Helping your Child Adjust to Back to School Season Part 2: Stories to Help Ease the Transition and Build Excitement
Here are some wonderful, age-appropriate books that help young children (and parents) prepare for going to school for the first time or heading back after summer break. These books focus on easing anxiety, building excitement, and teaching social-emotional skills appropriate for the classroom environment.
Books About Starting School for the First Time:
1. "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn
- Theme: Separation anxiety, reassurance
- Why it's great: A touching story that reassures children that parental love stays with them even when they're apart.
2. "First Day Jitters" by Julie Danneberg
- Theme: Anxiety about the first day of school
- Twist ending: The person who is nervous is the teacher, not the student! Funny and relatable, helping children see that everyone gets nervous, even the teacher!
3. "Maisy Goes to Preschool" by Lucy Cousins
- Theme: What to expect in preschool
- Why it's great: Simple illustrations and descriptions of common preschool activities.
- Similar title: Pete the Kitty’s First Day of School
4. "Llama Llama Misses Mama" by Anna Dewdney
- Theme: Separation and adjustment
- Why it's great: Rhyming text and sweet story of a llama adjusting to preschool. Many other Llama, Llama titles in the series which develop social-emotional learning.
5. "Wemberly Worried" by Kevin Henkes
- Theme: Anxiety and worry
- Why it's great: A gentle look at overcoming nervousness about school and making friends.
Books About Going Back to School:
6. "Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes" by Eric Litwin
- Theme: Confidence and fun
- Why it's great: Catchy songs and a confident attitude help Pete adapt to new school experiences.
7. "If You Take a Mouse to School" by Laura Numeroff
- Theme: A humorous look at how fun school is
- Why it's great: The familiar mouse character brings a sense of fun and excitement to the school day.
8. "School’s First Day of School" by Adam Rex
- Theme: New beginnings from a unique perspective
- Why it's great: The school building is the narrator and feels nervous about students coming…an original and sweet perspective.
9. "How Do Dinosaurs Go to School?" by Jane Yolen
- Theme: Manners and behavior
- Why it's great: Humor and dinosaur antics teach important social skills.
10. "Daniel Goes to School" by Becky Friedman (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood)
- Theme: Emotions, routines
- Why it's great: Teaches strategies like "Grown-ups come back" to help with separation anxiety.
Every child adjusts at their own pace. Some will run through the classroom door with excitement, others will need more time and support. Reading the above stories together will help prepare children with a sense of familiarity and ease the transition, setting them up for a successful school year. Providing them with a solid foundation as well as encouragement, patience, and presence makes all the difference.
Here’s to a great 2025-2026 school year—full of growth, laughter, and new adventures!