Books to Get Your Kids Excited about School

By Richard Torrey

Sterling, 2015

Ages 3–7

Dinosaur-loving Ally can’t wait to go to school, and she’s looking forward to meeting more dino-loving kids there. But when school starts, she sees she’s the only dinosaur enthusiast in the classroom. What’s a kid to do? This book reminds children that everyone has interestsand imagination—and they can all be different. As the story progresses, Ally makes friends with “princesses,” an “astronaut,” a “lion,” and even a “dragon.”

By Norman Bridwell

Scholastic, 2015

Ages 3–5

In this new adventure, Clifford the dog helps Emily Elizabeth transition to kindergarten. When Emily’s teacher sends home a note inviting students to bring a special item to help them feel more comfortable in the classroom, no one expects to see Clifford show up!

By Laura Wall

HarperCollins, 2015

Ages 3–7

Sophie learns that her good friend, Goose, can’t go to school with her. But Goose follows her anyway. Goose is great fun at recess, and he helps Sophie make friends, easing her transition and later inspiring her classmates’ artwork. What a great way to start a new school adventure!

By Sue Ganz-Schmitt

Chronicle Books, 2014

Ages 3–7

For this boy astronaut, our brave and bold hero, failure is not an option—not even in kindergarten. This confidence-building tale will leave rising kindergarten kids eager to jump onboard and ready to blast off to conquer new horizons.

A few back to school themed books from Boyds Mills Press, our own publishing house:

The Bus For Us

By Suzanne Bloom

Ages 5-7

Boyds Mills Press, 2008

Tess is excited. Today is her first day of school and her very first ride on a school bus. Waiting at the bus stop with her older friend Gus, Tess eagerly asks, "Is this the bus for us, Gus?" as each vehicle passes by. From fire engine to front loader, Suzanne Bloom introduces young readers to a variety of vehicles through a simple text and spirited illustrations

Last-But-Not-Least Lola Going Green

By Christine Pakkala, Illustrated by Paul Hopps

Ages 7-10

Boyds Mills Press, 2013

Lola Zuckerman hates being last for everything. If only she were Lola Adams or Lola Appleby or anything but Z for Zuckerman. And she is having a particularly hard time right now. Her best friend Amanda Anderson is now her ex-best friend. Her grandparents have moved back to Texas, and her mother is launching a new career. Why is everything always changing? What would make things much, much better is if Lola were to win the Going-Green Contest at school and beat Amanda Anderson, who is determined to win first place too. How can Lola, who is always last, prove that she’s not least? This first book in the Last-But-Not-Least Lola series is a laugh-out-loud, heartwarming, and intensely satisfying story about the importance of friendship and creative problem-solving. 

My Special Day at Third Street School

By Eve Bunting, illustrated by Suzanne Bloom

Ages 5-7

Boyds Mills Press, 2009

Third Street School is buzzing with excitement as the students prepare for a visit from author Amanda Drake. The kids have read all her books. They've hung a welcome banner in the hall and pinned drawings on the classroom walls. Then the big day arrives and Amanda Drake is everything the kids hoped she'd be. She reads stories, and cuddles the stuffed animals, and tells the kids what it's like to be a writer. Then one child comes up with an idea: "It would be really cool if you would write a book about your visit to our school." And that's precisely what Amanda Drake does. Eve Bunting's happy book, a Society of School Librarians International Honor Book, is written in playful rhyme and illustrated with zest by Suzanne Bloom