Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Home

Topic: Starting School

Starting School Booklist

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. Here are some of the best children’s books about starting school.

Picturebook

Everyone’s favourite reading role model is back! Book-loving Lulu is excited to start pre-school. It will be like storytime at the library, but she will stay by herself. Everyone gets up super early to make sure they are ready. There’s so much to do at pre-school: Lulu makes a new friend, reads, plays dresses up and builds and sings. In no time at all, Mummy is back to collect her. Lulu’s First Day is the perfect picture book to prepare the little ones for the pre-school experience.

Picturebook

The perfect book for any little dragon (or child) getting ready to start school or nursery!

This delightful rhyming follow-up to When a Dragon Comes to Stay by award-winning picture book creators Caryl Hart and Rosalind Beardshaw is full of recognisable pre-school behaviour. When a dragon goes to school, will she enjoy a book in the reading den and save her lunchtime treats for a friend? Or will she throw the crayons and refuse to share? She’s going to need her friends to help her behave herself . . . she is DRAGON after all!

Picturebook

Mouse’s Big Day is a warm and funny story about friendship, that’s perfect for any child who is starting school or nursery.

It’s Mouse’s first day at school and she’s feeling a little nervous . . . in fact, she doesn’t want to go at all. Luckily, there’s a class full of new friends waiting for her and lots of fun to be had at Twit Twoo School. Can Mouse find the confidence to join in with her classmates and learn just how brilliant school can be?

Join Mouse, Frog, Rabbit, Mole, Owl and their teacher, Miss Hoot, at their fun-filled treetop school. With a cast of adorable animal characters and bright, bold, distinctive illustrations from the award-winning Lydia Monks, illustrator of the bestselling What the Ladybird Heard series, the Twit Twoo School series is sure to delight young children.

Picturebook

Topsy and Tim Start School is a perfect, reassuring picture book for children who are just about to start school. Along with favourite characters Topsy and Tim, children will learn what to expect in lessons, in the playground – even in the canteen – and, more importantly, that school can be fun! The Topsy and Tim books have been beautifully updated with contemporary artwork, but they remain instantly recognisable and trusted characters that parents will remember from their own childhoods. This edition also includes a puzzle and a map of Topsy and Tim’s village that parents can use to teach their children basic map skills and directions.

Topsy and Tim have all sorts of new experiences – just like you!

Find out what happens on the twins’ first day at school.

Picturebook

Another laugh-out-loud picture book from the award-winning author of You Must Bring a Hat, I Don’t Know What to Call My Cat and Be More Bernard .

I have to start at school today.
“You’ll have such fun!” my parents say.
I know they think I’ll be okay,
But what if things don’t go my way?

Starting at a new school can be scary business. From rhinos at the gate to bears who won’t share, there are all SORTS of things that could go wrong. Luckily, Grandma is on hand to point out that there’s no need to fright, as things could just as easily . . . go right!

Picturebook

Charlie’s little sister Lola is nearly big enough to go to school. But Lola is not so sure…

Lola says, “I am absolutely not BIG. I am still really quite small. I probably do not have time to go to school. I am too extremely busy doing important things at home.”

This classic first-day-at-school tale addresses children’s fears with warmth, humour, and a lot of fun.

Picturebook

Whiffy Wilson doesn’t know how to hold a pen and has never looked in a book, but fortunately his friend Dotty is on hand to show him that school is fun. Soon, Whiffy is in his element, and when he gets a gold star for all his work he realises that school is the BEST THING EVER!

Picturebook

School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary. Since its first publication in 1993, this heartwarming book has become a children’s classic that has touched the lives of millions of children and their parents, especially at times of separation, whether starting school, entering daycare, or going to camp.

Picturebook

Are you starting school? How exciting!

Following a number of children’s first experiences, this picture book takes children right from their very first day to the end of the school year.

This reassuring read will support even the most nervous school-starter, exploring each emotion, from fear to excitement, with care.

The perfect read to start a conversation about any pre-school nerves, packed with playful illustrations and easy to understand explanations.

This is a book that you’ll want to read again and again – far beyond the last day of the school year.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

review

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

yes

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Any other comments

Any other comments