Best Picture Books Start the School Year Right

The time is fast approaching: The sound of new zippers rings out and the smell of sharpened pencils fills the air. It’s back to school! Whether it’s your child’s first year in school or they’re an old pro, a new school year can be daunting. But don’t worry! There’s something that can help ease their worries and spark some enthusiasm for their upcoming year—books.

These picture books are special because they cover a wide range of first-day-of-school experiences. In their pages, we meet children just starting out, moving from a new country, expressing their creativity, and celebrating their names (not to mention an adorable cat and one very stressed-out pigeon). Whatever the situation, these picture books about starting school are sure to help guide your child into a less-stressed and happier beginning to the school year.

King of Kindergarten/Queen of Kindergarten

Written by Derrick Barnes, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

This book is perfection (in my very humble opinion). Told from the point of view of a little boy or little girl on his first day of kindergarten, this book shows school as an exciting adventure. Children will look forward to making new friends, learning new things, and ruling their classroom kingdom after reading this best-selling book.

School's First Day of School" by Adam Rex, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Chrysanthemum

by Kevin Henkes

Chrysanthemum tells the story of a young mouse who loves her unique name until she starts school and faces teasing from her classmates. Her confidence wanes until a teacher with an equally unique name helps her embrace her individuality. This book is a wonderful read for children starting school, offering a gentle lesson on kindness and the beauty of being unique.

We Don't Eat Our Classmates

by Ryan T. Higgins

This is a delightful and hilarious tale that I believe every child will love. Penelope Rex, a young dinosaur, faces the ultimate school challenge: not eating her classmates. As she navigates this peculiar struggle, she learns about empathy, friendship, and the importance of treating others with kindness. Higgins' charming illustrations and witty storytelling make this book an engaging read, perfect for easing first-day-of-school jitters. It's a fun and meaningful way to help children understand the value of respecting others and forming friendships, no matter how different they might be.

The Day You Begin

by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López

This book gently addresses the feelings of being different and the courage it takes to share your story. With stunning illustrations by Rafael López, it follows children who feel like they don’t quite fit in because of their backgrounds, experiences, or appearances. Through its heartfelt narrative, "The Day You Begin" reassures young readers that everyone feels like an outsider sometimes and encourages them to embrace their uniqueness. It’s a powerful reminder that our differences are what make us special and worthy of connection.

Your Name is a Song

by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Illustrated by Luisa Uribe

This book is so beautiful that I want to give a copy to every person I know. When a young black girl comes back from school, she is depressed that her teacher can’t pronounce her name. Her mother walks her through the neighborhood and shows her that her name is a song, that every name is a song. I think this book is so important for children, especially children of color, who are often told that their names are “too hard to say” or that their names are “weird.” No name is weird. No name is too hard. All names are a song.

Lena’s Shoes Are Nervous

by Keith Calabrese and Juana Medina

Lena is getting ready for her first day of kindergarten, but there’s a problem. Her shoes are too nervous to go! Lena and her dad must help Lena’s shoes overcome their nervousness in order to get to school on time. With the help of a very friendly headband, Lena (and her shoes) are soon on their way to starting school. This story offers a playful way for children to address their feelings about starting school and parents to support those feelings.

Our Class is a Family

by Shannon Olsen, Illustrated by Sandie Sonke

This sweet book is told in rhyme. It explores how a classroom is really like a family, celebrating differences, supporting one another, making mistakes, growing, playing, and caring for each other. Simple and effective, this book will help your child make the transition from their family at home to their family at school.

Yoko

by Rosemary Wells

This is the first in a lovely collection of books—the others include Yoko Writes Her Name, Yoko Learns to Read, and Yoko’s Show and Tell—about Yoko, the cutest cat you could ever hope to meet! Yoko is Japanese and each of these books explores how this informs her daily life at school. Through teaching her classmates to write and count in Japanese, helping her mother learn to read in English as she learns herself, and sharing sushi with her new best friend, Yoko learns that her family and culture are a brilliant part of her life and education. It’s a great treat for any child who can identify with having different languages and customs at home than their friends. And it is equally a treat for children to learn how to celebrate and share in their classmates’ different backgrounds.

Mary Had a Little Glam

Written by Tammi Sauer, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

This brand new spin on an old nursery rhyme shows us Mary, and, boy, is Mary fabulous. She has style and personality. She helps her classmates (and teachers) go from drab to glamorous! Mary also learns that there is an outfit for every occasion, and sometimes less is more. The illustrations by Vanessa Brantley-Newton do Mary’s glam justice. It’s back to school with Black Girl Magic.

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!

by Mo Willems

That crazy pigeon is back at it! In another delightful book from the eponymous series, Pigeon is trying desperately to avoid going to school, voicing concerns and fears that many children have when starting school. This book does a great job of talking about them and showing that school really is a fun place to be. And like all Mo Willems books, it gets kids giggling.