Sure, summer is almost over, but starting or returning to school can be just as exciting and fun! These books will help you prepare for a successful year.
Picture Books
“Kindergarten Gets Ready”
by Naomi Danis
This book follows Mr. Bee as he prepares his classroom for the first day of kindergarten.
“Thank You, Teacher!”
by Supriya Kelkar
From weekday triumphs to school-trip catastrophes and even hard-to-place apostrophes, there is no problem too hard to solve when a teacher is in the classroom.
“Big Kids”
by K.L. Going
A young boy starting school feels intimidated when he sees all the big kids, but a new buddy helps him settle in.
“When You Dream Big!”
by Peter H. Reynolds
Charley may not know what she wants to be when she grows up, but she knows what kind of person she wants to be.
“What Do We Do in Preschool?”
by Kathryn Wanless
A reassuring introduction for those precious first days of school by a teacher who yearned for a book like this to share with her students
Readers
“Henry Upside Down”
by Jenn Bailey
Henry, a young boy with autism, learns to manage his school garden with his best friend Katie.
First Chapter Books
“Amina Banana and the Formula for Friendship”
by Shifa Saltagi Safadi
After moving from Syria to Indiana, third-grade science enthusiast Amina tries to find the perfect formula to make friends at her new school.
Graphic Novels
“The Brainstormers: Money Talks”
by Kwame Alexander
Three relatable best friends navigate middle school, and the chaos that ensues when one of them attempts to raise money for a new phone.
“Hulk Teach”
by Jefferey Brown
Can middle school kids really learn anything when the Hulk is their teacher?
“Roll Call”
by Lee Knox Osterberg
Jess and Olivia have done everything together since elementary school — including playing the fantasy roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons — and now endure their next major quest, eighth grade.
Children’s Fiction
“Confessions of a Mango”
by Kate Lumsden
A neurodivergent girl leads a movement at her competitive charter school and redefines what it means to be smart.
“A Royal Conundrum”
by Lisa Yee
An elite group of underdogs trained to fight crime must save their unique school from shutting down.
