Great Picture Books for Back to School

Get a big list of fun picture books to read as you help your kiddo prepare to go back to school. These books will help pump your child up for heading back to school.

Back to school books in a collage

Some kids are super excited to go to school, while others are hesitant or even nervous. No matter how your kiddo is feeling, it is helpful to read fun picture books as you approach the day for going back to school.

A book is a wonderful way to help introduce a child to a new adventure and to work out potential fears. Going to school for the first time or even back to school can bring some anxiety with the unknown that lies ahead.

Fun Picture Books to Read for Back-to-School

These are my favorite books for back to school. This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

The Kissing Hand Book

If you own only one back to school book ever, The Kissing Hand is the one you should get. It is so sweet and really helps children to feel brave facing that first day of school. You can give your child her own kissing hand to take to school with her. This is a popular book, so if you wanted some craft ideas to go along with it, a simple search on Pinterest would find you plenty of ideas.

Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray

Gingerbread Man Loose in the School book

This is a fun book that introduces the reader to various school helpers. The Gingerbread Man gets left behind by his group of school children and he runs through the school trying to find them. In his travels, he talks to people like the janitor, school nurse, and principal. This is a fun way to help your child see all of these people in the school are there to help you.

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

Miss Bindergarten Get Ready for Kindergarten Book

This is a good one if you have a child going to Kindergarten. It is a fun rhyming book all about what Kindergarten is like. 

The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen

Pout Pout Fish Goes to School

The beloved character the Pout-Pout fish goes to school for the first time. He visits the wrong class over and over again, and finds school to be way too difficult! But once he finds the correct class, he is able to learn at his own level with his peers. 

On the First Day of Kindergarten: A Kindergarten Readiness Book for Kids by Tish Rabe

On the First Day of Kindergarten Book

This is a fun book that is an adaptation of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Your kiddos will have fun with this book.

Fancy Nancy Jo-Jos First Day Jitters by Jane O’Connor

Fancy Nancy First Day of School Jitters

This is a great one for preschoolers or other younger children. This is a lift the flap book and is all about little sister, Jo-Jo, getting ready for preschool. This is also sweet if you have older children with younger siblings starting school for the first time. It will help give them ideas for how to be a big help to their younger siblings.

Time for School, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Time for School Little Blue Truck book

This is a great back to school book to read for the fans of the Little Blue Truck. Little Blue Truck wants to go to school, too!

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

First Day Jitters Book

This is a great one for a child who is feeling nervous about going to school. This is great for grades K-3.

Llama Lama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama Misses Mama book

This is the one for your new preschooler. The familiar bouncing rhymes with the familiar favorite llama. 

David Goes to School by David Shannon

David Goes to School Book

This is a funny book. It is probably preferable for a student who has been in school before just because of how much David breaks the rules. Your child will shake his head at David’s antics. 

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School Book

Pigeon does not want to go to school because he already knows everything. These are always fun, comedic books to read with your kids.

Pirates Go to School by Corinne Demas

Pirates Go to School book

This is a fun story about what it would be like if pirates went to school.

Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

Splat the Cat Book

This is one of our favorite back to school books. Splat starts out nervous for school. Then he goes and teaches his peers and teacher a new outlook on life. He ends the book feeling many strong feelings about school, but they are quite the opposite of the anxiety he felt before the first day.

If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff

If you take a mouse to school book

This is a fun story with the same series of events you have come to love and expect from the Numeroff books. 

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

Pete the Cat book

Like the gingerbread book introduced us to the school helpers, this one introduces us to the school rooms. All with the fun of Pete the Cat and his songs. 

You Will Be My Friend by Peter Brown

You Will Be My Friend book

This is an amusing book about how to make friends (and how not to!).

School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex

School's First Day of School book

This is a first day of school book from the perspective of the school. This is a fun and unique take on the first day of school that will have your kids thinking about everyone (and everything) else being nervous, also.

Kindness Starts with You – At School by Jacquelyn Stagg

Kindness Starts with You book

This is a great book that teaches kids about being kid to everyone around them. It also shows them how all acts of kindness are meaningful, even if they seem small.

If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen

If I Built a School book

If your kiddo enjoys other “If I Built” books, they will love this one, too! This is a fun dream of a school and will have your kiddos giggling and dreaming.

100th Day Worries by Margery Cuyler

100th Day Worries book

This one is better for later in the year when you are approaching the 100th day of school.

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This post first appeared on this blog in August 2016

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