Picture Books for the First Days of School

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child

When Lola is worried about starting school, her older brother Charlie reassures her.

Wow! School! By Robert Neubecker

Izzy finds many things to be excited about on the first day of school.

Llama Llama Misses Mama By Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama experiences separation anxiety on his first day of nursery school.

Wemberly Worried By Kevin Henkes

A mouse named Wemberly, who worries about everything, finds that she has a whole list of things to worry about when she faces the first day of nursery school.

I'm Telling You, Dex, Kindergarten Rocks! By Katie Davis

Dexter knows everything there is to know about kindergarten and is not at all scared about his first day there, but his stuffed dog, Rufus, is very nervous.

Tom Goes to Kindergarten By Margaret Wild

When Tom, a young panda, goes to his very first day of kindergarten, his whole family stays and plays and wishes they could be in kindergarten too.

First Grade Stinks By Mary Ann Rodman

First-grader Haley wishes she were back having fun in kindergarten with her old teacher, until she finds out that first-grade is special, too.

Off to First Grade By Louise Borden

Each member of a first grade class, as well as their teacher, principal, and a bus driver, expresses excitement, worry, or hope as the first day of school begins.

If You Take a Mouse to School By Laura Numeroff

Follows a boy and his mouse through a busy day at school.

Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School By Herman Parish
A literal-minded first-grader's first day of school is filled with confusing adventures, much to her delight.

Contributed by Vanessa Scudder