Growing up, my mom and dad read me a picture book the night before I started each new school year. When bedtime came, I would curl up in bed next to my parents—and my dog—and listen intently as they read a relaxing, school-themed story that managed to simultaneously ease my back-to-school jitters and put me to sleep. It was a heartwarming tradition that not only let me spend some extra time with my parents the night before a big transition but also helped a nervous kid like me feel a little more sure of herself.
While I eventually grew out of this first-day-of-school tradition, children’s books continue to be an excellent tool for promoting open and honest conversation with your kiddos. This can be especially transformative for new kindergarteners—many are away from their parents for the first time and may need a helping hand as they make this leap. Reading a story likely won’t absolve all of the anxiety, but dedicating just a few extra minutes to read to your child the night before kindergarten may be the extra comfort they need. Luckily, we have 25 kindergarten books to read to your child to help them through this monumental transition.
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Kindergarten books to read if they’re feeling nervous
Anxiety before school starts is to be expected for a child about to go to kindergarten—and parents might also be feeling nervous about the preschool-to-kindergarten transition. These titles address this nervousness and help to ease anxiety for the littlest of readers.
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.
This beloved and bestselling back-to-school picture book follows Sarah Jane as she navigates her first-day-of-school jitters. A relatable and charming story, this book will delight kindergarteners and elementary schoolers who are anxious about their first day of school.
Join a set of brand-new kindergarteners as they prepare for the school day ahead. They pose for first-day-of-school pictures, pack their backpacks, and say goodbye to Mom and Dad. Then, they discover just how much fun kindergarten really is.
Daniel Tiger is excited to go to school until he learns that his dad can’t go with him. Young readers get to join Daniel as he navigates his separation anxiety and learns that “grown-ups come back.”
Emily Elizabeth is starting kindergarten and is relieved to learn that she can bring something from home to make the transition a little easier—something like Clifford! This hilarious read-aloud teaches readers what they can do to make the jump to school easier.
With over 2 million copies sold, this bestselling picture book has healed generations of children and adults. While not about school specifically, it helps explain the unbreakable connections between loved ones in a way a kindergartener can understand—especially if they’re nervous about being away from their parent(s) or caregivers.
An Amazon Teacher’s Pick, this book is reassuring 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.
Prepare your child for kindergarten with this adorable picture book that celebrates the bond between a little one and a grown-up and reminds even the littlest readers that they are brave enough to start school.
In this heartwarming story, everyone is welcomed to their new school with open arms. A school where students from all backgrounds celebrate each other’s differences—a perfect read for a child nervous about how they will fit in their new classroom!
This is the perfect book to reinforce back-to-school excitement and build confidence in the newest students. The King of Kindergarten is also available everywhere books are sold!
Read More: My Child Was Anxious About Starting School—Here’s What Actually Helped
Kindergarten books to read about friendships
Making friends at school is a key focus for kindergarteners just starting out at school. For the shy kiddos, this can feel like an insurmountable task, but these books help make finding friends feel a little more doable.
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.
Small enough to fit in a child’s backpack, this collection of poems offers simple tips on how to be a good friend to your new classmates: taking turns on the playground, inviting someone to join in on your game, sitting with someone new at the lunch table—perfect for young readers new to making friends!
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.
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.
Told by two narrators, this picture book follows two children as they discover what they have in common and become fast friends.
For new kindergarteners, this story is a seamless guide for how to form connections with their new classmates.
Read More: Raising a Kind Kid: It’s Not About Personality, It’s About Practice
Kindergarten books to get them excited
More important than anything else is getting your child excited to go to school—after all, they’ll be spending a lot of time there in the coming years. While they may not love everything about school, these children’s books break down the school day routine and make even the less glamorous parts sound fun and exciting.
The Pigeon has become a beloved friend of children worldwide, and this new read-aloud is ideal for preparing kids for the school year while using a familiar face to do so.
If you take a mouse to school, he’ll want a lunchbox. Then he’ll want a notebook and some pencils.
This story is a darling addition to a beloved series—be sure to add this to your pre-kindergarten book list and to collect the rest of the Mouse series!
The COVID babies are headed to kindergarten, which means they probably grew up with Ms. Rachel! With the help of her friend Elmo, learning to get ready for school has never been more fun! From packing their bags to brushing their teeth, Elmo and Ms. Rachel will walk readers through it all.
While not releasing until September 30, you can preorder now!
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!
Whether they’re discovering math or reading a new book, the students in this charming read-aloud know that they can count on the kindness and patience of a teacher.
A celebration of all the ways teachers help their students break out of their shells, this is sure to get your kiddo excited about meeting their teacher on the first day of school.
Everyone’s favorite Crayons are getting ready to go back to school. They’re saying goodbye to summer fun and getting excited for their favorite subjects, like writing for Black Crayon and reading for White Crayon. And they’re all excited for art class!
Get your new kindergartener excited for the school year with this clever and funny read-aloud.
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 schoolwork but also to cheer them on and provide a caring, safe environment for them to learn and grow.
This delightful picture book takes the beloved Little Blue Truck and involves them in the school day routine as they take on the new role: Yellow School Bus! A #1 New York Times bestseller, this is the perfect read to get your child excited for the new year.
Sister Bear is about to start kindergarten, but she can’t shake the first-day jitters. Will her teacher like her? Will she make friends with her new classmates?
A heartwarming read-aloud to ease the first-day nerves. Plus, readers get to visit a beloved location—Bear Country!
This heartwarming picture book is an adaptation of The Twelve Days of Christmas and will remind readers of all the fun they will have in kindergarten, from jumping rope in gym class to making friends with their classmates.
Read More: My Kid is Starting Kindergarten—Here’s One Thing I’m Doing to Ease the Transition
Rebecca Smith, Editorial Intern
As editorial intern, Rebecca works with The Everymom team on updating existing content, photo sourcing, pitching original articles, and more. She’s passionate about creating authentic and diverse online content, and is thrilled to help women of all ages feel represented by contributing to The Everymom.
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