Best Back-to-School Books

This adorable picture book congratulates preschool graduates and builds up their confidence ahead of their first day of kindergarten by reminding them of all the fun things they’ve learned. With engaging rhyming text and cute cutout illustrations, it’s a fun way to reassure them that they’re ready, while also preparing them with the basics they’ll need as incoming kindergarteners—from the ABCs and counting to making new friends.

“Out the door, down the stoop, past the neighbors, along the block…” Now the adventure begins! Follow a young girl in Brooklyn as she makes her way to school and back. From tree-lined streets, to the subway and into the classroom, there’s so much to see. With gorgeous collage illustrations and easy-to-understand text, this book is perfect for read-alouds and teaching pre-K kids and kindergarteners directional concepts, like out, down, past and through.

This is one of our favorite back-to-school books on Epic! The first week of school is coming up and Sarah Jane Hartwell is starting over at a brand new school. But she’s scared because she doesn’t know anyone. She’s convinced it’ll be awful until she becomes friends with the school principal Mrs. Burton, who reassures her that It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous and that there’s nothing to be afraid of. 

Your little student will love this charming edition of the popular Jitters series, and get a kick out of the surprise twist ending.

Hayley is super-excited to start the first grade, until she discovers it’s not quite what she’s used to. Her new classroom isn’t bright and colorful like it was when she was in kindergarten. Her new teacher isn’t as smiley as her last one. And on top of all that, now she only gets one recess and story time is too short! When she has enough and shouts out, “First grade stinks,” her very understanding teacher Ms. Grey shows her there’s a lot to love about it, too. 

Kids will relate to little Hayley as she struggles against her disappointments to embrace new and unfamiliar experiences. 

It’s the first day of school in the forest, but Chester Raccoon is afraid to go. So his mother, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret, the kissing hand, to remind him of her love any time things get scary. 

This heartwarming book is perfect for reassuring little ones experiencing the anxieties of separation, whether they’re starting daycare, going to camp or attending kindergarten for the first time.

Pom won’t be ready for kindergarten for another year. But that doesn’t stop Pom from stopping by the schools of a host of animal friends! Pom sets out to explore, starting with watching the mouselings ride the bird bus, then the rabbits as they’re learning to read, write and count. Next Pom sees the froglets making art, and so many other fun activities to look forward to. 

This delightful, imaginative book will give your preschooler a glimpse into what to expect when it’s time for them to enter kindergarten, and all the wonders that await.

Based on the author’s own childhood experiences, this own-voices book follows young Thao’s story of growing up with a name that’s unfamiliar to the other kids. Despite the simplicity of her name (it’s only four letters long), no one can ever pronounce it. So she decides to try on a new name: Jennifer. It does seem to help matters, but it isn’t until she finds her mother’s homemade Vietnamese spring rolls, that she cheers up and starts to feel more comfortable with who she is. 

What’s your morning school routine? You might whip up a quick breakfast before dropping your little one off for a day of learning. But kids in other parts of the world get to school in all sorts of other ways. Determined to obtain an education, children in other countries walk for several hours, ride in rickshaws, walk over wire bridges and travel under other extraordinary circumstances to get to school. This fascinating book follows 13 real students as they embark on their sometimes dangerous treks in pursuit of knowledge.

This vividly illustrated English-Spanish picture book imagines languages as colors. 

It all starts with Isabel before her first day of school. She feels ready to take on the day, except for one thing—she doesn’t speak much English. She knows she’ll need to learn, but it doesn’t feel right. English feels like blustery blues and whites, and she prefers the warm oranges and pinks of Spanish. At first she doesn’t feel at home among her native-English speaking classmates, until she discovers that there are other ways to communicate with friends. 

Corey wears an orange cape everywhere he goes—he wears it to bed, even to school. And when a bully named Billy starts ripping his cape off every day, Corey shows up the next day (and the next) wearing a new one. At first the kids tease him, but when another little boy finds out the noble reason behind Corey’s capes, he starts wearing one of his own. And soon the whole school follows suit.  

This is an inspiring book about caring, courage and embracing the superhero in all of us.