It seems as though we were just celebrating the beginning of summer and congratulating the kiddos on their months of sunshine and freedom. Now it’s almost that time again: time for little ducklings to go back to school. And for lucky little kindergarteners, it’s time for the first day of their first year of school. Going off to kindergarten can be an exciting and emotional time for families. Here are books to help kids (and parents) prepare for this rite of passage:
Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?
By: Audrey Vernick
Your buffalo is growing up. He plays with friends. He shares his toys. He’s smart! But is he ready for kindergarten? (And is kindergarten ready for him?)
Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? is a hilarious look at first-day-of-school jitters from author Audrey Vernick and illustrator Daniel Jennewein. (Publisher’s Marketing)
Planet Kindergarten
By: Sue Ganz-Schmitt
This clever picture book will prepare young explorers to boldly go where they have never gone before: Planet Kindergarten. Suit up for a daring adventure as our hero navigates the unknown reaches and alien inhabitants of this strange new world. Hilarious and confidence-boosting, this exciting story will have new kindergarteners ready for liftoff! (Publisher’s Marketing)
Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten
By: Hyewon Yum
It’s a child’s first day of kindergarten, but who is worried about all the new people and the different
things he’ll meet? The child? No! The mother. In a refreshing reversal of roles, the child takes it upon himself to comfort and reassure his mother that everything will be fine, she’ll get used to him going to big-kid school, and yes, he is ready for the first day of kindergarten. Utterly charming in its simplicity, Yum playfully uses size and color to reveal emotions of this milestone beginning. (Publisher’s Marketing)
I Am Not Going to School Today
By: Robie H. Harris
“I closed my eyes and held on tight to Hank. That’s when I decided that going to the very first day of school was NOT a good idea.”
When a child gets ready for the first day of school, it feels ver
y exciting. But doing something new for the first time can also feel somewhat scary.
With great affection and humor, Robie H. Harris and Jan Ormerod, creators of the award-winning picture book Goodbye Mousie, tell the captivating story of a child who decides that skipping the very first day of school is a very good idea.
But with help from his favorite stuffed animal, Hank, and his parents, he discovers that going to the very first day of school can be fun and exciting—and once you have done something new, it’s not quite so new and scary anymore. (Publisher’s Marketing)
Adventure Annie Goes to Kindergarten
By: Toni Buzzeo
Annie Grace wears her “Adventure Annie” cape to her first day of kindergarten and proceeds to
barrel through the day, searching for adventure in every moment. Her interpretation of the class’s Gold Star Rules isn’t exactly what her teacher, Mr. Todd, had in mind. But somehow Annie does manage to save the day when two of her classmates get lost on their way to retrieve the afternoon snack. Spirited and funny, this is an introduction to kindergarten that will please kids and teachers alike. (Publisher’s Marketing)
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
By: Joseph Slate
It’s the first day of kindergarten, and Miss Bindergarten is hard at work getting the classroom ready
for her twenty-six new students. Meanwhile, Adam Krupp wakes up, Brenda Heath brushes her teeth, and Christopher Beaker finds his sneaker. Miss Bindergarten puts the finishing touches on the room just in time, and the students arrive. Now the fun can begin! This rhyming, brightly illustrated book is the perfect way to practice the alphabet and to introduce young children to kindergarten. (Publisher’s Marketing)
The Kissing Hand
By: Audrey Penn
In this contemporary classic Chester Raccoon seeks love and reassurance from his mother as he ventures out into the world to attend his very first day of school. (Publisher’s Marketing)