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Back-to-School Books to Read With Your Kids

By Jayme N. Linton, Ph.D., Hickory NC Mom, LRU Assistant Professor of Education & MacKid Guest Writer August 25, 2016


As summer vacation winds down, sharing stories together can help the entire family prepare for back-to-school. The following picture books will help you and your children tackle the mixed emotions involved in back-to-school season. Use these books to jump-start important conversations about back-to-school topics like relationships, conflict, and anxiety.

BOOKS FOR KIDS WHO ARE ANXIOUS ABOUT BACK-TO-SCHOOL
These books can help your children feel brave about going back to school and learn strategies for coping with school-related anxiety. Your children will enjoy getting to know these characters who overcome obstacles they may face themselves, like making friends and standing up to bullies.

  • Wemberly Worried 
    Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes
  • Chrysanthemum 
    Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes
  • Sheila Rae, the Brave 
    Written and Illustrated by Kevin Henkes
  • Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon 
    Written by Patty Lovell, Illustrated by David Catrow
  • Thank You, Mr. Falker
    Written and Illustrated by Patricia Polacco
  • Hooway for Wodney Wat
    Written by Helen Lester, Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
  • The Brand New Kid
    Written by Katie Couric, Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
  • Llama Llama and the Bully Goat
    Written and Illustrated by Anna Dewdney
  • The Kissing Hand
    Written and Illustrated by Audrey Penn
  • Amazing Grace
    Written by Mary Hoffman, Illustrated by Caroline Binch

LIGHT-HEARTED BACK-TO-SCHOOL BOOKS
Looking for something on the lighter side? These books will provide some laughter to ease worries and build excitement for the back-to-school transition.

  • Lunch Money and Other Poems About School
    Written by Carol Diggory Shields, Illustrated by Paul Meisel
  • This is the Teacher
    Written by Rhonda Gowler Greene, Illustrated by Mike Lester
  • Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
    Written by Eric Litwin, Illustrated by James Dean
  • The Teacher from the Black Lagoon (and the other Black Lagoon books)
    Written by Mike Thaler, Illustrated by Jared Lee

BOOKS FOR KINDERGARTENERS
The start of school for kindergarteners can be a difficult time for the entire family. If you have a rising kindergartener in your home like I do, you may find that these stories help your child (and you) with this transition.

  • The Night Before Kindergarten 
    Written by Natasha Wing, Illustrated by Julie Durrell
  • Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! 
    Written and Illustrated by Nancy Carlson
  • Llama Llama Misses Mama 
    Written and Illustrated by Anna Dewdney
  • David Goes to School 
    Written and Illustrated by David Shannon
  • How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? 
    Written by Jane Yolen, Illustrated by Mark Teague

What other books would you recommend? Comment below!