Stories and informational books to help ease any fears a child may have about starting school and to help everyone look forward to this special day.
Starting School Stories
Compiled by:
Children's Services Staff
Picture Books
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Buz)
Even though there are rules to follow, a little girl who loves adventure has an exciting first day of kindergarten.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej De)
Gilbert's excitement over starting first grade turns to worry that the teacher will be mean, the work too hard, and his classmates too unfriendly, but throughout the day there are pleasant surprises.
(Juvenile Picture Books – Ej Ash)
Twenty young students, some eager, some nervous, some grumpy, prepare for their very first day of kindergarten.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Mcg)
Ten days before the start of kindergarten, a preschooler can not tie her shoes by herself and fears the worst.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Edw)
Dinosaur worries about the first day of school, but with the help of a reassuring classmate he finds that school can be fun.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Co)
A teacher makes her students laugh when she mixes up words, saying "goats" instead of "coats" and "poodles" when she means "puddles."
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Za)
On the first day of preschool, Daniel gradually overcomes his nervousness as he plays in the sandbox, collects leaves, and bakes cookies. Includes tips for parents on getting ready for preschool and a recipe for pumpkin cookies.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej St)
Although she enjoys her first day at school, Elizabeti misses her family and wonders if it wouldn't be better to stay home.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Mi)
Enrico the cat starts school, but at first he doesn't know how to make friends.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Mac)
The first day of school starts out filled with doubt, but after facing fear of the big kids, reciting the alphabet with ease, and learning about recess, a child can't help but look forward to day two.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Da)
Sarah is afraid to start at a new school, but both she and the reader are in for a surprise when she gets to her class.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Why)
On Harry's first day at his new school he is not sure whether or not to bring his bucket of dinosaurs, but in the end the dinosaurs help him make a friend.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Co)
As the school year begins on Mars, Horus the Martian gets off to a rocky start, but soon discovers that first grade is not really as bad as he thought.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Ha)
A little boy decides to skip his very first day of school.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Ch)
When Lola is worried about starting school, her older brother Charlie reassures her. We also have a version of this story translated into Chinese, search the catalog for the title 'Wo tai xao , wo bu yao shang xue'.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Da)
Dexter knows everything there is to know about kindergarten and is not at all scared about his first day there, but his stuffed dog, Rufus, is very nervous.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Wri)
No one can pry a frightened Jake away from his parents on the first day of school, and so the three must watch as his classmates have fun until, at the end of the day, his teacher finally gets him to let go.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Pen)
When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him.
Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Cal
Lena is excited about starting kindergarten but her favorite shoes are not until, with the help of her father and a very special headband, she convinces the shoes—and herself—to be brave.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Ho)
Little Rabbit takes his favorite toy, Charlie Horse, along for his first day of school and when there is trouble, he blames it all on Charlie.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Ca)
Even though Henry is looking forward to going to kindergarten, he is not sure about staying once he first gets there.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Cou)
"Join Maisy and her friends for a busy day at preschool! Experience many school activities: painting, music, story time, and more!"
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej De)
Bossy Moffie and her quiet twin brother Morgie both enjoy starting school, especially getting gold stars and making new friends.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Sl)
Introduces the letters of the alphabet as Miss Bindergarten and her students get ready for kindergarten.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Br)
Molly is worried about riding the school bus on her first day of kindergarten, but a friendly older girl helps her adjust.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Yum)
A five-year-old boy, ready and eager on his first day at "the big kids' school," must calm his very worried mother.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Mil)
Moses and his friends enjoy the first day of school at their special school for the deaf and hard of hearing, where they use sign language to talk to each other.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Th)
When he goes to school, Mouse finds a world of new objects and new friends.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Mcg)
A first grader is frightened on her first day of school after hearing a rumor that her teacher is a 300-year-old alien with a purple tongue who steals baby teeth from her students.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Har)
Noni is nervous about a lot of things, but mostly her first day of school. What will she wear? Where will she sit? While her caring family offers advice, Noni finally resolves her struggles with comical results.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej He)
Baby Duck experiences the fear of the first day of school, but with a little help from Grampa, everything turns out okay in the end.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Cal)
Asks the reader a series of yes or no questions as Ollie gets dressed, spends a day at school, and returns home.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Pa)
After a breakfast of juice, cereal, and a banana split, Otto goes to school for the first time, where he makes new friends and learns how to wag his tail without knocking things over.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Re)
Pete and his polar bear are both nervous on their first day of school, especially when Polo finds he is the only bear that's not brown.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Pre)
A young pirate and his crew embark on a grand adventure when they board the bus for the first day of first grade.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Gan)
A young child imagines going off to Kindergarten as a journey to another planet.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Sca)
Follows Huckle Cat through a busy day at school, as he learns the alphabet, enjoys the playground, and participates in show and tell.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Rex)
It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Ue)
Suki will wear her favorite kimono on the first day of school no matter what others think.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Pa)
By the time Sumi finishes her first day of school, she decides that school is not as lonely, scary, or mean as she had thought.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Win)
When a teacher asks her students on the first day of school what they wish for in the coming year, the answers range from having a good school picture to receiving a perfect report card.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Le)
After Tibili, a young African boy, follows Crope the spider's suggestion as to how he can avoid starting school, he discovers he wants to go after all.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej We)
Timothy learns about being accepted and making friends during the first week of his first year at school.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Wi)
When Tom, a young panda, goes to his very first day of kindergarten, his whole family stays and plays and wishes they could be in kindergarten too.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Wi)
The start of Tucker the rabbit's first day of kindergarten is rocky, but making new friends helps change his attitude toward school.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Sie)
Rhyming text with rebuses follows a group of animals through their first day of school.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej he)
A mouse named Wemberly, who worries about everything, finds that she has a whole list of things to worry about when she faces the first day of nursery school.
(Juvenile Picture Book - Ej Ama)
Before he leaves on his first day of school, Chepito plays outside and encounters many different people in his neighborhood who are all reading, and each person has a different response when Chepito asks them "Why?"
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Fo)
A child describes the events of the first day of school, from making sandwiches for lunch to holding a parent's hand on the walk home.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Or)
With the help of his classmates, an elephant has a good first day of school.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej Neu)
Izzy finds many things to be excited about on the first day of school.
Picture Books Nonfiction
(Juvenile Picture Books Nonfiction - Ej 371 Hu)
Describes the activities of an entire school day.
(Juvenile Picture Books - Ej 372.1244 Bar)
Explains what to expect on the first day of school, including getting ready, transportation, being apart from parents, class activities, playing, lunch, getting to know people, and returning home.