Summer is coming to an end, which means . . . back to school! There are lots of ways to prepare children for their first day, like new school supplies and outfits, but getting them ready mentally and emotionally is even more important. Especially for kindergarteners, the first day of school can be scary! It means a new place, new people, and new experiences. Books are a great way to introduce the idea of school or to teach kids about social norms they may not always use at home. They can even prepare kids academically, helping them learn their letters and numbers—and even the basics of a new language—before they ever enter the classroom.
Whether you’re a teacher looking for books to add to your classroom library or a parent or guardian helping your child get back in the groove after summer break, Blue Balloon Books has a book for you!
- Talkative Tasha by Sean Neal Morrow
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Being outgoing is certainly not a bad thing (and neither is being shy), but extra talkative kids may need a lesson about the importance of listening at school after a summer of fun. Talkative Tasha teaches kids when to raise their hand, when to let others have a chance to speak, when to listen to the teacher and other adults, and when to speak up—things they may have forgotten while at home all summer.
- Racky’s Magic Letters by Jenna L. Anderson
School is a place of learning, but home is too! Kids who already know their letters when they start school will have a big advantage and feel more comfortable during their lessons. Reading Racky’s Magic Letters is a simple way to teach your child their letters before the first day—or to help your students learn the alphabet in a fun way!
- Bilingual Beginnings: Pícnic Adventure by Amanda Greenfield
Learn the basics of Spanish with Bilingual Beginnings! This book is a fun and simple way to introduce kids to language learning. It’s also a great start to understanding Spanish vocabulary—a great skill to have if you live in an area with a large population of Spanish-speaking people. You never know when these language skills could come in handy, especially when making new friends at school!
- The Adventures of Belle Bear by Kathy Akopov Guillory
When Belle Bear’s family moves, she has to start at a new school. Everyone looks at her as the “new student,” and no one is a polar bear like her. All she wants is to go back to her old friends. But with the help of Baba Bear and her trusty orange cape, she gains the courage to introduce herself to new friends and realizes that her new school can be just as fun. The Adventures of Belle Bear is the perfect book to comfort kids who may be starting at a new school this year and help them learn the importance of always being themselves.
- Miss Betsy the Student Teacher by Maggie Boudreaux
Although Miss Betsy is a student teacher, she certainly has lots of lessons to share! Miss Betsy was very nervous to talk in front of her students when she started teaching. She felt like she always said the wrong thing or could never get the kids to pay attention. But with the help of her students and mentor, she learned that doing something new was like riding a bike. At first, you might wobble, but you just have to keep pedaling! She realized that her students got nervous too and decided to help them find their courage. Going to school can be quite nerve-racking for kids who are shy or anxious, but Miss Betsy the Student Teacher will help show them that they’re not alone.
- Ella and Her Neurosparkly Brain by Lauren Gilbert
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Going to school means meeting new friends! But meeting new people can be scary. What if they’re different from you? What if you don’t know what to say? What if someone is mean? Ella and Her Neurosparkly Brain is about a little girl who has autism and feels like she doesn’t fit in with the other kids at school. But her classmate Mia helps her see that her brain is just sparkly and that she needs to let herself shine!
This book is a great way to show children with special needs that they are perfect the way they are, even if they feel different from the other kids at school. It also helps neurotypical children understand the importance of acceptance and compassion in the classroom.
- The Day the Children Saved the World by Phil Hall
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The most important lesson kids can learn is that kindness can save the world! As they start a new school year, they should know that treating their classmates and teachers with kindness and love is the best thing they could ever do. Kindness makes the world go round! Plus, The Day the Children Saved the World uses the alphabet to give examples of how kindness can show up the world, creating an extra lesson for young readers.
As summer comes to a close and little ones prepare to go back to school, reading a book together about what they can expect is the perfect way to calm their nerves. Check out the Blue Balloon Books website to find more—or to submit your own children’s book idea!