28 Best Back to School Books For the New School Year

Bitsy Bat, School Star by Kaz Windness

A sweet new school picture book for 2023! In this one, Bitsy Bat wants to fit in at her new school and make friends. She learns to celebrate differences. This one talks about school from an autistic perspective in ways all kids can understand.

If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen

Chris Van Dusen has done it again with this outrageous book.  Jack is imagining how he would like his school to be from the cafeteria and classrooms to the gymnasium and playground. 

Written in his signature rhyme, this book with amaze everyone and should lead to a fun discussion about your child’s ideal school! This is an amazing back to school book for preschool or kindergarten.

Language activity: Ask your child what they would like to see in a school they designed.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

A powerful story by a literary wonder about how it feels to be different, either because of your name, your language, your food, or your life at school.

But the day you begin to tell your story in your voice about who You are, the world opens up to welcome you and you find your place at school. I got teary-eyed reading it for the first time. It is a wonderful back to school book.

Language Activity: Make a list of your child’s favorite things about themselves. Talk about how people are the same and different.

The Perfect School Picture by Deborah Diesen

Oh picture day, beloved by parents when the photo turns out well, complained about when hair or faces don’t turn out as expected.

This is a funny story for the kids who feel the pressure of picture day and just don’t want to perform! If you are looking for back to school books to lighten the mood, this should be your pick.

I Got The School Spirit by Connie Schofield

I loved this story about a little girl who finds school spirit in all her actions of arriving at and being at school.

The use of onomatopoeias to describe the noises of her day and how the spirit sounds is truly wonderful for beginning students looking to expand their vocabulary. This is a sweet pick from back to school books.

Language Activity: What are some onomatopoeias you use every day?

My Teacher is a Monster by Peter Brown

A funny picture book by Peter Brown is all about a boy who thinks his teacher is a monster until he meets her at a park on a fateful day.

Is Ms. Kirby a monster after all? This back to school book is perfect for kids who may be a little bit afraid of their teachers.

Time for School, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Little Blue Truck is back and this time he’s helping out the local school bus.

When a piglet misses his bus, Little Blue Truck steps in to get him to school on time. This is an adorable back to school book you and your little one will love

I Walk with Vanessa by Karascoët

After a little girl watches her new classmate get bullied, she enacts a plan to welcome Vanessa and show her kindness.

This wordless picture book brought tears to my eyes the first time I read it. My son’s second-grade teacher used this in her curriculum last year too. This is not only an amazing back-to-school book but it’s also a great book to teach about kindness.

Why We Love This Book: This wordless picture book allows children to explore bullying in their own voice and teaches kindness.
Appropriate for ages 5-9
Find this book in: Books about Feelings / Wordless Picture Books / Back to School Books

I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët

After a little girl watches her new classmate get bullied, she enacts a plan to welcome Vanessa and show her kindness.

This wordless picture book brought tears to my eyes the first time I read it. My son’s second-grade teacher used this in her curriculum last year too. This is not only an amazing back to school book but its also a great book to teach about kindness.

Rulers of the Playground by Joseph Kuefler

This charming playground tale is simply adorable. It teaches playground behavior by showing what not to do.

Don’t hog the swings, don’t refuse to share the slide, and don’t act like you are the ruler of the playground or a battle of kings may break out! We love this pick from back to school books.

The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts

A cute story about how the smallest child in school can make an impact on the entire school community.

I love how this book shows even the smallest child can stand up to bullies. This is another book about bullying from our list of back to school books. It is such an important topic to teach at even a young age.

Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller

Do Unto Otters is an adorable tale of a little rabbit who doesn’t know to treat his new otter neighbors. Owl tells him to treat them as he would want to be treated.

While not directly about school, the ideas of manners and treating others with kindness is perfect for young children. My own son’s pre-k teacher always starts her year with this book. For this reason, we wanted to include it on our list of back to school books.

If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff

This series of books is completely hilarious.  If you take a mouse to school he’ll want your sandwich to go with it.  And so the story continues.  

