Back to School Books
Stories to Ease Your Child into Class
Is your little one heading off to school for the first time? Or going to a new school? Worried about fitting in? Don’t be anxious. These books will assure them school’s fun and they’ll find their friends. They’re listed according to age group, so you’ll be sure to find what your child needs.
Sometimes I Kaploom
Ages 4-8; by Rachel Vail; illustrated by Hyewon Yum; published by Scholastic
Katie Honors is a really brave kid. She can go to bed with just one small night light. She can hold her tears in when it’s time to say goodbye to her mom at school. But sometimes Katie isn’t ready to say goodbye and doesn’t feel brave at all. When this happens, she Kaplooms!
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
Grades Pre-K-K; words and pictures by Mo Willems; published by Scholastic
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!? “Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely ease the way,” said Kirkus in their starred review.
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books!
Grades Pre-K-K; by Lucille Colandro; illustrated by Jared Lee, published by Cartwheel Books
The old lady from the classic song is swallowing items to make the best of her first day back to school. The rhyming text and funny illustrations will appeal to young readers.
You Get What You Get
Grades Pre-K-1; by Julie Gassman; illustrated by Sarah Horne; published by Picture Window Books
Melvin throws a fit whenever he doesn’t get what he wants. Apparently this is tolerated at home, but at school the rule is “You get what you get if you don’t throw a fit.” Melvin learns to control his behavior at school pretty quickly and when he spills the beans at home, his parents take on a new philosophy as well.
A Bad Case of Stripes
Grades K-3; by David Shannon; published by Scholastic
Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she never eats them. Why? Because the other kids at her school don’t like them. And Camilla Cream is very, very worried about what other people think of her. In fact she is so worried that she’s about to break out in… A Bad Case of Stripes. If you’d like to watch Sean Austin read this book, visit StorylineOnline.net, SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emmy® Award-winning children’s literacy program.
Save Me a Seat
Grades 3-5; by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan; published by Scholastic
Joe and Ravi might be from very different places — Joe’s lived in the town his whole life, and Ravi just moved there from India — but they’re both stuck in the same place. School. They don’t think they have anything in common, but soon enough they have a common enemy (the biggest bully in their class) and a common mission: to take control of their lives over the course of a single crazy week.
The Whole Story of Half a Girl
Grades 4-6; by Veera Hiranandani; published by Delacorte Press
After her father loses his job, Sonia Nadhamuni finds herself yanked out of private school and thrown into the unfamiliar world of public education. For the first time, Sonia’s mixed heritage – half Indian and half Jewish American – makes her classmates ask questions that she doesn’t always know how to answer. She must decide what really matters and who her true friends are, and whether her two halves, no matter how different, can make her a whole.
Alexander and the Terrible, horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Grades 4-6; by Judith Viorst; illustrated by Ray Cruz; published by Scholastic
A Latino-centric movie adaptation is now streaming on Disney+! Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in his hair. His best friend deserted him. There was no dessert in his lunch bag. And, on top of all that, there were lima beans for dinner and kissing on TV. This children’s book classic is the perfect story for teaching kids about feelings and how to handle a bad day.
Fresh Start
Grades 3-7; by Gale Galligan; published by Scholastic
In this middle-grade graphic novel about friendship and belonging, Ollie Herisson’s dad is a diplomat, which means her family moves around a lot. After moving from Germany to Virginia and having a mortifying first day at her new school, Ollie is shocked to learn her parents are buying a house to settle in. Can Ollie figure out how to both be herself and make real friends when she no longer has the option of a fresh start somewhere else?
Hoot
Grades 6-8; by Carl Hiaasen; Published by Yearling
Roy Eberhardt is the new kid again. This time around, it’s Florida. But it’s still the same old routine — table by himself at lunch, no real friends, and thick-headed bullies. Hoot involves new kids, bullies, alligators, eco-warriors, pancakes, and pint-sized owls. A hilarious Floridian adventure by Newberry Award Honoree and NY Times bestseller.
The List
Grades 9-12; by Siobhan Vivian; published by Scholastic
It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn’t matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up. This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, “pretty” and “ugly.” And it’s the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.
