LibraryAware PICTURE BOOKS: Back to School

Here are our favorite books about going to school for children. These titles can be found in the Easy section of the library, unless otherwise noted.

Kindergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day
by Vera Ahiyya

Leo, a quiet kid who is not ready for his first day of kindergarten, ends up having a great day when he makes a kindness pledge and discovers he knows a lot about being kind to others.

Play Day, School Day
by Toni Yuly

Asking his big sister what school is like when a new year approaches, a little brother listens with increasing enthusiasm to descriptions of riding the bus, reading, learning science and playing with other kids before discovering that with a little imagination, nature itself can be a teacher.

Little Yellow Bus
by Erin Guendelsberger

In this adorable back-to-school picture book, Little Yellow Bus tries everything he can think of to get out of going to school, but with a little encouragement from his parents, he realizes he can do anything he sets his mind to.

Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School!
by Carrie Finison

Determined not to be the last student to arrive on the first day of school, Little Tortoise is overtaken by Cheetah, Llama, and a snail on a scooter, but the timely arrival of Mr. Sloth changes everything.

Llama Llama Back to School
by Reed Duncan

Longing for summertime to last forever, Llama Llama is anxious about starting school until he discovers learning is fun with the help of his friends and Mama Llama.

Lupe Lope: Rock Star Rules!
by e. E. Charlton-Trujillo

Wanting fans not friends, drummer Lupe Lopez, who is determined to rock kindergarten literally refuses to play by the rules until a less-than-starstruck teacher and the lack of fans make her reconsider her no friends rule.

Little Bat in Night School
by Brian Lies

Excited for his first night of school, Little Bat finds his world turned upside down when he finally arrives, in this adorable picture book that celebrates the experience of going to school for the first time.

First Day of School
by Esther van den Berg

Despite his misgivings, Robin has the best first day of school during which he skips rope, builds a tower of blocks, and even goes to the bathroom by himself!

Sounds Like School Spirit
by Meg Fleming

Interactive and super entertaining, this exuberant celebration of school spirit follows kids from circle time to the lunch line!

My School Stinks!
by Becky Scharnhorst

A back-to-school story told through journal entries about a boy who finds himself at a new school where the other students are REAL animals.

Time for School, Little Blue Truck
by Alice Schertle

After making friends with a bright yellow school bus, Blue gets his chance to try out this fun-filled job when his friend misses the bus and needs to get to school on time!

The Awful Aardvarks Shop for School
by Reeve Lindbergh

It's time to stock up on school supplies and the Awful Aardvarks are sure to be the first in line, in an amusing tale with lively, full-color illustrations from the creators of The Awful Aardvarks Go to School.

Louise the Big Cheese and the Back-to-
School Smarty-Pants
by Elise Primavera

Louise is determined to earn straight A's in second grade, but her teacher, Mrs. Pearl, is known for not giving out that special grade.

Bobbo Goes to School
by Shirley Hughes

A follow-up to Don't Want to Go finds young Lily mourning the loss her beloved stuffed toy, Bobbo, on a school bus, while Bobbo travels to school and enjoys adventures before making his way back to Lily. By the Kate Greenaway Medal-winning author of Christmas Eve Ghost.

Best Frints at Skrool
by Antoinette Portis

A laugh-out-loud sequel to Best Frints in the Whole Universe finds the best "frintship" of planet Boborp students Omek and Yelfred tested by Omek's jealousy over Yelfred's bond with another frint, a situation that is aided by a friendly game of Eyeball.

Lola Goes to School
by Anna McQuinn

Lola meets new friends and tries many new things on her fun but exhausting first day of school.

The Pigeon Has to Go to School!
by Mo Willems

The irrepressible Pigeon from the Caldecott Honor-winning Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! throws a fit over his worries about the first day of school, from heavy backpacks to finger paint on his feathers.

Pirates Don't Go to Kindergarten!
by Lisa Robinson

Emma the pirate does not want to start kindergarten, so she returns to her preschool classroom to stir up a mutiny against kindergarten.

The King of Kindergarten
by Derrick Barnes

An empowering story about a confident little boy who takes pride in his first day of kindergarten, encouraging new students with a reassuring message about this exciting milestone.

My Teacher is a Robot
by Jeffrey Brown

Young Fred tries to think of ways to make his day more exciting, from pretending the classroom is filled with dinosaurs, to imagining that tests are being mandated by an evil overlord, to deciding that his teacher is really a robot.