Back to School Books for Toddlers
It’s back to school season! Books are a great tool to navigate new experiences like going to school.
Talking about what to expect is important! Let your child know what they might see and do when going to school. What will drop-off be like? Explain different activities and talk about making new friends. Don’t forget to talk about emotions, too!
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Whether your little one is going to daycare, preschool, or kindergarten, these books are great for talking about back to school and what it involves.
01. My Favorite Back to School Book: Fun & Silly for Toddlers!
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
We love Mo Willems’ books about the Pigeon. And we love this book for going back to school!
The Pigeon asks a lot of questions about going to school. Will there be lunch? Why does the alphabet have so many letters? He doesn’t like the unknown!
The book is fun and silly for preschoolers going back to school. It provides good opportunities to talk about school and the activities and emotions that come along with it.
02. Best Visual Book for Preschool Prep
We love Llama Llama books over here! The simple rhyming text keeps little ones engaged while teaching a lesson.
It’s a great back to school book for preschoolers. In this book, Llama Llama prepares for school. There are great talking points for parents and children throughout the book. You can do this by pointing out all the different elements of school in the illustrations!
The book provides a great introduction to what going to school can look like! It also does a good job introducing activities at school like reading, crafts, music, and more.
03. Children’s Book Explaining School Drop-Offs
While this book isn’t your typical back to school book, it provides the opportunity to talk about drop off. It uses simple language to explain drop-off (bye bye time).
The book reinforces drop-off is not forever. “Hello again” will be coming soon. It’s great for preparing your little one for the drop-off process and helping them cope. You can reassure them someone will be back to pick them up at the end of the day!
04. First Day of Preschool Book
Pete the Kitty’s First Day of Preschool
We love Pete the Cat books! In this board book, Pete the Kitty has his first day of preschool.
Pete wakes up for the day excited to go to school. His brother helps him get on the bus and makes sure he gets to his class.
This one talks about preparing for school and all the fun things you do at preschool. Pete goes through his day with a positive attitude. He meets new friends and has a wonderful day!
05. Simple Board Book For Starting School
This is a great back for preschoolers going to school for the first time. Join Spot on his first day of school.
He gets dropped off by his mom, meets his teacher, and goes to meet his new friends in class. The book talks about school in a way that is easy to understand for little ones.
It’s positive, short and sweet, and gives lots of opportunities to talk through the school day with your child.
06. Best Back to School Book About Emotions
This is another great back to school book for talking through emotions. In this book, Llama Llama is going to school for the first time.
He’s nervous and misses his Mama. Many classmates ask him to play. He goes through his day, and starts to have fun!
In the end, Llama Llama is brave and starts to participate in the activities at school. He is glad when he realizes his Mama will always come back to pick him up!
I love this book for talking about school activities. It’s great for reinforcing that Mama (Daddy, or another caregiver!) will always come back at pickup, too.
07. Best Back to School Book with Realistic Pictures
Going to School - Toddler Prep Book
This Montessori-style book has real pictures and takes your child through what school will be like. It helps them to learn and understand what they will see and experience at school or daycare.
Helping your child know what to expect when starting a new experience is so important. This back to school book helps with that!
It starts with the preparation of getting ready for school in the morning - getting dressed, brushing teeth, etc. Then it moves into what school looks like and what your child will do while they’re there.
It’s a practical book and gives parents helpful talking points throughout.
08. The Night Before: A Preschool Preparation Book
A book that follows the meter of “The Night Before Christmas.” It’s a great back to school book for preschoolers.
The book talks about preparing the night before. It also touches on the anxious emotions that naturally come with new experiences.
Join Billy as he gets ready to go to preschool! He’s a little nervous at first, but after his first day he can’t wait to go back.
09. Best Rhyming Book About Starting Preschool
From drop-off, to how the classroom looks, and more, this book talks about all preschool has to offer! It has rhyming poems on every page about different parts of the school day.
The illustrations are fun and cheerful. This book hits on a lot of different concepts when going back to school!
10. Best Little Blue Truck Book About Going to School
Time for School, Little Blue Truck
These are fun books for any transportation lover! Little Blue Truck books have great storylines and teach about friendship and cooperation.
Little Blue Truck and his friend Toad meet a bright yellow school bus on the road. Children will learn about school buses and their important job of taking kids to school.
11. Starting School Book with Teachable Moments
Daniel Tiger books have great teachings! Read this book together and talk about the process of riding to school and drop-off.
Daniel is scared when he realizes his dad won’t be staying with him at school. He expects his dad to come into school and play with him.
This book explains more about school drop-off. It reassures children that grown-ups always come back!
12. Kindergarten Back to School Book
On The First Day of Kindergarten
This is a sweet back to school book for kindergarteners. I love the rhyming pages and the focus on the positive experiences.
Throughout the book, the little girl talks about all the “cool” things she does at school. From riding the bus, to making new friends, and learning new things - she enjoys school.
The illustrations are cheerful and bright. This is a great book to read together to talk about the fun experiences your child will have in school.
Looking for more?
We rounded up our favorite back to school essentials for preschoolers - from lunchboxes, to school supplies, and more!
