School bells are ringing! Backpacks are packed! And somewhere in your house, a little person might be feeling those first-day butterflies.
Here’s the truth: the right book can turn those nervous jitters into excited giggles. Whether your child is starting preschool or entering third grade, these 10 amazing books will make school feel like the best adventure ever.
Why Back-to-School Books Work Magic
Kids need to see school through friendly eyes before they experience it themselves. Books let them practice school scenarios safely at home, building confidence for real-life classroom moments.
The true gift of these books? They turn the classroom into an adventure, making children eager for learning rather than dreading it. When kids see beloved characters enjoying learning, making friends, and solving problems at school, they start believing school will be wonderful for them too.
Back-to-school books also give families perfect conversation starters. After reading together, you can talk about feelings, expectations, and exciting possibilities waiting at school.
Our Favorite Classic School Champions
Here are some great back-to-school stories.
Curious George’s First Day of School
H.A. Rey
George gets invited to be a special helper in Mr. Apple’s kindergarten class. Naturally, his curiosity leads to colorful chaos when he starts mixing paint colors. Red plus yellow makes orange! But when George creates a rainbow mess, his new friends help clean up.
Why kids love it: George makes mistakes, and everything turns out fine.
Perfect for: Kids worried about messing up or making mistakes at school.
Fun activities:
- Mix paint colors like George
- Practice being classroom helpers
- Talk about how friends help each other
- Act out George’s silly paint adventure
The Kissing Hand
Audrey Penn
Chester Raccoon doesn’t want to go to school and leave his mama. So Mama kisses Chester’s palm and tells him that whenever he feels scared, he can put his hand on his cheek and remember her love.
Why it works: Gives kids a real strategy for missing parents.
Perfect for: First-time school kids and separation anxiety.
Comforting activities:
- Practice the kissing hand routine before school starts
- Make heart-shaped handprints together
- Create a special school comfort item
- Read this every night during the first week
Miss Nelson Is Missing!
Harry Allard & James Marshall
When sweet Miss Nelson disappears, the terrible substitute teacher, Viola Swamp, takes over Room 207. The kids realize how much they miss their wonderful teacher and start behaving better.
Why it’s brilliant: Shows kids how much teachers care about their students.
Perfect for: Elementary kids who need to appreciate good teachers.
Classroom fun:
- Talk about what makes a great teacher
- Draw pictures of favorite teacher qualities
- Practice good classroom behavior
- Giggle over Viola Swamp’s scary appearance
David Goes to School
David Shannon
David’s school day is full of “No, David!” moments. He runs in the halls, chews gum, and makes noise. But at the end, his teacher says the magic words: “Good job, David! Yes, David!”
Why kids connect: Every child has felt like David sometimes.
Perfect for: Kids who worry about following school rules.
Rule-learning games:
- Make your own classroom rules together
- Practice walking quietly in hallways
- Talk about times when you’ve made mistakes
- Celebrate good choices like David’s teacher does
Arthur’s Teacher Trouble
Marc Brown
Arthur worries about getting the strict Mr. Ratburn as his teacher. But when Arthur works hard and Mr. Ratburn believes in him, Arthur discovers that challenging teachers can be the best teachers.
Why it matters: Shows that difficult things can turn out great.
Perfect for: Kids nervous about tough teachers or harder work.
Learning adventures:
- Practice spelling bee words like Arthur
- Talk about times when hard work paid off
- Discuss how teachers help us grow
- Make predictions about Arthur’s spelling bee
First Day Around the World
Ibi Zoboi, illustrated by Juanita Londoño (2025)
Kids around the world share their first day experiences, traveling from eastern Africa, where children greet each other in Swahili, to Alaska, where a sleepy child prepares for another day of learning.
Why it’s special: Shows that kids everywhere share school excitement and nerves.
Perfect for: Building global awareness and reducing first-day fears.
World exploration:
- Find featured countries on a world map
- Learn simple greetings in different languages
- Compare school experiences across cultures
- Celebrate how kids everywhere love learning
When You Go to Dragon School
Chelsea M. Campbell, illustrated by Charlene Chua (2025)
When the local school is too full, kids go to dragon school instead, learning to breathe fire and sleep on gold. But maybe kids can teach dragons about making s’mores and building pillow forts!
Why kids giggle: Dragons learning human kid skills is hilarious.
