Starting kindergarten is a huge milestone for every child, one that can bring a mix of anxiety, tears, or maybe even excitement (from both kids and caregivers)! Whether it’s a fear of leaving home, meeting new people, or just not knowing what to expect, these heavy emotions are all completely normal. Luckily, these ten picture books are the perfect way to ease these worries and make such a challenging transition a bit smoother!
Sesame Street & Ms. Rachel: Get Ready for School! by Ms. Rachel
On September 30th, you can join Ms. Rachel and the Sesame Street gang for a fun-filled picture book packed with all the knowledge your child needs when getting ready for school! From activities such as brushing your teeth to learning what socialization skills they need for class, this vibrant book is perfect for your kindergartener who may be unsure of what to expect.
KINDergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day by Vera Ahiyya, Illustrated by Joey Chou
Kindergarten is where your child begins to process being kind to other children their age in a classroom setting. Luckily, Ahiyya — kindergarten teacher and social media figure “The Tutu Teacher” — has written a book perfect for learning about how being kind can bring together a classroom filled with different personalities. This book is a perfect way to introduce how kindness can come in many different forms, such as including everyone, apologizing when you hurt someone’s feelings, and even leaving someone a compliment!
“You can tell this book is written by a early childhood teacher — someone who sees the full humanity and uniqueness of her students and writes a book that acknowledges that while encouraging them to be kind. Very sweet!”
— Cara Byrne on Goodreads
Clifford Goes to Kindergarten by Norman Bridwell
Join everyone’s favorite big red dog, Clifford, as he spends little Emily Elizabeth’s first day in kindergarten with her! When Emily’s kindergarten teacher tells the class to bring something from home to help get rid of the kindergarten jitters, she isn’t expecting Emily to bring her extremely large red dog. But soon Emily and Clifford realize that maybe kindergarten isn’t so bad after all; in fact, it may be the best year of their lives!
“Perfect to read to young ones getting ready to enter kindergarten for the first time.”
— Cori Dantio on Goodreads
On the First Day of Kindergarten by Tish Rabe, Illustrated by Laura Hughes
On the First Day of Kindergarten is a cute and engaging adaptation of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” and is the perfect way to teach your new kindergartner that there’s so much to do on the first day of kindergarten! Things like making new friends, playing tag during recess, and even the bus ride to school are all things to get your kindergartner excited to join the fun.
“Surely one of the great delights of picture books can be when an adult reader — like you or me — gets dunked in that childhood innocence.
— Rose Rosetree on Goodreads
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, illustrated by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak
Starting kindergarten is a time full of anxiety, and finding a way to ease your child’s anxiety can be challenging. The Kissing Hand is a heartwarming story about Chester, a young raccoon, who is nervous about starting school. To calm his nerves, his mother shares the special family secret to help reassure Chester that her love is always with him, even at school. This book is a comforting and gentle reminder to children starting kindergarten that helps them realize that they’re never truly alone.
“Beautiful story for preschoolers and young school age children. A wonderful sentiment set to ease a child’s fear about being away from his/her parents and home.”
— Duchess Nicole on Goodreads
Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes by Eric Litwin, Illustrated by James Dean
Pete the Cat is the coolest cat on the block, and today he is exploring all the new places at school! With his catchy tune and cool vibes, Pete the Cat is the perfect character to introduce to your new kindergartner with his fun rhymes and reassuring message. This is the perfect upbeat story to help your child feel confident and excited about tackling school and all it has to offer!
“I read this book with my nephew and we had a blast! I love Eric Litwin’s writing style! I feel like it has a groovy beat to it. Definitely a fun book to read!”
— Chantel on Goodreads
Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee, Illustrated by Harry Bliss
The dos and don’ts of kindergarten can sometimes be a challenging concept for a child. Countdown to Kindergarten is a playful and relatable story about a young girl facing her first day of kindergarten and her “very reliable” first grader friend who tries to teach her everything she needs to know. With fun humor and vibrant illustrations, this book is the perfect way to ease your child’s first day jitters and reassure them that it’s okay to not know everything right away!
“The humor in the picture book, Countdown to Kindergarten, will fill the room with giggles and clear the room of any anxiety about being ready to start school.”
— Vickie McEntire on Goodreads
The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, Illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
The King of Kindergarten is a celebration of confidence as a young boy embarks on his first day of kindergarten. Packed full with energy and encouragement, this uplifting picture book is the perfect way to help your young one feel empowered to take on new adventures, such as kindergarten with a smile and a crown-worthy attitude. Derrick Barnes also has a book titled The Queen of Kindergarten if you prefer that as well!
“This is such a gentle introduction to what to expect in a Kindergarten classroom and it is such a sweet story about making friends and putting positive energy into the world knowing it will come back to you.”
— Emma on Goodreads
The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing, Illustrated by Julie Durrell
The Night Before Kindergarten is a fun twist on the classic holiday poem and helps kids prepare for their big first day of kindergarten. With playful, rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, this is a comforting story that captures both the excitement and nerves that your child may have about starting school. A perfect book for helping to calm those first-day jitters.
“This is a fun family book that kids can use to learn about a kindergarten experience.”
— Yissel Martinez on Goodreads
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg, Illustrated by Julie Love
First Day Jitters captures perfectly the nerves and anxiety that come with starting school. With a clever twist and relatable characters, this book is both humorous and reassuring, and is exactly what kids and adults need to be reminded that it’s normal to feel anxious about new things and new beginnings.
“This gives students the chance to see their teachers in a different light, we don’t live in or sleep at the school, and we have similar feelings at the beginning the new school year.”
— Carla on Goodreads
These ten charming and heartwarming reads are the perfect literary companions for a future kindergartner’s big first day of school. With fun and clever stories that ease anxiety and celebrate new beginnings, they’ll help turn their first day fears into excitement!
Looking for more kindergarten recommendations? Check out our article 5 Incredible Picture Books Your Kindergarten Bookworm Will Love!
Find these books and more on our Bookshop Back-to-School Recommendations for All Ages bookshelf!
