Well, summer is almost over (believe it or not) and we will be officially back to school very soon (we hope)! If you’re anything like us, your family has probably been full of big emotions leading up to this scary time. In addition to the usual shopping, we have a tradition of going to our local bookstore or library to pick up a few new back-to-school books that help us adjust to the idea of returning to school (or starting for the first time). I have always found comfort and guidance in books, and hope that my son will also turn to books when he needs help coping with difficult situations or approaching new experiences.
Here are a few of our favorite back-to-school picture books right now:
Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
This was one of the first back-to-school books we purchased, and to be honest it was not a huge success for us at the time. My sensitive son was so overwhelmed with empathy for the poor little Llama who misses his mama that he couldn’t appreciate the happy ending (spoiler: mama comes back and school is great)… in fact, we had to hide the book for a while because the sight of it brought him to tears. That said, it is a sweet book that walks you through the first day of school and reminds preschoolers that parents will come back for them at the end of the day… and that there’s lots of fun to have at school while they wait!
Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube
We picked up this book last year and I think my son really related to Mae’s intense reluctance to go to school when she flat out refuses to go into the building and instead climbs up a tree. If anything, I was concerned that it was so sympathetic to Mae’s negative view of school that it would encourage his anxieties instead of assuaging them, but of course the book shows us there are many others at the school who have the same fear of starting school…even some of the teachers! Sometimes talking through those anxieties and knowing they aren’t the only ones who feel that way is enough to make them feel better about it.
School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex
This is a cute back-to-school book with a twist–it’s not just the first day of school for the kids, but also for the school itself! Told from the perspective of a brand new school building that has no idea what it’s getting into on the first day, it’s a positive story about how it can take a little time to adjust to new experiences and overcome our fears… and reminds us that everyone at school is starting the school year at the same time… even the building! It’s a plus that it’s illustrated by Christian Robinson, who we always enjoy.
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems
This is a new fave of my son’s and also one of my favorites in the popular Pigeon series by Mo Willems. It speaks to know-it-alls like mine who think they don’t need school AND have a general fear of the unknown. Pigeon ultimately realizes that he has a few things to learn and school can actually help him cope with these fears and – best of all – he gets to ride the bus to get there! It’s particularly helpful for kids kids like mine who are starting a bus commute and don’t (yet) realize how exciting and fun that can be.
My Teacher is a Monster! (No, I Am Not) by Peter Brown
This is a new one that my son immediately responded to because he was fascinated with the progression of the “monster” teacher turning into a regular person — when exactly did that happen and how? He goes through it page by page to try to figure it out and didn’t seem entirely satisfied with the explanation that she changes because Bobby gets to know her and sees her differently (as a real person instead of a monster teacher)… but I think that he was starting to get the idea. And he also might think twice before throwing paper airplanes in class! (Though I hope that it will encourage him to listen and respect his teachers without creating too much fear of teachers turning into “monsters” when he breaks the rules…)
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
This most recent back-to-school book is really the winner because it made my son laugh so hard that we had trouble getting through the book… and it was pretty entertaining for me too! It’s the story of a little T-Rex named Penelope who goes to school with a class full of children and has trouble adjusting…because she can’t stop eating them. Of course Penelope learns her lesson when she gets a taste of her own medicine and makes friends when she finally stops eating the other kids. It was perfect for my five year-old’s sense of humor and it was a fun way of exploring the very serious struggle to fit in and make friends at school. I think this one will be a favorite for years to come… even after my son (hopefully) overcomes his fear of school and learns to love it.
Though of course all these books are available on Amazon, we highly recommend looking for them at the public library or at one of the many great local independent bookstores in your area. A few of our local favorites are Community Bookstore, powerHouse books, and Stories Bookshop & Storytelling Lab.
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Margel Nusbaumer is a local writer and mom in Brooklyn. Thoughts? Reach out to margel@achildgrows.com.