Parents are always looking for books to help their children make that BIG transition to school. These are the books (many of which are available in Spanish) that I suggest to my library patrons for a little biblio-therapy.
listed by reading level
**all ratings from GoodReads
**all links are affiliate links to Amazon.com
First Dayby Dandi Daley Mackall
illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke
Anxious about the first day of school, the child in this story soon discovers that there is nothing to fear, and they can't wait for the next day of school.
Reading Information:
Word Count: 315
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 1.6 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 71619
--sample pages and reviews available
Best Best Friendsby Margaret Chodos-Irvine
*Starred Review* ALA Booklist
3.61 avg rating — 72 ratingsThis one’s not so much about starting school as the kinds of preschool relationships children have.
Best friends Clare and Mary go from hugging and playing to being angry at each other. A temporary time out spent playing with others is all it takes for them to realize that they need to patch things up. A drawing leads to reconciliation in this sweet and simply told story. A great way to begin giving preschoolers some tools to work out problems.
Word Count: 294
Page Count: 40
Accelerated Reader: 2.0 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 105497
Lexile: AD540L
--sample pages and reviews available
Will I Have a Friend?By Miriam Cohen
illustrations by Lillian Hoban
3.60 avg rating — 113 ratings
This story is one that will apply to just about
every child attending school for the first time. Wondering whether
he'll be happy and make friends, this little boy soon discovers that you
just have to be patient sometimes for things to 'jell'. A classic,
this older book is still a timely gem for toddlers and preschoolers
making transitions to new surroundings.
clicking on image will enlarge pic in most browsers
Word Count: 484
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.1 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 30645
Lexile: 300L
--sample pages and reviews available
Wemberly Worriedby Kevin Henkes
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
**Starred Review** NY Times Book Review
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
**Starred Review** NY Times Book Review
4.21 avg rating — 13,088 ratings
Some of Henkes books always strike me as too wordy or busy for regular recommendation. But this one is a perfect story for the anxious child who might be just a bit worried about school and what will happen. Wemberly is a little girl-mouse who is worries about everything. This book might be especially appropriate for a slightly more sensitive child who needs some reassurance.
Some of Henkes books always strike me as too wordy or busy for regular recommendation. But this one is a perfect story for the anxious child who might be just a bit worried about school and what will happen. Wemberly is a little girl-mouse who is worries about everything. This book might be especially appropriate for a slightly more sensitive child who needs some reassurance.
Word Count: 525
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.7 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 43634
Lexile: 170L
--sample pages and reviews available
Prudencia Se Preocupa
Word Count: 646
Accelerated Reading level: 2.7 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 43634SP
You might also be interested in:
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Topic: SCHOOL at the Kindergarten reading level
Topic: THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - books at the Kindergarten reading level
Topic: SCHOOL at the 1st Grade reading level
Review: TINY GOES BACK TO SCHOOL (Carl Meister)
Review: SCHOOL (Emily Arnold McCully)
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The Kissing Hand(Paperback with CD)
by Audrey Penn
illustrations by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak
4.40 avg rating — 47,209 ratings
Okay, this one’s an important topic.
Chester the raccoon is anxious about leaving his mother to go to
school, but his mother teaches him a secret way for him to carry his
love with her. Separation anxiety is always a tough issue when it
happens, this book can offer some recognition of that anxiety and ways
of dealing with it.
Page Count: 24
Accelerated Reading level: 2.7 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 30793
Lexile: 520L
--sample pages and reviews available
Un Beso en Mi Mano
Word Count: 600
Accelerated Reading level: 2.7 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 30793SP
--sample pages available
Yokoby Rosemary Wells
*Starred Review* ALA Booklist
4.05 avg rating — 924 ratings
Yoko is new to the school and must deal with kids who tease her for being different. She soon learns how to take those differences and turn them into positives, making friends out of her classmates and winning confidence.
Yoko is new to the school and must deal with kids who tease her for being different. She soon learns how to take those differences and turn them into positives, making friends out of her classmates and winning confidence.
Word Count: 623
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 2.9 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 29511
--sample pages and reviews available
Yoko (Spanish)
Word Count: 699
Accelerated Reading level: 2.9 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 29511SP
Stephanie's Ponytailby Robert Munsch
4.25 avg rating — 2,562 ratings
Okay, it’s not about the beginning of school,
but this is a great introductory story to break the ice in a new
school year. Stephanie decides to wear a ponytail to school, only to
have everyone judge it to be “ugly, ugly, very ugly.” Steph of course,
doesn’t care until the next day when every girl wears a ponytail. Then
the battle to be different commences with some wild ponytails and a
final pay off for Stephanie. Funny as only Munsch can be, the message
here is to be yourself and that following the crowd without thinking
can lead to some outrageous results!
Page Count: 24
Accelerated Reading level: 3.0 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 13949
Lexile: 500L
--sample pages and reviews available
La Cola de Caballo de Estefanía
Word Count: 712
Accelerated Reading level: 3.0 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 13949SP
--sample pages available
by Lauren Child
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
4.17 avg rating — 949 ratingsFrom the Charlie and Lola series, the irrepressible Lola has decided she cannot go to school and it’s up to Charlie to reassure his skeptical sister that it will all work out. Funny and fun reading, this can be a great way to start a discussion about a child's own concerns and questions.
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 3.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 78847
--sample pages and reviews available
Soy Demasiado Pequeña Para Ir al Colegio
Word Count: 760
Accelerated Reading level: 3.2 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 78847SP
Chrysanthemumby Kevin Henkes
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
**Starred Review** Horn Book
4.31 avg rating — 40,343 ratings**Starred Review** Horn Book
Another Henkes title, this one deals with a girl-mouse who is embarrassed by her name and how other kids in school react to it. Learning how to stand up for herself and respect her name helps her to become confident in the classroom and learn to be proud of her name and what it means.
Word Count: 1,141
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reading level: 3.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 6109
Lexile: 460L
--sample pages and reviews available
Crisantemo
Word Count: 1,141
Accelerated Reading level: 3.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 6109SP
Happy Reading! ^_^ Shanshad & Pam
updated by Pam
updated June 2016
