Check Out My Back To School Book Recommendations
Ward, Lindsay. Sunnyside School: A Community Helpers Book. illus. by author. 40p. (A Community Helpers Book). HarperCollins. Jun. 2025. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780063208193.
Grades K-3
This book takes a wider view, encompassing the entire school and school community.
Two siblings, one in kindergarten and one in second grade, and a new student from Spain begin their first day at school. As they go through their day, the reader gets a tour of the school: classrooms, library, nurses office, playground, etc. Along the way, all the staff and teachers who keep the school running are introduced, as well as parent volunteers. The illustrations include a wide diversity of people.
“Featured questions at the bottom of some pages promote interactive participation. Back matter includes a glossary of words that are set in bold throughout the book and a seek-and-find activity where children can go back through the book to locate specific items.” SLJ review
Zoboi, Ibi. First Day Around the World. illus. by Juanita Londoño. 48p. HarperCollins/Clarion/Versify. Jun. 2025. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9780063078888.
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-4–This title takes readers on a vibrant journey from Addis Ababa to New York, showcasing the universal experience of starting school. Through bright, whimsical illustrations, the book highlights daily activities and traditions in various countries, including Morocco, Japan, and Argentina. Each page captures the essence of school life, from national anthems to packed lunches, emphasizing both the similarities and differences among cultures. The narrative weaves together the experiences of children across the globe, demonstrating how, despite geographical distances, the first day of school binds them together in shared excitement and anticipation. The text is rich and complex, serving as an excellent resource for teachers and librarians aiming to introduce diversity and multiculturalism to young students. VERDICT A delightful celebration of global connection through the lens of education.–Haley Amendt
Bardhan-Quallen, Sudipta. Alpaca Goes Back-A to School. illus. by Leeza Hernandez. 40p. Abrams/Appleseed. Jun. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781419773907.
On a lighter note, here is a fun read-aloud for the younger crowd.
School Library Journal review
PreS-K–Starting a new school or going back to school after a long break can be scary for little ones. Alpaca is getting ready to start the school year, and Mama helps Alpaca get off on the right foot… Singing songs, doing art, and making friends are all part of a successful first day, and even small struggles like a paint spill don’t ruin Alpaca’s day. Bardham-Quallen’s inventive rhyming pattern of adding “a” to anything with the “ack” sound at the end keeps the alpaca rhyming going from beginning to end, resulting in a bouncy read-aloud for little ones. Colorful graphic art represents the dynamic environment of an early childhood classroom and will get kids excited to go “back-a” to school.” Kristen Todd-Wurm School Library Journal review
Stutzman, Jonathan. Tiny T. Rex and the First-Day Oopsies: A Back-to-School Book. illus. by Jay Fleck. 52p. (Tiny T. Rex). Chronicle. Jul. 2025. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781797233208.
School Library Journal review
PreS-K–Tiny T. Rex is going to a new school, and he is feeling both prepared and nervous. Readers follow him through his first day, as he confronts new tasks and routines. When Tiny makes mistakes, like squirting his juice box on a friend and tooting his instrument when he was asked to woot it, he worries he is not ready for school. With support and assurance from his teacher, friends, and family, Tiny understands that mistakes are part of learning. Confidence restored, Tiny feels big, smart, and ready for school. Through clear and simple text, Stutzman tells Tiny’s story from a child’s point-of-view and addresses common first day of school fears. Fleck’s illustrations, rendered in pencil and then colored in digitally, use primary and secondary colors to create inviting illustrations that are easy to read. VERDICT Young children will relate to Tiny and his first day of school jitters, while being reassured that school is a place to make mistakes and grow.–Sarah Pousty
Written by Kirti Kode
Illustrated by Yogesh Mahajan
Self-published by Kirti Kode October 2025
ISBN 9781732383791
I recently dropped by Birdhouse Books, a charming independent bookstore in Austin, owned and run by the incredible bibliophile Abby, whose enthusiasm for books radiates throughout the store and embraces every customer. I was lucky enough to stumble upon this gem of a book by local author Kirti Kode. And although “zero” is in its title, the book scores a 10+! With playful imagination, this book incorporates multiple important themes: new school year; bullying; kindness; diversity; inclusiveness; and math concepts.
