23 Books That Will Get Your Kids (and You!) Ready for School

It doesn’t take much for Henry, an introverted young hedgehog, to roll up into a tight ball of anxiety. And now he’s on a nerve-wracking playdate with a new neighbor, a very energetic chipmunk named Chester. Chester wants to go on all kinds of imagined adventures, but Henry prefers the safety of experiencing adventure in the pages of a book. So, he’s afraid that if he expresses his own creative ideas, Chester will think he’s silly and uncool. But with Chester, Henry just might find his bravery and save the playdate!

Chrysanthemum loves her name, until she starts school and her classmates tease her about it.

Little ones can learn kindness and self-acceptance from this award-winning story.

A favorite of little ones, this sweet story addresses the nervousness kids might feel about school, including looking different than other kids.

After moving from Korea, Unhei realizes the kids at her new school are having a hard time pronouncing her name. So she decides to choose a new American name and, with the help of a friend, decides which moniker feels just right.

This touching story teaches kids how one small act of kindness can make anyone feel included. This book also includes a discussion guide and resources for further reading.

Sarah Jane is nervous for her first day of school but is quickly reassured by a new friend, Mrs. Burton, that everyone at school gets the jitters sometimes—and that’s perfectly OK.

Sophie has no interest in making friends that aren’t squash, even when a classmate tries really hard to reach out.

This fun and quirky tale addresses the first day of school friendship jitters many kids feel as they head back to school.

Penelope Rex is nervous as she heads to school for the first time—especially once she realizes all her classmates are children, and to Penelope, children are delicious.

This funny story helps kids consider what it means to be a good friend.

If love were a color, what color would it be? Everyone in Ms. Clementine’s class has a different answer, but Grace doesn’t know which color to choose. Love could be blue like her favorite pair of shoes or yellow like the daffodils that grow in her neighborhood. As Grace and her classmates share what love looks like to them, they learn that it comes in many forms and that it’s important to celebrate the different kinds of love we all experience.

Little Blue Truck is a fan favorite in many of our homes! This fun story will help get little ones excited to return to school this fall.

In this colorful book, New York Times bestselling author Todd Parr teaches little ones about all the fun things that can happen during school, from practicing a different routine to meeting new friends and learning a lot!

When Farmer Brown is invited to be a guest at an elementary school’s Farm Day, he wants to bring his friends along—but, sadly, they aren’t allowed, even on their best behavior. But… what if they come in disguise?

In this beloved series, the mouse heads to school. But if you take a mouse to school, he’ll want a backpack… and a lunch box… and some pencils. What could he ask for next?

In this sweet story, a group of students welcomes everyone at school with open arms and learns about different cultures and traditions as they gather to celebrate Lunar New Year.

Give little ones a confidence boost as they start the school year with the story of a little boy ready to take on the year—and tell his parents all about it when he gets home.

This heartwarming picture book helps teachers in welcoming their new group of students on the first day of school. Through a letter written from the teacher’s point of view, students are given the message that their new teacher is someone they will get to form a special bond with. Their teacher is not only there to help them with school work but also to cheer them on and provide a caring, safe environment for them to learn and grow.

This book follows a little girl named Ollie and her bear cub friend as she gets ready for the end of summer and the start of a new school year.

Filled with his incredible sense of humor and inspiring wisdom, Academy Award–winning actor and #1 New York Times bestselling author Matthew McConaughey has crafted a soulful and irreverent collection of life lessons that empowers readers both big and small to celebrate how we are all full of possibility, potential, and hope.

For little ones who might have separation anxiety at the start of daycare or school, The Kissing Hand can help assure them their parent’s love is always with them.

Llama Llama is headed to his first day of school in this story. Told in the signature rhyming style of the popular book series, little readers can learn what to expect at school and what might be hard—like missing their parents.

For Daniel Tiger fans, you know this little tiger always has a kid-relatable lesson to share. In this story, Daniel’s headed to school but is upset his dad can’t stay with him.

Love knows no bounds and transcends time and space in this charming story, which beautifully exemplifies the connection we have with our loved ones, even when we are not with them physically. The story is told through the perspective of Tess as she embarks on her first day of school and soon realizes that the love her family has for her and vice versa is profound and with her at all times.

Pigeon has a lot of concerns about school—like, what if he learns too much and his head pops off? Follow along to see if he finally gets comfortable with going to school in this laugh-out-loud tale.