The best books for kids starting kindergarten
A school that is nervous too, a pigeon with a list of excuses and a kid who is ready to rule. Picture books that make the first day feel familiar before it arrives.
The best books for kids starting kindergarten show what the day looks like and admit that nerves are normal. Start with The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes for excitement, Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate for what to expect, and School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex for the jitters. For preschool, Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins walks through a whole day.
Kindergarten is a big step, for your child and for you. Some kids count down the days. Others go quiet whenever school comes up. Either way, it helps to make the unknown a little more known, and reading is one of the easiest ways to do it. The federal Office of Head Start keeps its own list of children’s books about the move to kindergarten, and suggests reading them together to help children understand the transition and feel more comfortable in their new setting. These are the best books for kids starting kindergarten that we know, plus a few for the preschool start.
Every title below is a real, published book, checked against a library record or its publisher. Start reading them a few weeks before the first day, so the stories have time to sink in.
What helps kids get ready for kindergarten
Readiness is less about knowing letters and more about everyday social skills. The AAP points to things like paying attention, controlling impulses and emotions, taking turns, following directions, making friends and empathizing with others. The CDC’s milestones for age 5 include following rules or taking turns when playing games with other children.
The AAP’s back-to-school tips add a few practical ideas: visit the school or classroom before the first day if you can, remind your child that teachers know students may be nervous, and point out the fun parts, like making new friends.
Best books for kids starting kindergarten who can’t wait
The King of Kindergarten
Pure confidenceThe hero of this story has dressed himself, eaten a pile of pancakes and is ready to join a whole new kingdom of kids. He takes every new experience in stride, then cannot wait to tell his parents all about it. A joyful pick for a child who needs to hear that kindergarten is something to look forward to.
Kindergarten, Here I Come!
The whole year in poemsShort, funny poems cover the kindergarten year from the supply list on day one to recess, field trips and the hundredth day of school. Each poem stands alone, so you can read one at breakfast or five at bedtime. Great for kids who like to know exactly what is coming.
The Night Before Kindergarten
A familiar rhythmA take on the classic “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” poem, it follows children as they pack their supplies, pose for pictures and say goodbye to their parents, then discover how much fun kindergarten is. The rhyme makes it a comforting bedtime read in the last week of summer.
Books about first-day nerves
School’s First Day of School
On Head Start’s listIt is the first day at Frederick Douglass Elementary, and the school itself is nervous. Will the children like it? Will they be nice? The day gets off to a rough start, until the school sees that it is not the only one with jitters. Kids love the twist, and it opens a gentle talk about how everyone feels new sometimes.
First Day Jitters
On Head Start’s listSarah Jane Hartwell does not want to start at a new school: she does not know anybody, and nobody knows her. With some coaxing, she goes anyway. The surprise at the end makes children laugh and reminds them that everyone gets the jitters. Do not spoil it before you read it.
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!
Excuses, excusesThe Pigeon does not see why he has to go to school. He already knows everything. Also, what if he does not like it, and what if the teacher does not like him? His list of excuses is really a list of worries, which makes it a perfect way to hear your child’s own.
Mae’s First Day of School
For the child who says “I’m not going.”On her first day, Mae climbs up her favorite tree instead of going in. Then other people come by with their own fears, including someone you would not expect, and Mae learns that everyone gets nervous about new things. Quietly reassuring for a hesitant starter.
Books about what happens at school
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
Two stories in oneAs Miss Bindergarten gets her classroom ready, her animal students get ready at home, one for each letter of the alphabet. The pages alternate between them until everyone arrives. It shows children that the teacher is preparing for them too, which is a lovely thing to know.
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
Laugh-out-loudPenelope Rex is nervous about her first day of school, and her classmates are delicious. Then the class goldfish teaches her what it feels like to be on the other side. Silly enough to relax a nervous five-year-old, and it quietly covers making friends and treating others well.
The Name Jar
For a new start in a new placeUnhei has just moved from Korea, and after kids on the bus tease her name, she tells her new class she will choose an American one. Her classmates fill a jar with suggestions. It is a warm story about belonging, and a good pick for any child whose name, language or family is new to the class.
Best books for kids starting preschool
Maisy Goes to Preschool
A whole day, step by stepMaisy hangs her coat on her own peg, paints, has snack, listens to stories, naps, makes music and plays outside before she says goodbye. Simple and bright, it lets two to four year olds preview the routine. That predictability is exactly what calms a first-time preschooler.
One more: The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, which we also recommend in our best books for 5 year olds, remains a favorite for separation on the first day. Many families make the kiss in the palm their own goodbye ritual.
Making the first day easier
- Read early, read often. A few weeks of school stories make the real thing feel familiar.
- Keep goodbyes short. The AAP suggests a quick, loving goodbye ritual, then leaving, and always coming back when you said you would.
- Visit if you can. Walk past the school, find the door, play on the playground. Then reread the books.
- Ask open questions after. “What was the funniest thing today?” works better than “How was school?”
If first-day worries do not ease after the first few weeks, or seem to grow, mention it to the teacher and your pediatrician. The AAP notes that it is rare for separation anxiety to continue every day after the preschool years, and your pediatrician can help make a plan.
Kindergarten is also when many kids first notice money in a new way: classmates with new things, school book fairs, a coin for the treat cart. If you want to get ahead of those questions, our guide on how to teach kids about money starts at age 3. For worries that go beyond school, see our books about anxiety for kids.
Questions parents ask
What are the best books for kids starting kindergarten?
The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes, Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate, School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex and The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems are reliable picks. Together they cover excitement, what to expect and first-day nerves.
When should I start reading books about starting school?
A few weeks before the first day is a good time. Reading the same books several times makes the routine feel familiar. The Office of Head Start suggests reading books about the kindergarten transition together to help children feel more comfortable in their new setting.
What are good books for kids starting preschool?
Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins walks through a whole preschool day, and The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a classic for the first goodbye. Short, routine-focused books suit two to four year olds best.
How do I help my child who is nervous about kindergarten?
Visit the school if you can, read books about the first day, keep goodbyes short and loving, and remind your child that teachers know students may be nervous. If worries persist or grow after the first few weeks, talk with the teacher and your pediatrician.
Sources
Written by the WonderLab Journal editorial desk and checked against the sources above. Found something out of date? Tell us through the corrections page.
