The best Back to School picture books for parents and teachers, sorted by grade. Read alouds from our channel come first.
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Books for first day jitters and settling into a new classroom.
47 books · 30 with a read aloud on our channel
A boy learns mistakes are part of learning anything. A great confidence builder for kids who hate getting it wrong.
Rhyming text follows a school day where every child, family, and tradition is welcome. Our favorite back to school pick for building a kind classroom.
Millie's egg drop project falls apart right before the STEM challenge, and she has to choose between a meltdown and a clever fix. Great for little problem solvers.
Kids who feel different, from their lunches to their summers, discover that sharing their stories helps them find each other. A gorgeous read for starting school and building belonging.
A cookie who doesn't feel smart finds out there are lots of ways to be smart. Wonderful for kids who struggle at school.
Sarah Jane Hartwell doesn't want to go to her new school, and the twist ending reveals exactly who she is. A clever first day classic that kids love to reread.
Mistakes aren't the end of the world, they're how you get better. Kids cheer for her every single time.
A confident boy heads to his first day of kindergarten ready to rule with kindness and a big smile. Joyful and affirming for kids about to start school.
Jasper finds a crayon that helps him with schoolwork, but it's a little too creepy. Perfect for spooky season.
MJ starts kindergarten wearing her shiny tiara and determined to be a kind, helpful queen all day. A bright, confidence building pick before the first day of school.
Turkey sneaks into school disguised as a student. Funny fall fun.
It's the first day at Frederick Douglass Elementary, and the school building itself is nervous. A funny, fresh take on first day jitters told from the school's point of view.
Being cool isn't about the clothes, it's about being kind. A great one for starting a new school year.
A nervous new kindergartner feels braver once his class writes a kindness pledge together. A great first week book for setting a caring tone.
The Bad Seed finds out the library is pretty great. Fun for new readers and library day.
Mae is so nervous about school that she climbs a tree and refuses to go, until she meets someone just as scared. A sweet reminder that grownups get nervous too.
Chrysanthemum loves her name until kids at school tease her. A classic about teasing, self worth, and the teacher who changes everything.
Unhei moves from Korea and worries her new classmates won't be able to say her name, so they fill a jar with suggestions. A tender story about identity and being proud of who you are.
The Pigeon doesn't want to go to school, and kids get to reassure him. Perfect for first day jitters.
John Schu's poem celebrates a school as a community of learners, helpers, and friends who keep each other going. A heartfelt read for the start of the year.
Penelope Rex has a hard time not eating her classmates. A hilarious first day of school book about making friends.
David chews gum, talks out of turn, and starts a food fight, earning plenty of No, David! from his teacher. Kids love his mischief and the sweet ending.
Penelope Rex is nervous about the talent show. Funny and sweet for kids with stage fright.
Chester Raccoon is nervous about starting school, so his mother gives him a kiss in his palm to carry with him. The classic comfort read for first days and separation worries.
Penelope Rex is in charge of the class goldfish over the weekend. Funny and a little bit about responsibility.
The crayons get ready for school, with nerves and all. Perfect for the first week of school.
Ella gets picked for a solo and her excitement turns into nerves. She learns breathing and positive thinking tricks and sings anyway. Perfect before any big performance.
Matty uses way too much glue and gets stuck in his art project. Silly fun for little artists.
A kid dreams up the most amazing school ever. Rhyming and full of imaginative ideas.
Slime takes over the school in the silliest way. A fun one for slime loving kids.
Marcus has ADHD and loves to build, so he tackles a class blueprint his own way. A wonderful book about different brains being a strength.
Carla's lunches look weird to her classmates, until they try them. A fun way to talk about trying new things and not judging.
Bloop is a clumsy dinosaur who struggles to make friends, until he solves a school mystery just by being himself. A funny confidence booster.
Before Career Day, Mila tries out every dream job from dessert chef to rockstar ballerina. A fun, empowering book about dreaming big.
Mouse tags along to school and keeps busy all day. A fun first day of school read.
Carla gets new glasses and worries what everyone will think. Perfect for any kid getting glasses for the first time.
A kid imagines running the classroom, with silly results. A fun back to school read that gets kids talking about rules and why we have them.
Samuel, a boy with autism, colors everything blue and gets teased, until his teacher calls his drawing a masterpiece. A warm book about accepting differences.
Jolie wants to grow blueberries in her classroom and teams up with a new friend to make it happen. A fun STEM story about teamwork and where food comes from.
Jasmine's letters get mixed up when she writes, so she tells her class story through pictures. A beautiful book about kids who learn differently.
A book that hates school, until it doesn't. A funny back to school read for nervous kids.
A boy brings a pterodactyl to show and tell, with chaotic results. A rhyming, funny school read.
Trisha struggles to read and feels dumb, until a new teacher helps her overcome her difficulty. Patricia Polacco's true story about the teacher who changed her life.
A paper fortune teller gets left on the playground after recess, so she teams up with a potato chip, a basketball and some chewed gum to fix the slide. Wacky, funny teamwork from the author of The Day the Crayons Quit.
Worried Lila feels lost after moving to a new town and starting a new school, until a caring teacher helps her open up. Lovely for first day of school jitters.
Little SPOT helps kids know what to expect at school and how to handle the feelings that come with it. Reassuring for little ones heading to class.
Little SPOT celebrates the fun of learning and encourages kids to keep trying when something is new. A nice pick for the start of the school year.