Best Children’s Books about Starting School
On this booklist, we have picked a selection of recommended books to read to children starting school for the first time. It’s normal for young children to feel all sorts of emotions about starting in Reception, from excitement and anxiety to apparent indifference – and picturebooks can be a great way to open up conversations about those feelings. Our starting school booklist features some of the best children’s books about starting school. The stories we have selected for this starting school booklist can introduce new situations in a fun and familiar way, helping children feel more confident and prepared.
If you are looking for picturebook stories to reassure young children preparing to start school for the first time, you’ll find characters to relate to in Lulu’s First Day and Ollie’s Back to School Bear. For books about classroom life and school routines, try All Are Welcome or Janet and Alan Ahlberg’s classic book Starting School. If you’d prefer a humorous or whimsical take on getting ready for the first days of Reception, try Simon Philip’s worry-busting I Have to Start at School Today or When a Dragon Goes to School.
Our sponsored spotlight for this month is I am Ready for School by EYFS expert Camilla Reid. Our panel recommends this warm, reassuring book for a fun and gentle look at starting school routines – from finding pegs and choosing lunch to knowing when to go to the loo – and for the additional expert school readiness tips in the book for parents and carers.
At BooksforTopics, we’ve carefully curated a list of books to help your child feel prepared and reassured about starting school. These stories explore everything from making new friends, getting used to new teachers and learning new things. With this booklist, you can find the best-recommended stories to make the transition to school a smooth one.
