These diverse picture books prepare your classroom for the first day of school! The books represent all kinds of people, cultures, and backgrounds, creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment on the first day and beyond. These picture books for the first day of school will also reassure your students about what to expect in new situations.
Why Read Picture Books for the First Day of School?
Teachers know the first few days and weeks set the classroom tone for the entire school year.
Picture books are a powerful tool for establishing a thriving classroom culture on the first day of school. From inspiring creativity to teaching empathy and encouraging collaboration, picture books offer a unique and meaningful way to welcome students to their new learning environment.
Book discussions could include school rules and routines, making new friends, anxieties and fears. The back to school books will also help you work towards a cohesive class community and help everyone get to know each other.
Through back to school books with diverse characters and themes, children may learn more about different cultures, beliefs, backgrounds and perspectives – allowing them to understand their classmates on a deeper level.
Picture books are an invaluable tool for bringing the classroom alive during back to school time. They create a safe and inclusive atmosphere for all students. By reading picture books together, teachers can help foster a sense of community within the classroom and ensure everyone feels comfortable in their new surroundings.
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Picture Books for the First Day of School
The following picture books for the first day of school will reassure your students about school expectations, routines and making friends. There are many books to choose from, so you will find something that fits your needs during the back to school period. They are also back to school books suitable for older children.
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Send a message to your students that everyone is welcome, regardless of race, religion, gender, culture or background.
Use on the first day of school to discuss inclusion, kindness, empathy, acceptance and community.
Becoming Vanessa by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Vanessa wears her fanciest outfit on her first day of school. The reaction from her new classmates to her bold clothes makes her feel self-conscious. This feeling increases when she tries to write her long name. She complains to her mother, who tells her why she is called Vanessa. This gives her the confidence to find a common bond and make new friends.
Promotes discussions on self-esteem, individuality, identity, making friends, and self-expression.
The Buddy Bench by Patty Brozo
A compassionate group of children encourage their teacher to let them build a buddy bench. They understand that some children find the playground a lonely place. Promotes kindness, empathy, loneliness and making friends.
The Cool Bean by Jory John
Of four beans in a pod, three are super cool. The fourth beans feel inferior because it doesn't feel it is special. It starts to notice that their kindness towards others makes these beans cool. The fourth bean changes its outlook when it learns no gesture is too small when done in kindness.
Promotes discussions on school life, kindness, isolation and self-esteem.
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Chrysanthemum loves her name, but she gets teased for its uniqueness on her first day of school. When her music teacher reveals she is naming her baby Chrysanthemum, everyone wants to change their name to a flower.
Promotes identity, friendships and self-management.
Chu's First Day of School by Neil Gaiman
Chu is nervous about his first day of school. He freezes when he has to introduce himself to his classmates. When he sneezes, everyone laughs, and they learn why the panda is called Chu.
The Colour of Home by Mary Hoffman
When Hassan and his family are forced to move to England because of war, he feels lonely and out of place. He finds his new environment cold and grey compared to his colourful life in Somalia. Hassan feels more settled as he makes new friends and begins to appreciate the colours of his new home.
Promotes a sense of community, creativity and resilience.
Daddy Long Legs by Nadine Brun-Cosme
A worried child questions his father about being picked up from school. His father gives ever creative answers to his son's continuing questions until he gives one that satisfies. Promotes independence, thinkers, fears, and social and emotional learning.
The Day I Became a Bird by Ingrid Chabbert
On his first day of school, a young boy falls in love with Sylvia, who sits in front of him. While she is all he can see, Sylvia only has eyes for birds. The boy comes to school dressed as a bird to get Sylvia's attention. Ignoring the giggles of his classmates, he is thrilled when Sylvia finally sees him.
This translated book promotes discussions on personal interests, self-discovery, self-expression, and social skills.
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
The Day You Begin considers the difficulty of entering a room where you don’t know anyone. We are “an only” until we share our personal stories in these situations. Woodson reminds us that we are all outsiders, and it takes courage to be ourselves.
Read to promote discussions on empathy, identity, growth mindset, open-mindedness, relationship skills, self-awareness and self-esteem.
I Don’t Want to Go to School by Stephanie Blake
Simon reluctantly goes to school after much debate with his parents. Once there, he meets new friends and has so much fun he doesn't want to go home when his mother picks him up.
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
An art teacher encourages Vashti to make a mark, a dot, prompting Vashti to create a wide range of dot paintings. She displays her work at the school art show and inspires a young boy to make his own unique mark.
