1. Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
Best For: Preschool & Kindergarten
Themes: Starting School, Separation Anxiety, Validating Feelings
Why we love it: When Llama Llama is sad at school and misses his Mama, we learn that it is okay to feel sad and to miss our grown-ups. This book models validation of Llama Llama’s feelings and shows us that our grown-ups will always come back; therefore, it is okay for Llama to make friends and play games at school.
Discussion Prompts:
- How did Llama Llama’s teacher help him to feel better?
- What are you excited to do at school?
Follow-up Activities:
- Role-play a school day with stuffed animals. List on paper all of the fun things we can do at school.
- Create a visual schedule of the school day, similar to Llamas, to create a sense of predictability.
2. Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes By James Dean
Best For: Preschool & Kindergarten
Themes: Routines, Confidence, Positivity
Why we love it: Pete the Cat takes a tour of his school as he sings about his “Cool Shoes”. This book helps school to feel exciting and fun!
Discussion Prompts:
- What are some of the cool places that Pete visited?
- What are you excited to see at your school?
Follow-up Activity:
- Let your child choose their “School Shoes” and talk about how much fun they will have at school every time they try them on.Have children decorate a picture of a shoe on paper and display them in the classroom.
- Make a classroom graph of what locations at your school the children are most excited to see.
3. The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems
Best For: Preschool, Kindergarten & 1st Grade
Themes: Back to school, First day of school, school anxiety
Why We Love It: Pigeon lists every possible reason not to go to school. This book showcases the anxiety that we often see around starting school in the new year
Discussion Prompts:
- What was the Pigeon worried about?
- What are you worried about? What are you excited about?
Follow-up Activities:
- Do a directed drawing, free drawing, or coloring page of the Pigeon. Have students write a sentence about a back to school worry the Pigeon’s speech bubble.
- As a class, list the children’s worries about school as well as some things they are excited about.
4. Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
Best For: Preschool, Kindergarten & First Grade
Themes: First Day Jitters, Friendship
Why We Love It: Wemberly is a little mouse who worries about everything. She overcomes this worry by learning about the importance of making new friends.
Discussion Prompts:
- What did Wemberly worry about?
- What could you do if you meet a friend who worries a lot?
Follow-up Activities:
- Draw a picture of Wemberly and her new friend Jewels. Or have your child draw a picture of them and a friend.
- Create a list of things your child is looking forward to at school.
5. First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
Best For: Kindergarten, First Grade & Second Grade
Themes: First Day Jitters, Empathy
Why We Love It: We are drawn into a story about feeling nervous on the first day of school. As the story progresses, we learn that the nervous character is in fact the teacher. Children learn that everyone can feel nervous for new things, even grown-ups.
Discussion Prompts:
- How did you feel when you learned who the main character of the story was?
- What do you think teachers do to get ready for the first day of school?
Follow-up Activities:
- Create a storytelling wheel to practice retelling the sequence of events for the story.
- Make “Jitter Juice” to share with the class using Sprite (or sparkling water) and juice.
6. The Night Before Kindergarten By Natasha Wing
Best For: Preschool & Kindergarten
Themes: First Day Jitters, Routines
Why We Love It: Throughout this book, we meet children who are feeling a mixture of emotions as they prepare for the first day of kindergarten. They soon learn how fun it is to go to school.
Discussion Prompts:
- What things do you think you should pack for your first day of school?
- What makes you excited for school?
Follow-up Activities:
- Create a bag of “Jitter Glitter” or “Ready Confetti” for your child to put under their pillow and open in the morning.
- Practice packing a backpack with school supplies before the first day of school.
7. Pout Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen
Best For: Kindergarten & First Grade
Themes: First Day of School
Why We Love It: Pout Pout fish is worried that he won’t know how to do things at school. He is reassured by his teacher that school is where he can learn to do the things he has been worried about.
Discussion Prompts:
- What are you excited to learn about at school?
- What can we practice together before school starts?
Follow-up Activities:
- Do a growth mindset activity by having the children list things that are hard for them, but that they can learn by going to school or by practicing.
- Have your child draw a picture of Pout Pout and of themselves on their first day of school.
8. Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube
Best For: Kindergarten & First Grade
Themes: First Day Jitters, Big Feelings, Friendship
Why We Love It: Mae decides that she is not going to go to school. But after making a friend, who is also nervous for the first day, she reaslizes that school can be a fun place to learn.
Discussion Prompts:
- What made Mae change her mind about school?
- How can you be a good friend to someone on their first day of school?
Follow-up Activities:
- Have children draw a picture of a new friend they might meet at school.
- Create a poster or chart to compare Mae’s emotions at the beginning and end of the story.
9. The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
Best For: Kindergarten
Themes: First Day of School, Confidence
Why We Love It: A confident boy is excited as he gets ready for his first day of kindergarten. He believes that he will have a great time at school and be the “King of Kindergarten”.
Discussion Prompts:
- What helps you to feel brave or confident?
- What is something that you are good at?
Follow-up Activities:
- Have childr1nd decorate a crown to wear on their first day of school.
- Have children draw a picture of what they imagine their “Kindergarten Kingdom” would look like.
10. Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
Best For: Preschool & Kindergarten
Themes: First Day of School, Routines
Why We Love It: As the children are going about their morning routines, getting ready for school, we see Miss Bindergarten preparing her classroom for the day. We learn that everyone gets ready for school in their own unique ways.
Discussion Prompts:
- What do you think your classroom will look like?
- What do you do in the morning to get ready for your day?
Follow-up Activities:
- Go on a tour of the classroom or school before your child’s first day.
- Have children decorate the first letter of their name using various materials.