Reads :: Back To School Books

In the lead-up to Meips’ big first day, we, like all parents, tried to ease the transition for her by doing various things. She was already somewhat familiar with the environment, having gone with me on numerous occasions to pick Noey up, so that was certainly a plus. We also spoke to her about her teachers and what she would be doing in school, and of course, read a number of books about starting school. I’m a firm believer of using books to help the kids articulate their thoughts and fears so this was the perfect opportunity to whip out some books to help set the stage for the big first day. 

Here are some of our favourites:

1. Puddle’s Big Step by Amber Stewart & Layn Marlow

Description: ‘When Puddle was barely more than an egg, he couldn’t wait to start duckling school.’ So begins this story about feelings of excitement, anticipation, and understandable nervousness that surround an approaching first day at nursery school. Puddle, a little duckling, is like so many pre-school children in desperately wanting to be grown-up enough to go to school and to have his own school bag. But as the day draws nearer, Puddle begins to feel rather wobbly about the whole concept! Luckily Mummy knows just what to do. She packs items into Puddle’s school bag that will help him through his first day – one of her softest feathers to remind him she is never far away, some home-made biscuits for him to share with his new friends, his Cuddly for the afternoon nap – and, as the story unfolds, we discover how Puddle’s enjoyment of his first day builds each time he finds one of Mummy’s tokens in his bag. Puddle spends a happy day counting caterpillars, matching ladybirds, leaping from lily pad to lily pad, and decorating a leafy twig. So, by going-home time, he can put his twig in his bag to take home for Mummy.

Puddle’s Big Step is one of Meips’ favourites and she’s asked for it to be read everyday! I think actually like all the books in the series by Amber Stewart and Layn Marlow and this is a sweet one which I think would help boost the confidence of young ones starting pre-school. (You can get this book from The Groovy Giraffe and use the “GET5OFF” code to get an additional 5% off the price!)  

 2. Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

Description: Wemberly worries about everything. Big things. Little things. And things in between. Wemberly worried about spilling her juice, about shrinking in the bathtub, even about snakes in the radiator. She worried morning, noon, and night. “Worry, worry, worry,” her family said. “Too much worry.” And Wemberly worried about one thing most of all: her first day of school. But when she meets a fellow worrywart in her class, Wemberly realizes that school is too much fun to waste time worrying!

Wemberly Worried is one of those Kevin Henkes’ classics, and I think it does a good job of relating to young children and the worries that they may have. Noey at 5 years old enjoyed this one more than Meips (2.5 years old) as she found it a bit wordy. But they both enjoyed the bright colourful illustrations which I thought did a good job of conveying emotions.

3. I Am Too Absolutely Small For School by Lauren Child

Description: Lola is not so sure about school. After all, why would she need to count higher than ten when she never eats more that ten cookies at a time? Once again, it’s up to ever-patient big brother Charlie to persuade Lola that school is worthwhile — and that her invisible friend, Soren Lorensen, will be welcome, too.

We are big fans of Charlie and Lola and this delightful book is one of my favourites. There are many books in the Charlie and Lola series, but many of these are adapted from the TV series. Only 3 titles are “original” Lauren Child: I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go To Bed, and this — I Am Too Absolutely Small for School. There are some other good ones in the adaptations, but I think the original Lauren Child books are a class above the rest. She somehow manages to combine quirky humour with her trademark collage style illustrations to produce a book that is funny and endearing at the same time. In this book, each time Lola tells Charlie she doesn’t want to go to school, he would ever so patiently give her an outlandish reason why she should. This is a wonderful book which will have kids laughing and will help calm those first-day-of-school nerves. The large hardback version of this book is also available at The Groovy Giraffe with 5% off with the same “GET5OFF“ code. 

4. The Berenstain Bears Go To School by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Description: A sympathetic story about Sister Bear, who conquers her fear of starting kindergarten. The book begins with Brother and Sister Bear getting ready to go to school at the end of summer. Sister Bear is starting kindergarten and she wonders what school will be like. Mama Bear brings Sister to meet the teacher for lunch and all goes well. But the first day arrives and Sister is a little hesitant about going. Despite her fears, she goes and meets her classmates realises that there’s nothing to worry about. School is fun!

I loved the Berenstain Bears when I was a child so it’s nice to see my kids enjoying the same books I did. The Berenstain Bears Go To School is a classic tale of first day jitters. I find most of the Berenstain Bear books a great resource for teaching kids positive behaviour and attitudes and this book is no exception.

5. My Teacher Sleeps in School by Leatie Weiss

Description: Because Mrs Marsh is always in her classroom before the students arrive and always stays after they leave, Mollie becomes convinced that her teacher has no home other than the school. Join the children in Mrs Marsh’s class as they search for clues to prove their teacher sleeps in school, and enjoy their surprise when a mystery bus trip ends in front of a nice white house with a blue door – a house much like the ones they live in themselves. 

Meips particularly enjoyed this title and it has become one of the staples in her bedtime story routine. It’s got cute pictures too and both kids always giggle over the pictures which show the teacher changing and getting ready for bed in the classroom, and sleeping on the bookshelf or piano. A fun story which fires the imagination then brings the reader round to see that a teacher is really not that different from the rest of us.

6. First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

Description: Everyone knows that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach just before diving into a new situation. Sarah Jane Hartwell is scared and doesn’t want to start over at a new school. She doesn’t know anybody, and nobody knows her. It will be awful. She just knows it. With much prodding from Mr Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly pulls herself together and goes to school. She is quickly befriended by Mrs Burton, who helps smooth her jittery transition. This charming and familiar story will delight readers with its surprise ending. Fun, energetic illustrations brighten page after page with the busy antics surrounding Sarah Jane. First Day Jitters is an enchanting story that is sure to be treasured by anyone who has ever anticipated a first day of school.

This was one of the books Noey’s class read to start the year and I thought it was a good one! If you haven’t guessed from the description, the main character getting the jitters is revealed at the end of the story to be the teacher, not a student as you might have thought. I thought it was a good twist to the story. Certainly made me smile!

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Speaking of first days and being back at school, here’s a little shout-out on the Back To School Sale on going at The Groovy Giraffe. Get an ADDITIONAL 20% OFF all books in the EDUCATION category with the code GET20OFF!

For those with school-going kids, there are plenty of assessment books available. with some going for as low as $2.90! I haven’t arrived at that stage yet and am instead eyeing these 3-D pop-up reference books which I know my kids, especially Noey, will love. 

 Digital 3-D Pops: 1. Space | 2. Earth | 3. Dinosaur

[Edit: I’ve just been told these are DIGITAL 3-D pops, not actual pop-up books. Aiyah.]

Hope everyone had great start to the school year!