20 Smart Books To Help Get Your Kids Ready for Preschool or Kindergarten

by Janssen Bradshaw

Unbelievably, my oldest daughter is going into kindergarten this year.

Like every parent, I swear she isn’t old enough — wasn’t she just a baby a few weeks ago?

She’s really excited, but I also recognize she doesn’t have a great feel for what school actually is like. So of course I’ve turned to picture books to help explain what she should expect from kindergarten.

Whether you’re helping your child prepare for preschool or kindergarten, these books are great for helping you talk about what to look forward to and answering questions they may have about all the fun and learning that’s ahead.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2023.