Edda: A Little Valkyrie's First Day of School by Adam Auerbach
When Edda, the littlest Valkyrie, leaves her home in Asgard to start school, she feels different. She remembers that the Valkyrie are brave and uses her courage to make new friends.
Going to School by Rose Blake
An introduction to school for young children. Follow a group of friends getting to and from school and following their daily routine, including classroom activities, playtime, storytime and the food they eat.
I Got the School Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison
Feel the positivity and enthusiasm as a young girl starts school. She shows empathy to students struggling with first-day nerves and makes new friends. Told in the first person, the girl shows how fun and exciting school can be, especially if you have a positive mindset.
Promotes self-esteem, a growth mindset, self-confidence, enthusiasm, empathy, curiosity, and relationship skills.
How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander
A young boy shares how he reads a book, starting with finding an enjoyable story. He then finds a reading buddy before finding a comfortable reading spot.
Promotes word choice, perseverance, enthusiasm, open-mindedness and communication.
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Brian struggles to make himself stand out. When he befriends a new student from Korea, she helps him grow in confidence and feel less invisible.
Promotes themes of loneliness, kindness and relationship skills.
Islandborn by Junot Diaz
Lola collects memories of the Caribbean island where she was born. She finds out about music, beaches, sweet mangoes, a colourful environment and destructive forces. These tales help Lola feel pride in her heritage.
Reinforces themes of belonging, identity, immigration and inquiry.
The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
A young boy is ready for Kindergarten. He meets new friends and takes part in many new experiences. He enthusiastically tells his parents about his day and how he can’t wait for the next day.
Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi
Lailah and her family have emigrated to a new country, and she has to start at a new school. She is excited to participate in the upcoming Ramadan fast but worries about the reaction of her new classmates.
Lila and the Crow by Gabrielle Grimard
Lila's dark skin, hair and eyes make her stand out at her new school. She is bullied and likened to a crow. She embraces who she is at the autumn festival costume party and comes dressed as a crow.
Promotes self-acceptance, self-awareness, discrimination, resilience, and loneliness.
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Lilly loves school, her teacher, and her purple plastic purse. When her teacher, Mr Slinger, confiscates the purse, she plans her revenge. She draws a mean picture of Mr Slinger but soon feels remorse and sets out to make amends.
Promotes self-management, forgiveness, integrity, relationship skills and reflection.
Lissy's Friends by Grace Lin
At school, Lissy plays by herself, making animal friends from paper. When the wind carries the animals away, they are returned to Lissy by a new friend.
The Lost Homework by Richard O'Neill
Sonny lives in a Traveller community and often helps his neighbours. One weekend he is so busy and loses his homework. He explains to his teacher what happened, and she surprises him by telling him all the subjects he covered while helping those in his community.
Read The Lost Homework to promote discussions on the traveller community, hard work, organised, and thinkers.
Mae's First Day of School by Kate Berube
School is scary, and Mae IS. NOT. GOING! Mae thinks of all the things that could go wrong on her first day of school. When she makes a new friend, they help each other conquer their fears.
Marshall Armstrong is New to Our School by David Mackintosh
Quirky Marshall Armstrong doesn’t fit in at his new school. But he soon shows the other students you don’t have to follow the crowd to be popular.
Promotes individuality, self-awareness, relationship skills and open-mindedness.
My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits
After leaving South Korea, Yoon tries to settle into her new home in America. Her name means ‘Shining wisdom’, and she loves how it looks written in Korean. She doesn’t like how it looks when written in English. She wonders if she should change her name to help her fit in.
Read to start discussions on immigration, identity, loneliness, and self-acceptance.
My Teacher is a Monster! by Peter Brown
Robert’s teacher, Ms Kirby, is a monster. Or that is how he sees her in the classroom. When Robert meets Ms Kirby outside of the school, his opinion of her changes as he realises she is not who he thought she was.
Promotes discussions on school life, perspectives, perceptions and making judgements.
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
When Unhei moves from Korea to America, her classmates can’t pronounce her name. She wants to choose a new name that is easier to pronounce but decides she likes her name just the way it is.
Promotes themes of acceptance, identity, integrity, open-mindedness, principled and tolerance.
