Starting Kindergarten is a big step for little ones. Even if they have previously attended schooling, it can cause them to feel scared or uncertain. Luckily there are lots of fun first day of school books out there to help kids deal with the back to school jitters. For little ones just stepping into the world of school, I wanted to share this list of fun new children’s books about starting kindergarten.

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Pirates Don’t Go to Kindergarten!

Written by Lisa Robinson and illustrated by Eda Kaban

This sweet and funny tale of moving up in school follows a young girl named Pirate Emma. Emma so loved her preschool teacher that she is certain that her kindergarten teacher couldn’t possibly be good enough. So when the school day starts, Emma heads back to preschool instead. Her teacher is happy to see her. But she takes Emma’s hand and leads her down the hall to meet her new kindergarten teacher. While the new teacher is nice, Emma still has trouble adjusting to the big change. After hiding out in the preschool room for a while, she is eventually coaxed back to the kindergarten room. She then discovers all the fun new things to explore there. After a heart to heart with her preschool teacher, Emma feels ready to conquer the new adventures ahead.

The themed classrooms in the story provide lots of fun opportunities for pirate language and references, while also highlighting the big differences between grades. This book is a great one for kids who are worried about their new teachers and new environment. The heartwarming ending reminds them that their previous teachers still care about them, but great new adventures lie in front of them.

Ready, Set, Kindergarten

Written by Paula Ayer and illustrated by Danielle Arbour

This colorful book follows a young girl as she goes about her day, listing all of the things that she can do. She dresses herself, points out letters in signs and shares her toys. She recognizes that each of these important skills is preparing her for starting kindergarten. The text shares a list of actions both big and small that kids may already do, alerting them to their readiness for starting school. However, the story also leaves room for growth, recognizing that all of these skills may not be completely mastered before school starts.

The illustrations feature an adorable little girl participating in all kinds of familiar activities that will be recognizable to kids. This book is a great way to remind kids of all of the skills that they already have, and also give them the confidence boost they need to head into the classroom.

Related Post: The Big List of Back to School Books

Kindergarrrten Bus

Written by Mike Ornstein and illustrated by Kevin M. Barry

It’s the first day of kindergarten and the pirate bus driver and his trusty parrot Polly are taking a bus full of new students to school. As the kids on the bus share their fears, the tough talking pirate tells them all that pirates aren’t scared of anything. But when his beloved parrot flies away, it’s up to the kids on the bus to talk him through his fears.

The text is full of pirate lingo, making it a fun one to read aloud. The illustrations are full of funny details and feature a diverse cast of kids. The kids express the same fears that many kids reading the book may have. This book is a great way to remind kids that everyone gets scared sometimes, but that you can work your way through your fears and get to the adventures on the other side. Check out the fun activities that we paired with this book here! 

The King of Kindergarten

Written by Derrick Barnes and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

This story follows a young boy as he gets up in the morning and prepares himself for his first day of kindergarten. The text walks the reader through the whole day, telling both the main character and the reader what will happen on the first day. There are lots of references to royalty as the young boy travels to school, meets new people, and learns all of the fun that will be had at school.

The illustrations are bright and colorful, showing a diverse cast of children, and using vibrant colors and busy patterns to highlight all of the fun that happens at school. Kids will feel confident imagining themselves as the King (or Queen) of Kindergarten and mastering all of the daunting tasks ahead of them. This is a great book for talking to kids about the many things that will happen on their first day, while reminding them that they can conquer it all.

So Big!

Written and illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

This simple story follows Bear as he gets up and gets ready for his first day of school. The text is mostly made up of the repeated phrase “So Big”, but with different emphasis and additional uses of the word “so”. The illustrations paired with the text tell the real story, showing how Bear is “so big” and capable of doing so many things. But as he gets closer to school, the same phrase takes on a different meaning, showing how all of the new places and faces are so much bigger.

Just as Bear starts to worry that he isn’t “big” enough to face the first day, he meets a friend dealing with similar fears. Together they are able to face the day. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and are fantastic at portraying the intense emotions felt by little ones just starting school. The clever use of the same phrase to portray different meanings is a great reminder for parents that their little ones are growing up, but are still little as well.

What are your favorite books about starting kindergarten? Share in the comments!

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