It’s almost that time — back to school is around the corner for many of us. What to read on the first day of school? We’ve got the perfect list of new and classic favorite first day of school books. Sharpen those pencils and crack open those shiny new notebooks, because you’ll want to take note of all of these!
First-day-of-school jitters take on a whole new meaning at howlergarten, where future werewolves prepare for their big transformation!
Most kids go to kindergarten, but there is a special place for those who turn into werewolves. Instead of attending school during the day, these supernatural students go to howlergarten at night! There they practice tracking scents, listening to whispers on the wind, and more. But when one student named Sophie doesn't seem to possess the basic skills, she worries she won't become a werewolf at all. What will happen if she remains human when the full moon appears? Will she still be accepted as part of the pack, or will she be cast aside as an ordinary outsider?
First Night of Howlergarten was written and illustrated by Benson Shum and published by Penguin Workshop.
Author-illustrator Monica Arnaldo serves up a hilarious picture book about a kindergarten class arriving for the first day of school that can't find their teacher—only a delicious-looking sandwich and the words "Mr. S" scribbled on the chalkboard. Chaos ensues as the kids argue whether or not the sandwich must be their teacher. A comical book of mayhem and chaos, perfect for back-to-school and fans of Miss Nelson Is Missing.
It was the first day of school.
But even the kindergarteners of room 2B could tell something was seriously wrong. . . .
Where was the teacher?
Who left this sandwich on the desk?
The only clue, written neatly on the chalkboard, were three simple letters:
Mr. S
Mr. S was written and illustrated by Monica Arnaldo and published by Katherine Tegen Books.
When a little girl wakes up on the first day of school, the butterflies in her stomach feel positively giant-sized! She really wants her mom to stay with her, on this first day.
As she and her mom make their way to school, Mom explains how the butterflies are a good thing. Everyone gets them (including parents) and they are a sign of something exciting happening—that we're about to learn and grow from a new experience and they can help us through it.
So with the butterflies as her guide, the girl soars into her first day.
Beloved children's songwriter Justin Roberts brings one of his most popular songs to the page, alongside beautifully tender illustrations by Paola Escobar, in a story guaranteed to help readers of all ages reframe their first-day nerves as first-day excitement.
Giant-Sized Butterflies on My First Day of School was written by Justin Roberts, illustrated by Paola Escobar and published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.
Every morning, I'm up at four o'clock.
I brush my teeth, get dressed, and drag my sister Melanie to the car where Mami's waiting for us.
¡Se nos va hacer tarde! ¡Apurarse!
For the next two hours, we'll be in the car driving—past tamale vendors (my favorite part), through la linea (my least favorite part), and across the US border. That's how we get to school every day. This is our normal. ¡Vamos!
In a winning, sunny voice in a bright, friendly palette, debut author-illustrator Sendy Santamaria tells the story of one girl's commute—a commute Sendy herself made growing up as an American citizen living in Mexico. Yenebi's Drive to School takes readers on a trip to school that many will recognize as very similar to their own.
Yenebi’s Drive to School was written and illustrated by Sendy Santamaria and published by Chronicle Books. The Spanish edition is called El viaje de Yenebi a la escuela.
Cooler mornings, cicadas buzzing, apples ripening . . . Can shopping for school supplies be far behind? The evening before the first day means laying out your outfit, loading up your backpack, and filling a lunch box with your favorite things. When the alarm goes off, there’s Dad’s extra-special breakfast (and, of course, some picture-taking), then the feeling of bubbly excitement as you and your friends climb onto a bus, ready to see your new classroom and meet your teacher. Whether the reader is a child who is eager to return to school or a younger one trying to imagine what school is like, this upbeat and lyrical ode—the fourth in the And Then Comes series—holds sure appeal for returning students and first-timers alike.
And Then Comes School was written by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Jen Hill and published by Candlewick Press.
Everyone’s favorite cockroach from Your Birthday Was the Best! is back, and this time he’s going to school . . . and bringing his whole family along for the ride!
From show-and-tell to arts and crafts, this little stowaway can’t wait to try it all . . . and maybe become the new teachers' pet!
