For Preschool and Kindergarten Students
- It’s the First Day of Kindergarten, Chloe Zoe! by Jane Smith, 2016. Full days of school for a full week, and Chloe Zoe has a new backpack, lunch box and can’t wait to see friends. But how will she handle it when her best friend is in a different classroom?
- The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes. Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, 2019. THIS king is a king whose power comes from self-respect and kindness toward all the members of his diverse classroom. Your soon-to-be kindergartener will walk away from the book with the message, “You’ve got this!”
- We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins. Disney Hyperion, 2018. If you’re a T-Rex, no matter how cute your outfits, you need to quit eating your classmates! This story about empathy will help you ease your child into the classroom setting.
- Adventure Annie Goes To Kindergarten by Toni Buzzeo, illustrated by Amy Wummer. 2010. The high spirited Annie tries to turn every activity into an adventure, but when the milk goes missing, her energetic strategies save the day.
- The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! written and illustrated by Mo Willems. Hyperion Books, 2019. The Pigeon series is always fun, and this book helps make back to school entertaining! For ages 3-5.
- Kisses for Kindergarten by Livingston Crouse, illustrated by Macky Pamintuan. 2017. Stella is getting cold feet about starting kindergarten, and decides she’d rather spend time with her puppy Buster. This book is a perfect read for children who are getting a little nervous about starting school.
- We Like Kindergarten. This Little Golden book is a classic. The illustrations are so dated yet sweet. By Clara Cassidy and Eloise Wilkin. Carol describes her daily activities at school and pretends to be a teacher at home with her younger sister and pets.
- Vera’s First Day of School by Vera Rosenberry. The illustrations are such fun in this book. Vera is excited to go to school but then gets intimidated when she arrives so she sneaks back home and hides under the bed. Mom finds her and takes her back where she meets her teacher and has a ball.
Want more ideas for kindergarteners? See Springfield Mom Mandy Maple’s blog post with even more ideas! creativecents.blogspot.com
Elementary Students
- Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School by Herman Parish and Lynne Avril. This new release features a younger Amelia Bedelia, but readers will still be delighted by her enthusiasm and adventures.
- Best Frints at Skrool by Antionette Portis. Roaring Brook Press, 2018. Best friends Yelfred and Omek of Borborp make a new friend at school and learn that three best friends are even better than two. A giggle-inducing book for ages 4-8.
- The Night Before First Grade by Natasha Wing and illustrated by Deborah Zemke. This grade specific book reads like “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The main character deals with and resolves her worries about being in a different class than her best friend and cafeteria challenges.
- The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson. Illustrated by Rafael López. Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018. This book for 4-8 year olds is a great choice for anyone who is worried about looking or feeling different than their classmates.
- It’s Back To School We Go! by Ellen Jackson, illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis. This offers your reader a great opportunity to see how children in other countries and cultures go back to school. Fun, interesting text and great pictures.
- This School Year Will Be the BEST! By Kay Winters. 2010. Upbeat and comical, great for children going into K-2nd grade.
- Llama Llama Loves to Read by Anna Dewdney and Reed Duncan, illunstrated by J. T. Morrow. Viking Books, 2018. Llama Llama is growing up, and throughout the school day, the teacher helps students practice letters, look at word cards, and even takes them to the library. As your first grader begins to master reading, this book is a timely reminder that reading opens up the whole world to you!
For College Students
- College Cooking: Feed Yourself and Your Friends. Authors Megan and Jill Carle. This is a wonderful resource to have when faced with a small kitchen with very little cooking equipment/utensils and possibly little or no interest or experience in cooking. This book provides a nice foundation of basic ingredients, easy cooking techniques and what to stock your pantry (or dorm fridge with) besides Pop Tarts and beverages.
- How to Win at College: Surprising Secrets for Success from the Country’s Top Students by Cal Newport. Written by a recent college student, this book is for the motivated students that already know how to do laundry, cook and take care of themselves. Full of great advice from successful students who have been there recently, this book will help your college student in a fun and very informative way.
For Parents
- The Organized Student: Teaching Children the Skills for Success in School and Beyond. Authors Donna Goldberg, Jennifer Zwiebel. ”Just when you think you’re on the right track, the phone call comes,” shares author Donna Goldberg. Learn tips and strategies for your student in this helpful book.
- The Motivation Breakthrough: 6 Secrets to Turning On the Tuned-Out Child by Richard Lavoie. Not only for families with special needs children, this book has also proven helpful to many parents as they work to find ways to reach their children.
- The Trouble With Perfect : How Parents Can Avoid the Overachievement Trap and Still Raise Successful Children by Elisabeth Guthrie M.D. and Kathy Matthews. This book provides a reality check for those who would “pressure parent” their kids. The authors address the guilt parents deal with from a society that labels the average majority of children as “losers.”
Submitted by Springfield Moms contributor Julie Kaiser.
