It’s hard to believe that it’s back-to-school season already, but here we are — shopping for school supplies, getting ready to meet new teachers and classmates, and looking forward to a whole new school year full of learning and fun.
But while you’re filling those backpacks, remember: books are just as essential as pens and pencils. A favorite book can be a comforting old friend, a door to new adventures, or a supplement to all those exciting academic skills.
From Clifford’s gentle lessons to Ms. Frizzle’s wild science-filled journeys, to the magic and friendship of Harry Potter — stories shape kids into lifelong readers and thinkers. They build confidence, spark imagination, and teach children that they are never alone, even on the most challenging days.
Ready to pick your new favorite back to school books? Consider adding some of these fun reads to your kids’ backpacks for the year ahead.
Favorite Characters Spark Excitement for the First Day of School
Whether your child is a new student heading off to preschool or an experienced scholar going back to class for another year, the first day of school is exciting — and possibly, a little nerve-wracking. But the best thing about reading these stories is that they give kids a chance to rehearse scary (or thrilling) experiences in a safe, familiar way.
Kids’ favorite characters make the experience even more comforting. Follow along with Clifford, the Gabby’s Dollhouse gang, and the dino crew in How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? as they navigate the first day of school, meet their teachers, and make friends.
Stories to Soothe First-Day Jitters
Do you have a big change coming up this year? Maybe your family moved over the summer, or your student is heading to a new school. Or perhaps it’s something that’s less earth-shaking but still takes some getting used to — new glasses, say, or an unexpected growth spurt.
Whatever’s going on in children’s lives, there’s a story to make the unfamiliar feel comfortable and put life in perspective. Reading stories about how other kids cope with change is like getting a chance to practice the hard stuff before (or while) they’re going through it.
As any parent of littles knows, even small variations on the usual routine can be hard for kids to process. The bigger shifts that come with being a student — like having a new teacher each and every year! — are even trickier for many kindergarteners and early elementary students.
New teachers are a unifying theme in several very different books like Owl Diaries #21: Eva and the New Teacher, Ruby Bridges: A Talk with My Teacher, and Black Lagoon Adventures #13: Back-to-School Fright from the Black Lagoon. One of these reads is sure to soothe your elementary-aged student’s concerns.
Of course, new school year nerves don’t stop when kids get older. If your middle-grade reader needs some support navigating transitions, check out Fresh Start, featuring a diplomat’s daughter whose parents have decided to put down roots, or Save Me a Seat, about two kids who unite to take on a common enemy: the school bully.
Silly Books That Teach Serious Resilience (and Good Manners, Too)
Even the best-behaved young readers love David, the antihero of the No, David! books. (In fact, they might love him the most.) In David Goes to School, our favorite boy-whirlwind tests his poor teacher’s patience by running the hall, chewing gum in school, and generally raising a ruckus. Your kids will laugh at his antics, even as they appreciate the reminder that parents always love their children (even when they misbehave).
Sometimes, it’s a wild day at school, not because anyone is misbehaving, but just because it’s one of those days. A Day at Abbott Elementary, adapted from the hit ABC comedy, follows the cast of students and teachers on one of those days. This fun story starts when Miss Teagues finds a squirrel in her second-grade classroom … and then discovers that the squirrel has been hiding nuts all over the school … and THEN finds out that the nuts are causing a huge crack in the school’s walls! Can our heroes work together to find the squirrel and his acorn stash before it’s too late?
Share Your Favorite Back-to-School Books!
Download our free printable back-to-school signs below:
- First Day of Preschool Sign
- First Day of Kindergarten Sign
- First Day of 1st Grade Sign
- First Day of 2nd Grade Sign
- First Day of 3rd Grade Sign
- First Day of 4th Grade Sign
- First Day of 5th Grade Sign
Once you've printed it out, complete the sign together, and share your favorite reads. You’ll document memories and get to those first day of school smiles (with a little help from Clifford, Gabby, Harry, and all your child’s best fictional friends).
Ready to stock up on stories for the first weeks of school? Check out The Scholastic Store. You can shop by grade and age, format and subject, series and character, and more.