Charming, hilarious and just a tiny bit disgusting, this is a school tale with a twist.
Your School Is the Best was written by Maggie Hutchings, illustrated by Felicita Sala and published by Tundra Books.
There will be times when you walk into a room
and no one there is quite like you.
There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or something just as random. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it.
Jacqueline Woodson's lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling art reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes-and how brave it is that we go forth anyway. And that sometimes, when we reach out and begin to share our stories, others will be happy to meet us halfway.
The Day You Begin was written by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López and published by Nancy Paulsen Books. This book is also available in Spanish as El Día En Que Descubres Quién Eres!
It’s the first day of Kindergarten and Leo isn’t at all ready. Leo is a quiet kid and would prefer to stay home. Over the summer, his new teacher, Ms. Perry sent a letter asking her students to think about how to show kindness in school. She explained that they would be making a kindness pledge, and each student should bring one way to show kindness on the first day.
As it turns out, Leo’s classmates have lots of ideas about kindness: like raising your hand, never leaving anyone out, and apologizing if you hurt someone’s feelings. At the end of the first day, Ms. Perry asks if anyone witnessed something they’d like her to add to the kindness pledge? Lots of hands shoot up in the air. Several classmates say they noticed Leo returning crayons to the box, holding the door for everyone, and helping a friend who fell. Leo smiles as he realizes he really does know a lot about kindness after all.
A story reassuringly told by Vera Ahiyya and brought to exuberant life by illustrator Joey Chou, this story about a classroom coming together to make a kindergarten into a KINDergarten is sure to calm the nerves—and offer inspiration—to new kindergartners and the adults in their lives.
KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day was written by Vera Ahiyya, illustrated by Joey Chou and published by Random House Studio.
English, with its blustery blues and whites, just feels wrong to Isabel. She prefers the warm oranges and pinks of Spanish. As she prepares for class at a new school, she knows she's going to have to learn—and she would rather not! Her first day is uncomfortable, until she discovers there's more than one way to communicate with friends. This is a universal story about feeling new and making new friends.
Isabel and Her Colors Go to School was written by Alexandra Alessandri, illustrated by Courtney Dawson and published by Sleeping Bear Press.
A moving celebration of school and all it may signify: work and play, creativity and trust, and a supportive community that extends beyond walls.
A school isn’t just a building; it is all the people who work and learn together. It is a place for discovery and asking questions. A place for sharing, for helping, and for community. It is a place of hope and healing, even when that community can’t be together in the same room. John Schu, a librarian and former ambassador of school libraries for Scholastic, crafts a loving letter to schools and the people that make up the communities within in a picture book debut beautifully illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison.
This Is a School was written by John Schu, illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison and published by Candlewick Press.
In our classroom safe and sound.
Fears are lost and hope is found.
Discover a school where all young children have a place, have a space, and are loved and appreciated.
Readers will follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate each other's traditions. A school that shows the world as we will make it to be.
All Are Welcome was written by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman and published by Knopf Books for Young Readers.
MJ is more than ready for her first day of kindergarten! With her hair freshly braided and her mom's special tiara on her head, she knows she’s going to rock kindergarten. But the tiara isn’t just for show—it also reminds her of all the good things she brings to the classroom, stuff like her kindness, friendliness, and impressive soccer skills, too! Like The King of Kindergarten, this is the perfect book to reinforce back-to-school excitement and build confidence in the newest students.
The Queen of Kindergarten was written by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton and published by Nancy Paulsen Books.
A New York Times bestselling author (The True Meaning of Smekday) and illustrator (Last Stop on Market Street) team bring you a fresh look at the first day of school, this time from the school's perspective.
It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him?
The school has a rough start, but as the day goes on, he soon recovers when he sees that he's not the only one going through first-day jitters.
School’s First Day of School was written by Adam Rex, illustrated by Christian Robinson and published by Roaring Brook Press.
From the author-illustrator of Hannah and Sugar comes a back-to-school tale about facing your fears, now in paperback with bonus tear-out lunchbox notes.
As Mae's first day of school approaches, she decides she IS. NOT. GOING.