Never, Not Ever! by Beatrice Alemagna
While the other animals make their way to school, Pascaline refuses. “Never, not ever!” She shrieks so loudly her parents shrink to the size of peanuts. Pascaline tucks them under her wing and takes them to school. What initially seems like a fun idea turns into a nuisance. She returns to school the next day alone.
This translated book promotes discussions on being independent and self-management.
The New Girl by Nicola Davies
After moving, a girl finds her new classmates hostile. She was different from them, spoke a different language and ate food that smelled different. Feeling lonely, she makes origami flowers, impressing her classmates. She teaches them to create the flowers, and they begin to see the new girl in a new, positive light.
Read The New Girl to discuss acceptance, bullying, making friends, moving home, starting school, point of view, empathy, and inclusion.
Over-Scheduled Andrew by Ashley Spires
Joining his school’s drama club inspires Andrew to join many other groups. As a result, he has to figure out how to balance his life's different aspects.
This book reinforces the themes of balance, time management, self-management and organisation.
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad
On the first day of school, sisters, Asiya and Faizah walk hand in hand. Asiya is wearing a hijab for the first time, representing being strong. Faizah admires her sister's beautiful blue scarf but hears other children making fun of her. The sisters follow their mother's advice about being strong and true to themselves in the face of bullying.
Promotes themes of tolerance, self-esteem, making connections, and different points of view.
Rulers of the Playground by Joseph Kuefler
Everyone follows Johan's rules of the playground, all except Lennox. She wants to become the ruler of the playground. As playground politics and demanding behaviour increase, they lose all their friends. On reflection, they realise they need to change their attitude and devise a plan to apologise.
School's First Day of School by Adam Rex
Frederick Douglass Elementary School feels nervous about opening its doors for the new term. The school finds out it is not the only feeling worried about the first day back at school.
The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts
Observant Sally notices everything, particularly bullying in the playground. Despite being small, she makes a big difference by standing up to the bullies.
Read during back to school to discuss bullying, compassion, principled, respect, tolerance and character traits.
Sumi's First Day of School Ever by Joung Un Kim
Sumi is overwhelmed on her first day of school because she doesn't speak English. A kind teacher helps Sumi discover that school may not be as lonely and scary as she first thought.
Sunday Chutney by Aaron Blabey
Sunday Chutney is always the new girl at school, but she makes the best of the situation with her independent attitude and spirit. Promotes identity, individuality and open-mindedness.
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
Jeremy is mortified when his old shoes fall apart, and the school counsellor provides an unstylish replacement pair. He successfully searches a second-hand shop for a pair of ‘those shoes’, but they are too small. After some reflection, he passes the sneakers to a young child who Jeremy realises needs them more than him.
Read to promote discussions on peer pressure, compassion, empathy, generosity, kindness, sharing, and poverty.
Tomatoes in My Lunchbox by Costantia Manoli
A girl arrives in a new country, and a new home feeling displaced. Everything from her name to the tomato in her lunchbox is misunderstood. She begins to feel at home and more like herself when she makes her first friends.
Read Tomatoes in my Lunchbox to promote discussions on immigration, back to school, differences, identity, making friends and making connections.
We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
Penelope Rex's first day of school doesn't quite go as planned when she eats her classmates. Unsurprisingly, the other children are scared of her. She finally learns a lesson that helps her understand how her classmates feel.
Promotes empathy, self-management and making friends.
I Will Be Fierce by Bea Birdsong
A young girl determined to be fierce puts on her armour (a rainbow shirt). She stands up to dragons (dogs), climbs the Mountain of Knowledge (the library), walks with giants (older children) and, by the end of the day, builds new bridges (making friends).
Promotes courage, overcoming fears and confidence.
Your Name Is a Song by J Thompkins-Bigelow
A young girl leaves school frustrated after a day of her classmates and teacher mispronouncing her name. On their walk home, she tells her mother she doesn’t want to go back, who in turn tells her daughter, “your name is a song.” She returns to school empowered and shares what she has learned.
Promotes themes of identity, respect, individuality, empowerment, love, confidence, and self-esteem.
In Conclusion
The first day of school can feel overwhelming, but picture books are a fantastic way to ease children into the transition. The back to school books in this post will help your students familiarise themselves with the new environment, make friends, and face any possible fears.
What books for the first day of school do read to develop a community in your classroom? Share your experiences in the comments!
Teaching Tolerance has a collection of lessons and activities for the beginning of the school year – Know Your Classmates and Mix Up Learning Plan.
Share this list with other teachers to help prepare their students for their first day.
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