It’s almost time to head back to school, and that can create a lot of anxiety and big feelings for kids and adults! This list of new back to school books for kids is full of stories that will help little ones and get them excited to head back to school!

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Welcome to Preschool

Written by Maria Carluccio

This interactive board book gives little readers a chance to move the characters in the book as they go about their day in preschool. The rhyming text is simple, walking the reader through daily activities in preschool including art, reading, and exercise. Each illustration features a movable character that kids can push back and forth on the page.

A Day at School with The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Written by Megan Roth

This tabbed board book uses simple text and colorful illustrations to introduce kids to every day activities at school. From greeting the teacher in the morning, to taking the bus home at the end of the day, each tabbed page highlights a fun activity during the school day. This is a good way to prepare little ones for the daily routines at school.

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How to Get Your Octopus to School

Written by Becky Scharnhorst and illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett

In this adorable story, a young girl is getting her pet octopus ready for his first day of school. The octopus is a bit nervous, and the girl has to help him pick out an outfit and get ready for the new adventure. Kids may recognize the apprehension that the octopus shows, but will laugh out loud at the funny ways that the octopus tries to hide and avoid school. In the end, the octopus is excited for school, and the young girl is the one who has a hard time letting go, which parents may relate to. The back of the book includes lots of facts about octopuses too!

Giant-Sized Butterflies on My First Day of School

Written by Justin Roberts and illustrated by Paola Escobar

This sweet rhyming book follows a young girl as she gets ready for school and battles with her nerves. She confides in her mom about the butterflies in her stomach, and her mother reassures her that everyone struggles with butterflies sometimes. But she tells her to let the butterflies guide her as she grows and faces her first day. This is a great way to talk to little ones about first day jitters, and visualize the nervous feelings in their bellies.

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Hattie Harmony: Opening Night

Written by Elizabeth Olsen & Robbie Arnett and illustrated by Marissa Valdez

This follow up to the adorable book Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective joins Hattie as she and her friends face opening night of their school play. Hattie uses a variety of tools and skills to help her friends face their fears and work through their big emotions. Kids will love the adorable illustrations showing Hattie helping her friends, and adults will appreciate the examples of coping skills and how Hattie uses them to help. The back of the book includes more information about the skills and tools used in the book as well.

The World’s Best Class Plant

Written by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick and illustrated by Lynnor Bontigao

In this adorable story, the kids in room 109 don’t have a class pet. They have a plant that doesn’t move or do anything. But once they decide to name their plant and take care of it, suddenly they notice a change in Jerry the plant. This book is a great way to introduce plant life to little ones, including the notes in the back of the book about raising a plant yourself. But this is also a great book about student led learning, and what can happen when a class works together.

Marker

Written by Anna Kang and illustrated by Christopher Weyant

Back to school time means it’s time for new school supplies! In this story, Marker is the favorite supply. When Pinking Shears named Pink show up, suddenly Marker doesn’t feel like the star anymore. She begins making mistakes which can’t be erased. With the help of the other supplies on the teacher’s desk, Marker learns that it is okay to make mistakes, and nobody is perfect. This is a great lesson for everyone, especially starting a new school year.

Check out these printable back to school bookmarks for kids!

Rivka’s Presents

Written by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Adelina Lirius

Rivka is a young Jewish girl living in New York City in 1918, during the flu pandemic. She is excited to start school, but when her father gets the flu, and her mother has to go to work, Rivka must stay home to care for her little sister. She soon discovers her own way to learn, performing chores for neighbors in exchange for lessons. This is a great story about the desire to learn and go to school, and the back of the book includes a glossary, as well as a note from the author about life on the Lower East Side during 1918.

First Night of Howlergarten

Written and illustrated by Benson Shum

This werewolf themed spin on back to school books follows Sophie, a young girl preparing for her first day of Howlergarten, where she will learn to be a werewolf. Sophie worries that she won’t become a werewolf when the moon comes out, but she learns all kinds of werewolf skills along with her classmates. When the moon does come out, Sophie and her friends share an important lesson on friendship and being who you are. This is a sweet story about being true to yourself and and your friends, accompanied by adorable illustrations of cute, furry werewolf puppies that kids will love.

The Worry Balloon

Written by Monica Mancillas and illustrated by Betty C. Tang

In this story, Isla is a young girl who is sometimes plagued by worries and anxiety. As the first day of school approaches, she worries about everything and her mind is full of “what if” questions. With the help of her mom, she is able to blow her worries away and use a variety of tools to help her conquer her fears. The story is accompanied by illustrations that show Isla’s worries as dark storm clouds, often surrounding her view, and also showing how her mindfulness skills chase those clouds away. The back of the book includes detailed information on easy mindfulness exercises that kids can do to combat their own fears and anxieties.

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My Name

Written by Supriya Kelkar and illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat

This beautiful book follows a young Indian American boy as he starts school. His parents help him get ready by teaching him the importance of names. When the kids at school can’t pronounce his name, he is hurt and worried that it makes him too different. But his parents remind him of the beauty and uniqueness of his name, and how special he is. This book doesn’t give the main character a specific name, making it easy for kids to put themselves in the place of the little boy. The beautiful text not only shares how his name makes him unique, but encourages the boy and the reader to take care while learning the names of everyone around them and celebrating what makes them different. The back of the book includes notes from the author and the illustrator sharing their own experiences with their names.

May’s Brave Day

Written and illustrated by Lucy Morris

This sweet story follows a little girl named May as she prepares for the first day of school and battles the butterflies in her stomach. She tries all kinds of things to get rid of them, and her mother reminds her that everyone can feel nervous about trying new things. When she finally gets to school, she finds that other children may be nervous too, and she is able to let go of the butterflies. This is a great, gentle story for little ones who are nervous about their first day of school, and the sweet illustrations add to the story.

The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons

Written and illustrated by Leanne Hatch

There is something so relaxing about brand new school supplies! In this book, a young girl named Violet gets a brand new box of 84 crayons. They are perfect and untouched, and she can’t wait to get started creating artwork with them. But when faced with a blank page and perfectly pointed crayons, she cannot bear to ruin them. When her sister gets her hands on them, Violet finally learns to let go and find beauty in imperfection.

What are your favorite new back to school books for kids? Share in the comments below!

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