Perfect for: Making any school seem less scary than Dragon School.
Dragon fun:
- Act out breathing fire (safely with ribbons!)
- Build pillow fort “dragon nests”
- Practice teaching skills to stuffed dragon toys
- Discuss what kids are good at that dragons aren’t
Flat Cat Class Pet
Tara Lazar, illustrated by Pete Oswold (2025)
Flat Cat hitchhikes to school in Willow’s hoodie, where he becomes a paper airplane, gets passed as a note, and serves as a bathroom pass. When Willow forgets her homework, Flat Cat finds a creative solution!
Why it works: Shows how problems can have unexpected solutions.
Perfect for: Kids who worry about forgetting homework or making mistakes.
Creative play:
- Make paper airplane races
- Practice problem-solving games
- Create your own flat pet adventures
- Talk about helpful classroom jobs
The Yellow Bus
Loren Long (2024)
This heartwarming story chronicles the life of a school bus transporting children from place to place, then finding a new purpose after retirement. The illustrations are described as “simply dazzling” in true Loren Long fashion.
Why it touches hearts: Shows the special relationship between kids and their school bus.
Perfect for: Kids who are nervous about riding the bus or school transportation.
Bus adventures:
- Play school bus games with toy buses
- Talk about bus safety and friendship
- Draw pictures of school bus adventures
- Practice bus stop routines
I Can Do It Even If I’m Scared: Finding the Brave You
Lisa Katzenberger, illustrated by Hannah George (2024)
Elephant, Cheetah, and Gator feel scared when their tummies tumble and hearts hiccup. But they discover how to find their “Brave You” by first imagining themselves as brave, then growing into actually being brave!
Why it works: Based on real cognitive behavioral therapy techniques that help kids face fears.
Perfect for: Kids nervous about new school experiences or trying new things.
Brave-building activities:
- Practice the “Act As If” technique from the book
- Imagine being brave in different school scenarios
- Talk about times when being scared is normal
- Create brave superhero versions of yourselves
Use These Books for School Success
Start reading early. Begin your back-to-school book collection in late July. Give kids time to absorb school concepts gradually rather than cramming during the last week of summer.
Match books to feelings. Nervous kids need “The Kissing Hand.” Rule-worried kids connect with “David Goes to School.” Friendship-seekers love “Curious George.”
Read repeatedly. Familiarity builds confidence. When kids know school stories by heart, they feel more prepared for real school experiences.
Connect stories to real life. After reading, visit your child’s actual school. Point out similarities between book schools and their school. “Look! There’s a classroom just like Miss Nelson’s!”
Research Shows Story Preparation Works
Story preparation works because books let kids rehearse emotional responses to new situations. When they encounter similar scenarios at real school, they already have positive associations and coping strategies.
Reading school stories also builds schema, or background knowledge that helps children understand new experiences. Kids who are familiar with book schools tend to recognize real school patterns more quickly.
Make Books Part of School Excitement
Transform these books into school preparation tools. Create a countdown calendar featuring one book per day during the week before school starts. Let kids choose which character they want to be like on their first day.
Pack a favorite school book in your child’s backpack for the first day. Knowing a beloved story is nearby provides comfort during overwhelming moments.
Create school story traditions. Read “The Kissing Hand” every September. Make “Curious George’s First Day” your family’s official school preparation book. Start holiday traditions with “Miss Nelson Is Missing” and “David Goes to School.”
Build Confidence Through Story
These books work because they show school as a place where:
- Mistakes are okay and fixable
- Teachers care about students
- Friends help each other
- Learning is actually fun
- Different kids find their own ways to succeed
When children see beloved characters thriving at school despite challenges, they develop growth mindsets about their own school experiences.
Remember: every child feels nervous about new school experiences sometimes. These books normalize those feelings while building excitement for all the wonderful things waiting at school.
Turn School Anxiety Into School Excitement
The right book at the right time transforms everything. School anxiety becomes school excitement. Worried kids become confident learners. First days become fresh starts full of possibilities.
These 10 books prove that stories have the power to prepare hearts and minds for life’s biggest adventures. When kids see school through the eyes of characters they love, they start believing school will love them back.
Ready to give your child the reading foundation they need for school success? Reading.com’s science-based approach builds the literacy skills that make every school day easier and more enjoyable. Start your 7-day free trial today and help your child become a confident reader ready for any classroom adventure.
