a super fun and creative way to introduce children to all the special people they might find at a school. And the best part is each illustration is made from collages of objects. A super clever book full of inspiration!

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? by Audrey Vernick

If your child is feeling nervous about his or her first day of Kindergarten, then this is the perfect book! It’s an amusing story that helps remind children that everyone is unique and special in their own way.

My Teacher Sleeps in School by Leatie Weiss

I wish I had been aware of this book back when I was teaching. Young kids often think their teachers live at school. I can’t tell you how many times in my teaching career children were so surprised to learn I lived in an actual house and not in the classroom! This cute story is all about a class that thinks their teacher lives at school and how they work together to figure it all out. This would also be a really fun book for a teacher to read on the first day of school!

Little Rabbit Goes to School by Harry Horse

Here’s another cute book to help kids get ready for school. Little Rabbit is off to his first day of school and takes his little special toy, Charlie Horse, with him. Throughout the story Charlie Horse begins to get into all kinds of mischief. Your child will begin to wonder who is really causing all mischief~ Charlie Horse or Little Rabbit. This is a super fun read and would also be a great book to read aloud during the first week of school!

The Art Lesson by Tomie de Paola

If you are a lover of Tomie de Paola books, then you are probably already familiar with this one (and already know that this is about the author’s own experience as a child)! In this story Tommy is a little boy who just loves to draw. But when he brings his love of drawing to school, he encounters a few obstacles. Lucy and I enjoyed reading and this and discussing not only how Tommy handled his problem, but ways Lucy could handle problems she may encounter as well.

Bill and Pete by Tomie de Paola

Here’s another book from Tomie de Paola~ a quirky and cute book all about friendship! Lucy and I use this book to talk about all the fun experiences she might have with all her new friends!

If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff

This book is just like the original, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, but takes place at school! A fun circle story that kids love!

Follow the Line to School by Laura Ljungkvist

We just LOVE this book! Follow the Line is an interactive book where you follow a line to explore all the parts of a school. As it takes you through all the beautifully illustrated pages, you’ll find questions to answer along the way. Lucy definitely wanted to read this one multiple times!

Lunch Money And Other Poems About School (Picture Puffin) by Carol Diggory Shields

This book is filled with over 20 silly and fun poems about school! I love having a text set including different genres so it was nice to be able to add some poetry!

David Goes To School by David Shannon

This is a great book to spark a discussion about classroom rules. In this book David seems to break all the rules at his school. Lucy was very entertained by this book, and it helped to spark a discussion to what rules and procedures she might find in her upcoming classroom and why rules can be important.

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School (Charlie and Lola) by Lauren Child

We just love Charlie and Lola books! The illustrations are so fun and the interaction between the two siblings is always endearing. In this story Lola is nervous to begin school and begins coming up with all the reasons why she doesn’t really need to go to school. Her brother, Charlie, helps to creatively explain to her why learning is important.

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

We are in love with Pete the Cat books! This one is perfect for initiating a discussion of all the special places you can find at a school. And I just love the repetitive text and little song that goes with it~ so inviting for kids! This would also be a great book to read after taking your child to visit his or her new classroom or for a teacher to read to the class after taking a school tour.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

If you are not already familiar with this book, it’s definitely one worth owning! It’s such a perfect book for any separation, especially if your child is nervous about his or her first day of school. In this story Chester feels anxious about leaving his mom at home while he goes to school, but his mom has a special way for him to remember her all day. This book brings tears to my eyes every time I read it!

Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

We are huge Patricia Polacco fans, and this is one of our favorites! It’s a great story for your older child heading off to school. It’s especially memorable to me since it’s all about how just one teacher can help change a child’s life!

Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco

Here’s another favorite from Patricia Polacco for your older child. This book helps to remind kids to embrace their own special and unique talents as well and to always be proud of themselves no matter what anyone else says. It’s also a good book to help initiate a conversation about bullying. I can’t wait until Lucy is a bit older so we can read this book together!