10 Back to School Books (2024)

Preparing to welcome your students back to school? Make it fun with these fabulous Back to School books. This season is always a busy time, so I like to be prepared with some engaging Back to School themed activities and read alouds to share with my students! Kindergarten Planet and I are excited to share with you 10 of our favorite Back to School books for early readers!

*Pair with our Back to School Centers and Activities for Pre-K & Kindergarten!

The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen

My students always love the Pout-Pout Fish books! In this story, Mr. Fish is getting ready for school, but he is nervous. He worries that he doesn’t know enough to be in school, but throughout this story, he learns that school is a great place to learn all sorts of new things!

I Love School! by Philemon Sturges

This is a great, simple story to get students excited about school and all of the fun things they may get to do there! With the phrase, “School, school, school! I love school!” It is sure to get them thinking school is a pretty great place. I love this, especially for students who have perhaps never been to school before at all.

I’m Your Bus by Marilyn Singer

I absolutely love this adorable book! This book is a fun “day in the life of a school bus” story. This bus is excited and ready to take kids to school! With fabulous illustrations, this book keeps my students’ attention throughout!

My Teacher’s Secret Life by Stephen Krensky

This book always makes me laugh because it is true that oftentimes young students don’t realize that teachers don’t live at school. In this story, the students spot their teacher, Mrs. Quirk, outside of her classroom at the grocery store! Soon she is spotted other places as well, and the question is asked – “Does my teacher have a secret life?”

The Night Before Kindergartenby Natasha Wing

The Night Before Series is always a hit! There is also The Night Before Preschool and The Night Before First Grade, so depending on what grade you teach or the age of your child, you may want to check those out too. They take you through what you may have done the night before the big day to prepare. I like to read it on the first day of school and ask my students if they did anything special to get ready for the first day of school!

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

I read this book every year on the first day of school! Chester Raccoon does not want to go to school, but his mom shares the secret of “The Kissing Hand” with him to let him know that he can remember her love when the world is a little scary. In class, we talk about the people we may live with or that care for us, and how at the end of the school day we will get to go back home. If we feel nervous, we can remember that they know we are here and are hoping we have a good day! The students love Chester and can relate a bit to his nerves on their first day too!

School Bus by Donald Crews

What does a school bus do? School buses are fascinating to some students and maybe even a little mysterious! This book tells all about school buseswith simple text and illustrations. It is a great read for the first day!

Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

On the first day of school, Splat is worried! What if he doesn’t make any friends? Will the day go well? Read about Splat’s first day, and all about the antics of his pet mouse, Seymour, as he realizes that maybe school isn’t so bad! The Splat the Cat series of books is always well loved in my classroom!

Boomer Goes to School by Constance W. McGeorge

This book is a fun one because it isabout a dog! Boomer is ready for his first day of school. He thinks school is a little different and confusing, but he realizes it is a great place for learning and fun!

Pete the Cat: Rocking in my School Shoes by James Dean

This story is a huge hit for back to school! It is so catchy and fun, as most Pete the Cat books are! This time, Pete is exploring the many places in a school, all while rocking out in his school shoes!

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