School is scary! What if the other kids don't like her? Or what if she's the only one who doesn't know how to write? Or what if she misses her mom? Mae's anxiety only builds as she walks to school.
But then she meets Rosie and Ms. Pearl. Will making new friends show her that they can conquer their fears together?
Mae’s First Day of School was written and illustrated by Kate Berube and published by Harry N. Abrams.
An inspiring picture book for every family that makes home a place for learning.
Drawing from his own childhood experiences, Jonathan Bean takes the autobiographically inspired family he introduced in Building Our House through the special rhythms and routines of a homeschooling day. For young Jonathan and his sisters, Mom is the teacher and a whole lot more, and Dad is the best substitute any kid could want. From math, science, and field trips to recess, show-and-tell, and art, a school day with this intrepid, inventive family will seem both completely familiar and totally unique. Includes a selection of family snapshots and a note from the author.
This Is My Home, This Is My School was written and illustrated by Jonathan Bean and published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers.
Hardly anyone noticed young Sally McCabe.
She was the smallest girl in the smallest grade.
But Sally notices everything—from the twenty-seven keys on the janitor’s ring to the bullying happening on the playground. One day, Sally has had enough and decides to make herself heard. And when she takes a chance and stands up to the bullies, she finds that one small girl can make a big difference.
Grammy-nominated children’s musician Justin Roberts, together with vibrant artwork from award-winning illustrator Christian Robinson, will have readers cheering for young Sally McCabe.
The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade was written by Justin Roberts, illustrated by Christian Robinson and published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.
In the tradition of School’s First Day of School, debut author Keith Calabrese and Pura Belpré Award winner Juana Medina share a sweet, universal story about a clever little girl whose shoes are nervous about the first day of school.
Today is a big day! Today, Lena starts kindergarten. She is very excited. But there’s just one problem…
Lena’s shoes are nervous.
Lena doesn’t want to miss out on her first day of school, but she can’t go without her favorite shoes! How can she convince them to be brave?
Lena's Shoes Are Nervous: A First-Day-of-School Dilemma was written by Keith Calabrese, illustrated by Juana Medina and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Why does the Pigeon have to go to school? He already knows everything! And what if he doesn't like it? What if the teacher doesn't like him? What if he learns TOO MUCH!?!
Ask not for whom the school bell rings; it rings for the Pigeon!
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! was written and illustrated by Mo Willems and published by Hyperion Books for Children.
It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her classmates. But it's hard to make human friends when they're so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all. . . . Readers will gobble up this hilarious new story from award-winning author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins.
We Don't Eat Our Classmates: A Penelope Rex Book was written and illustrated by Ryan Higgins and published by Disney Hyperion. It’s available in Spanish as Los niños no se comen.
What really happened over the summer break? A curious teacher wants to know. The epic explanation? What started out as a day at the beach turned into a globe-spanning treasure hunt with high-flying hijinks, exotic detours, an outrageous cast of characters, and one very mischievous bird! Is this yet another tall tale, or is the truth just waiting to be revealed? From the team behind I Didn't Do My Homework Because . . . and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School . . . comes a fantastical fast-paced, detail-rich illustrated summer adventure that's so unbelievable, it just might be true!
The Truth about My Unbelievable Summer was written by Davide Cali, illustrated by Benjamin Chaud and published by Chronicle Books.
This wildly funny twist on the "How I spent my summer vacation" school-essay ritual details one child's imaginary adventures over the summer and is perfect for back-to-school reading!
Most kids go to camp over the summer, or to Grandma's house, or maybe they're stuck at home. Not Wallace Bleff. He was supposed to visit his Aunt Fern. Instead, Wallace insists, he was carried off by cowboys and taught the ways of the West--from riding buckin' broncos to roping cattle. Lucky for Aunt Fern, he showed up at her house just in time to divert a stampede from her barbecue party! Perfect for back-to-school read-alouds, here's a western fantasy with sparkling illustrations and enough action to knock kids' boots off!
How I Spent My Summer Vacation was written and illustrated by Mark Teague and published by Dragonfly Books.
Hope everyone has a wonderful first day of school! Any other back to school favorite books? We’d love to hear about them. Leave us a comment below. ✏️