First Day of School: Books to Get you off to a Good Start

Picture Books | Juvenile Chapter Books | Juvenile Non-Fiction

Picture Books

Billy and the Big New School by Catherine Anholt E Anholt
Billy is nervous about starting school, but as he cares for a sparrow that eventually learns to fly on its own, he realizes that he too can look after himself.

Look Out, Kindergarten, Here I come! By Nancy L. Carlson E Carlson
Even though Henry is looking forward to going to kindergarten, he is not sure about staying once he first gets there.

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes E Henkes
A mouse named Wemberly, who worries about everything, finds that she has a whole list of things to worry about when she faces the first day of nursery school.

Off to School, Baby Duck by Amy Hest E Hest
Baby Duck experiences the fear of the first day of school, but with a little help from Grampa, everything turns out okay in the end.

Jazzbo Goes to School by Matt Novak E Novak
Jazzbo does not want to go to school until he and his mother find just the right school for him.

First Day, Hooray! By Nancy Poydar E Poydar
All over town, Ivy Green and her bus driver and her teacher and the other school employees get ready for the first day of school.

Pete and Polo’s Big School Adventure by Adrian Reynolds E Reynolds
Pete and his polar bear are both nervous on their first day of school, especially when Polo find he is the only bear that’s not brown.

Vera’s First Day of School by Vera Rosenberry E Rosenberry
Vera cannot wait for the day when she starts school, but the first day does not go exactly as she has anticipated.

Emily’s First 100 Days of School by Rosemary Wells E Wells
Starting with number one for the first day of school, Emily learns the numbers to one hundred in many different ways.

Tom Goes to Kindergarten by Margaret Wild E Wild
When Tom, a young panda, goes to his very first day of kindergarten, his whole family stays and plays and wishes they could be in kindergarten, too.

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child E Child
When Lola is worried about starting school, her older brother Charlie reassures her.

What Did You Do Today?: The First Day of School by Tobby Forward E Forward
A child describes the events of the first day of school, from making sandwiches for lunch to holding a parent's hand on the walk home.

Countdown to Kindergarten by Alsion McGhee E McGhee
Ten days before the start of kindergarten, a preschooler can not tie her shoes by herself and fears the worst.

First Day by Joan Rankin E Rankin
Little Haybillybun is not the only one who is worried about the first day of preschool.

Elizabeti's School by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen E Stuve-Bodeen
Although she enjoys her first day at school, Elizabeti misses her family and wonders if it wouldn't be better to stay home.

Chicken Chickens Go to School by Valeri Gorbachev E Gorbachev
It's the first day of school for the little chickens and they are a little scared. How a wise teacher helps the chicken chickens overcome their fears and win some wonderful new friends is a heartwarming story that will reassure youngsters experiencing their own "first day" jitters.

First Day by Dandi Daley Mackall, E MacKall
The first day of school starts out filled with doubt, but after facing fear of the big kids, reciting the alphabet with ease, and learning about recess, a child can't help but look forward to day two.

I Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas E Rusackas
When a little pig worries about being apart from his mother when he goes off to school, she reassures him.

Don't Go! by Jane Breskin Zalben E Jane Breskin Zalben
On the first day of preschool, Daniel gradually overcomes his nervousness as he plays in the sandbox, collects leaves, and bakes cookies. Includes tips for parents on getting ready for preschool and a recipe for pumpkin cookies.

My First Day at Nursery School by Becky Edwards
On the first day of preschool, a little girl misses her mother, but on the second day she is excited to go back.

Mouse’s First Day of School byLauren Thompson E Thompson
This is a new "first" for mouse as he hides in a backpack and gleefully emerges into the brave new world of preschool

Little Cliff's First Day of School by Clifton Taulbert E Taulbert
Sensitive and gently humorous, this irresistible story of first-day jitters proves that, though sometimes scary, growing up can also be fun, fun, fun!

Bye, Bye! byNancy Kaufmann E Kaufmann
Bye, Bye! Though he loves preschool, Piggy has a hard time saying goodbye to his father.

Enrico Starts School by Charlotte Middleton E Middleton
Enrico the cat faces a new challenge--starting school. It's hard to make friends at first, but with a helpful idea from Chico, Enrico discovers the very best way to meet a new pal.

When an Elephant Comes to School by Jan Ormerod E Ormerod
With the help of his classmates, an elephant has a good first day of school.

Top of Page

Juvenille Chapter Books

 Pa Lia’s First Day by Michelle Edwards J Edwards
On the first day of second grade at her new school, Pa Lia Vang discovers that things are not as bad as she had feared.

Lizard Meets Ivana the Terrible by C. Anne Scott J Scott
When third grader Lizzie Gardener must live temporarily with her grandmother, her greatest fears have to do with making friends in her new school.

Back to School, Mallory by Laurie B Friedman J Friedman
Mallory McDonald starts third grade at a new school in a new town, away from her best friend and her old life.

Stuart Goes to School by Sara Pennypacker J Pennypacker
Worried about his first day at a new school, eight-year-old Stuart wears his magic cape and hopes that it will help him.

Judy Moody was in a mood. Not a good mood, a bad mood b y Megan McDonald J Mcdonald
Third grader Judy Moody is in a first day of school bad mood until she gets an assignment to create a collage all about herself and begins creating her masterpiece, the Me collage.

Top of Page

 Juvenile Non-fiction  

It's back to school we go : first day stories from around the world b y Ellen Jackson
J 371 Jackson
Perfect for parents and teachers looking to explore the first day back at school with kids- Cross-cultural look at a universal experience- Great Back-To-School title

When You Go to Kindergarten , by James Howe J372.21 Howe
Texts and photographs explain what it is like to go to kindergarten.

What to expect at Preschool , by Heidi Murkoff J372.21 Murkoff
Provides answers to questions like: what preschool is like, what preschoolers do, who teachers are, and how they help to make preschool such a fun and special place.

At the School , by Carol Greene J 372.12 Green
Simple text and photos take a tour of a school and depict the activities of a typical day there.

Teachers Help Us Learn , by Carol Green, J372.11 Greene
Simple text and photographs describe what teachers do.

Top of Page

All of these titles can be located in the Youth Services Department

Tompkins County Public Library ~ 101 East Green Street ~ Ithaca, NY 14850
607-272-4557 x275 or x276
CreatedNovember 20, 2006 ~ Last Modified: November 28, 2007
Comments: webmanager@tcpl.org
©2006 Tompkins County Public Library