Pre-K

11 Smart Books to Help Get Your Kids Ready for Preschool or Kindergarten

by Janssen Bradshaw

Photo credit: Kate Mitchell, Moment Open/ Getty Images

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.

Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go to School!

by Christina Geist, illustrated by Tim Bower

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!

Also available from:

Preschool, Here I Come!

by David J Steinberg, illustrated by John Joven

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 DJ Steinberg carefully crafts silly rhymes that your preschooler is sure to enjoy.

Also available from:

Take Your Pet to School Day

by Linda Ashman, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman

Also available from:

It's Pet Day at Maple View Elementary, but the animals have no respect for school rules! With the animals causing chaos at every turn, this simple read is a fun way to make your child laugh and also open up a discussion of appropriate school behavior.

Also available from:

Monkey Not Ready for Kindergarten

by Marc Brown

Also available from:

Marc Brown knows just how to write a book that children love, and this one is no exception. Monkey is fearful about all the things that could go wrong at school, but as his family helps him address his concerns one at a time, he starts to become excited about the new adventure ahead.

Also available from:

Rosie Goes to Preschool

by Karen Katz

Also 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.

Also available from:

The Twelve Days of Preschool

by Jenna Lettice, illustrated by Colleen Madden

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.

Also available from:

The King of Kindergarten

by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

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.

Also available from:

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School

by Lauren Child

Also available from:

Lola isn’t at all convinced she needs to go to school. She can already count to ten, and who needs to learn to write when you can make a phone call instead? As usual, big brother Charlie helps her decide that school might be worthwhile after all (and, yes, her invisible friend can come along, too).

Also available from:

The Name Jar

by Yangsook Choi

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?

Also available from:

Hello, School!

by Priscilla Burris

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.

Also available from:

The Night Before Preschool

by Natascha Wing, illustrated by Amy Wummer

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.

Also available from:

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2019.