Pre-K
18 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.
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KINDergarten
Also available from:There are many ways to show kindness, and this kindergarten class tries to do as many as possible. Even though Leo is nervous for his first day of school, he quickly learns that small acts of kindness add up and get noticed. It’s a beautiful book to calm first-day jitters and encourage young readers to be kind.
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How to Be Kind in Kindergarten
Also available from:How to Be Kind in Kindergarten is an adorable handbook for little kids that teaches them how to show kindness to others. From taking turns on the swings to sharing toys, these sweet, simple tips offer guidance to all new kindergarteners.
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Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go to School!
Also available from:In this charming tale of role reversal, Buddy and his sister Lady are ready for school — and so are the grown-ups! Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, and even the dog are all excited for a fun-filled day of storytime, science experiments, and games. Too bad grown-ups can't go to school. Only kids and teachers!
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The World Needs More Purple Schools
Also available from:From the creators of the bestselling picture book, The World Needs More Purple People, comes a companion story that brings an attitude of inclusivity to the classroom. Follow Penny and her friends as they discover their similarities and differences—and celebrate both.
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Preschool, Here I Come!
Also available from:The latest book in the Here I Come! series celebrates all of the firsts that preschool holds — from saying goodbye to your parents to learning how to mix colors. Author D.J. Steinberg carefully crafts silly rhymes that your preschooler is sure to enjoy. And for older children, Steinberg has the perfect guide for them too with Kindergarten, Here I Come!
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Sounds Like School Spirit
Also available from:Sounds Like School Spirit is a fun, interactive book that helps build excitement around school and perfectly illustrates the communities that kids create. Told through a series of chants, your little one won’t be able to resist cheering along with this book!
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This Is How We Get Ready
Also available from:Getting ready for school can be a lot of work! You have to brush your teeth, tie your shoelaces, navigate the holes of a sweater, and more. Luckily, DK has a complete guide to teaching preschoolers all of the skills they need to get ready and make it to school on time. And once they’ve mastered the morning routine, DK’s This Is How We Make Friends is the perfect follow-up to prepare.
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The Dinos on the Bus
Also available from:Get your child ready for their first bus ride with this sing-along book. Written to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus,” you’ll sing and clap your way through the pages. The colorful, dino-filled bus and the upbeat song will soothe children’s nerves and get them excited for their first solo trip to school.
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Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten
Also available from:This fun rhyming book follows Miss Bindergarten as she sets up her classroom for the 26 new students she will have in her kindergarten class this year. This book is an excellent introduction for young children on what to expect from kindergarten and a fun book for practicing the alphabet.
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Rosie Goes to Preschool
Available from:If your child isn’t interested in an adult telling them how school will be, this book is perfect. Rosie, a preschooler herself, offers a little tour of the preschool and the day’s routine in a way that is sweet and informative.
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I'm Going to Kindergarten!
Also available from:When you’re prepping your child for their first day of school, you can’t go wrong with a Little Golden Book. Readers follow an energetic little girl through her first day of kindergarten as she explores the classroom and makes new friends.
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Complete Kindergarten Math Workbook
Also available from:Who knew learning math could be this fun? This official Brightly book is filled with games, activities, challenges, and puzzles, all designed to strengthen your little one’s math skills, all while having fun in the process. This excellent resource is a great way to help build your child’s confidence in math!
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The Twelve Days of Preschool
Also available from:Little ones can take comfort in knowing what to expect from preschool with this delightful picture book. In the familiar tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," kids count all the new toys they get to play with in school, as well as the importance of sharing them.
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The King of Kindergarten
Also available from:This fun and sweet book features a little boy who can't wait to start school after his mother tells him he'll be the King of Kindergarten. From riding in “a big yellow carriage” to “a grand fortress" to taking a "royal rest" at naptime, the boy's refreshing and joyous approach to the first day of school offers plenty of encouragement for reluctant incoming kindergarteners. Check out the companion book, The Queen of Kindergarten, too!
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The Name Jar
Also available from:As if school wasn’t scary enough, Unhei has just moved to the U.S. from Korea and is worried no one will be able to pronounce her name. So on the first day, she explains to her classmates that she’ll be choosing a new name that week. But can she find a name that fits her better than her own?
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Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School!
Also available from:Tiny worry warts will love this endearing and soothing story about a tortoise afraid of showing up late on the first day of school. As all the other (faster) animals dash past her, her worries grow larger. But when she meets her teacher on the way to school, Little Tortoise learns she’s not the only slowpoke around.
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Hello, School!
Also available from:Follow a class of new students through a typical first day of school — from meeting their new teacher and making new friends, to finding their cubbies and seats. This diverse class of excited children offers a positive image for young readers to take away as they begin their own school journey.
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The Night Before Preschool
Also available from:Reading books like The Night Before Preschool and The Night Before Kindergarten are a great way to get your children to open up about their feelings about starting school for the first time. Read the books together and ask them questions to get the conversation started and ease any first day of school jitters.
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Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2022.