Only this sweet mouse can innocently take all your school supplies and make school this much fun. This is a fun pic from back to school books.

Language Activity: see if you can remember all the things Mouse does in school.

Click, Clack, Quack to School by Doreen Cronin

Those wacky farm animals are back, this time, at school! The Farmer teaches all the animals to be quiet and kind at school.

But when they get there, it might not be what they thought. This is such an adorable back to school book.

Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry G. Allard Jr.

A clever and funny tale about an underappreciated teacher who needs a break and a substitute teacher who is sent in to straighten the class out!

This back to school book is a classic.

Pirates Go to School by Corrine Demas

Pirates head to school and they just can’t seem to understand the rules. If you have a pirate lover, they will adore this silly tale! My kids often pour over the funny illustrations in the best way. This one is harder to come by, so check your local library.

Why We Love This Book: Of all the stories on the list, I think this is the one my kids read the most for a great laugh.
Appropriate for ages 5-9
Find this book in: Back-to-School Books, Pirate Books for Kids

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

For little Camila, the first day of school doesn’t go according to plan when she wakes up covered in stripes! The reason? Camila is so worried about how people think of her that she breaks out in stripes!

Soon she’s not allowed to go to school, she’s being poked by doctors, and taking pills from experts, until a little old lady teaches her to accept herself and learn not to worry about what others think.

Why We Love This Book: It’s a great way to discuss self-esteem.
Appropriate for ages 5-9
Find this book in: Back to School Books / Children’s Book about Feelings

Eva and the New Owl by Rebecca Elliot

When a new owl comes to school and befriends Eva’s best friend, Eva becomes jealous.  Will Lucy and Evan stay friends?

Can Lucy and Eva both make a new friend?  This Branches book is the perfect book for growing readers. This is a perfect early reader back to school book.

Sink or Swim: Exploring Schools of Fish by Judy Katschke

The Magic Schoolbus is back with Miss Frizzle and the kids.  This early reader looks at an underwater ecosystem and endangered fish in Hawaii. 

There is sure to be an adventure with Miss Frizzle around. This is the first book in the series that is a perfect back to school books.

Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park

Junie is going into Kindergarten and definitely has a knack for getting into some trouble.  

This series is perfect for new readers and will keep your little reader laughing. This is such a cute back to school book.

My Weird School by Dan Gutman

This school has the funniest and weirdest group of teachers. This series is funny and engaging and perfect for early readers!

If you are looking for back to school books, this entire series is completely hilarious.

Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

This Newberry Honor book is a classic from the 50s.  With an updated cover, Ramona is a beloved character that still resonates with children today.

The story is perfect for older kids to read alone or for younger kids to listen to at storytime. You can check out other Ramona tales here. We love Ramona for back to school books.

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

The first book in Gibbs’s series is about Ben Ripley, a child CIA agent trying to defeat the evil organization Spyder. As he attends the secret junior CIA boarding school, he gets into loads of situations that put his espionage skills to good use.

In each book of the series, Ben and his fellow agents tackle a new problem. They take place at various new locations as the series progresses. It’s already 10 books deep and every pick from the series is a fun choice for a list of mystery books for tweens.

Lunch Lady by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

These hilarious books are graphic novels that are sure to keep your middle-grade student entertained with crazy antics and ridiculous situations.  

The lunch lady serves lunch and justice in the best way.

The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty

My 3rd-grade math lover inhaled this tween book in 2 days. It’s all about a 12-year-old girl who was struck by lightning and became a math wiz.

She’s been homeschooled her whole life, but now her grandmother wants her to try to go to school just for one year. She has to make one friend, join one activity, and read one book that isn’t math related. Can she do it?

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda is a magical little girl who loves books. Stuck in a family that doesn’t value education, her life is changed when she meets Ms. Honey at her new school.

But the principal, Miss Trunchbull hates children. When she terrorizes the kids at her new school, Matilda finds the power to fight back. The Netflix book adaption of this one is a musical!