Each student in the class is drawn to look like their number – zero to 9 – with a wide variety of diversity, including a prosthetic leg for number one. The larger the number, the larger the character gets – so of course the 9, the largest number, is the bully. Each student introduces themselves, giving a brief description of themselves that rhymes with their number. The highlights being “I am Nine, and I like to shine!” and “I’m Zero, and I am a superhero!” – which some of the students snicker at. When the teacher asks what their names mean, Zero begins to worry because his name means “nothing”, but again he repeats “Zero is a superhero!” But he does not know what that superpower is yet. But as Zero watched Nine bully classmates, Zero knew he needed to find a way to stop Nine. Remembering what his mom said, “Actions speak louder than words,” he figures out what to do. When Nine bullies the students the next day, Zero stands by their sides, making them “…ten times bigger and bolder,” making Nine so scared he backs down. It turns out Zero’s superpower “…is being a super friend.” By standing by his friends, he gave them “…the courage and confidence they needed to stand up…” to the bully. Nine learns “…that it is wrong to mock someone’s name, size, disability, or any other trait.”
The illustrations are charming, cheerful, and colorful, giving the book a strong appeal to the target audience.
In a time when book budgets are tight, this book packs a punch and is worth the investment. Highly recommended!
Scarecited on the First Day of School
Alliah L. Agostini (Author) Lala Watkins (Illustrated by)
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux June 2025
ISBN 9780374390020
A great title to use at the start of the school year to help children identify and name their mixed emotions.
Children can have multiple emotions at the same time, especially at the beginning of a new school year. In this charming book, the main character, Afua (pronounced EH-FOO-AH), comes up with clever names to express her mix of emotions. On the first day of school, she feels scarecited – both scared and excited. When she sees all the new students in her class, she is both shy and curious – shurious. When the teacher mispronounces her name, she feels sad and embarrassed–sadbarrassed. However, she eventually feels nervous but brave – bravous – and tells the teacher how to pronounce her name correctly. In addition to covering many of the challenging feelings children feel at the start of school, it also includes positive feelings like courage, pride, happiness, strength, and confidence. Encourage children to express their multiple emotions by combining words to create terms for their mixed feelings. The illustrations are colorful, cheery, and childlike, perfect for this book’s audience. The inclusive artwork depicts children with different skin tones, various hair colors, textures, and styles; a girl wearing a hajib; and children in a wheelchair, wearing an eye patch and glasses.
Fall Is for Beginnings
Rajani Larocca (Author) Abhi Alwar (Illustrator)
Harry N. Abrams August 2025
ISBN 9781419777400
Themes of friendship, inclusiveness, and trying new things make this book perfect for the new school year. Get an early start with fall and Halloween themes too.
A new school year brings big changes: summer is ending, fall is near, and students return with fresh pencils, markers, and maybe even new friends. Ravi is thrilled that his best friend, Joe, is in his class and sitting beside him. Then Ellie, a new girl, takes the seat on Ravi’s other side and announces, “I just know we’re going to be best friends.” Their teacher asks each student to make a tree and add a leaf, snowflake, or flower whenever they try something new, depending on the season. Joe adjusts easily to including Ellie, but Ravi struggles and finds himself adding many leaves to his tree. At the Halloween costume party, Ellie arrives dressed as sprinkles to match Ravi’s ice cream and Joe’s cone costumes. Ravi loses his temper and shouts, “You’re NOT my best friend!” After that, Ellie skips trick-or-treating with them and moves her seat in class. With help from his big sister, Ravi realizes that fall is for beginnings, friendship, and trying new things.
The illustrations are colorful, cheery, and childlike, as if drawn with markers and crayons, perfect for this book’s audience. The children depicted are inclusive, featuring characters with different skin tones, various hair colors, textures, and styles. Cultural references include a girl wearing a hijab and Ravi’s family gathered for deepa lighting.
We Planted a Pumpkin
Rob Ramsden (Author) Rob Ramsden (Illustrated by)
Scallywag Press August 2023
ISBN 9781912650385
Continue the fall and Halloween themes, along with themes of patience, friendship, and teamwork, with this simple story. It is rhythmic and rhyming, making a perfect read-aloud. Two friends plant a seed and patiently wait as it slowly sprouts, flowers, and finally produces “…a small green bump!” The green bump grew and grew until “…it was big and it was fat…But it was still GREEN!” Will it turn orange in time for Halloween?
Simple text and colorful, simple, childlike illustrations make this book a perfect pick.
