End of Year Picture Books
Overview: Picture books about transitions help children confidently navigate changes, particularly at the end of the school year. Read on for more.
Book Takeaways
Emotion Recognition: Picture books help children recognise their own feelings and see ways to deal with change they may be facing.
Resilience: Characters demonstrate ways to overcome challenges.
Empathy: Diverse perspectives in books about transitions encourage understanding.
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Why Read Picture Books About Handling Transitions?
Transitions can be both exciting and daunting, especially for children. As the school year draws to a close, end of year books for kids can offer comfort, helping children confidently navigate changes ahead of them.
Children’s books about transitions illustrate experiences and situations kids may face. By reading stories about adapting to change, children can:
- Recognise Emotions: Picture books help children identify and validate their own feelings, making them less overwhelming.
- Build Resilience: Characters in stories about change face diverse challenges and show ways to overcome them with adaptability.
- Develop Empathy: Picture books show the world through different perspectives, helping develop understanding and compassion toward how others feel about transitions.
How Book Characters Cope with Transitions
The transitions characters face could include moving to a new school or saying goodbye to a friend.
- Adaptability: Characters show how adjusting to new circumstances can lead to personal growth.
- Problem-Solving: Through creative solutions, characters find ways to deal with transitions and change with resilience and positivity.
- Support Networks: Stories show how support from friends and family in navigating change helps them through challenges.
End of the Year Picture Books
After the Fall by Dan Santat
A fresh retelling of the classic Humpty Dumpty story told from the egg’s perspective. Humpty Dumpty bravely faces his fear of heights, teaching us about courage, overcoming adversity, and the importance of self-esteem.
After the Fall explores perspective, a growth mindset, embracing fears, adaptability, and resilience.
Another by Christian Robinson
A girl steps into a world that mirrors her own but with its distinct twists. She finds children of various ethnicities, offering a diverse yet familiar experience.
Another explores open-mindedness, interpretation, adaptability, and perspectives while navigating different and unfamiliar scenarios.
Bad Bye, Good Bye by Deborah Underwood
A young whale explores the ocean and makes new friends on his first day alone. As he encounters different marine creatures, he learns about the wonders and challenges of the sea.
Breathe explores independence, discovery, and family bonds.
The Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague
See how our personal circles grow as we build relationships, starting small and expanding to include family, friends, and community.
The Circles All Around Us explores inclusivity, relationship skills, and embracing new connections, even when challenging.
Clare's Goodbye by Libby Gleeson
Three siblings move from their family home and find their own way to say goodbye. Clare, the youngest, takes time to reflect and cherish her memories.
Clare’s Goodbye explores change, memory, emotional resilience, leaving behind a beloved place and finding closure.
The End Is Just the Beginning by Mike Bender
Understanding that endings are just new beginnings helps children navigate transitions with optimism and resilience, illustrating how new opportunities arise from change.
The End Is Just the Beginning explores transition, hope, and embracing new opportunities that come from change.
Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina
Evelyn and Daniela must part ways as Evelyn’s family moves to a new home. Their last day is full of play and laughter in their favourite places, reminding them that distance doesn’t mean the end of friendships.
Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away explores memories, resilience amidst change, adapting to new circumstances, and transitioning to a new home.
Everything Changes: And That's OK by Carol Dodd
Change is a natural and positive part of life. Readers are encouraged to appreciate change rather than fear it through examples like a seed growing into a tree and family members aging.
Everything Changes explores adapting to and accepting change.
Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! by Cori Doerrfeld
Two best friends navigate goodbyes and hellos, from seasonal changes to moving away, showing how change brings growth opportunities and new experiences.
Goodbye, Friend! Hello, Friend! explores friendship, transitions, change, and the cycle of endings and beginnings.
Goodbye, School by Tonya Lippert
Franny prepares to say goodbye to her beloved school as she transitions to a new one. She reflects on and cherishes the memories and experiences she made.
Goodbye, School explores transition, nostalgia, personal growth, memories and adapting to change.
Growing Season by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
El and Jo, best friends and the smallest in their class, experience change as Jo begins to grow while El feels left behind. When El is given a tiny, flowerless aster to care for, she learns that growth takes time.
Growing Season explores personal growth, friendship, patience, and self-acceptance.
Half a World Away by Libby Gleeson
Amy and Louis live next door to each other but are separated when Amy’s family moves to the other side of the world. Despite the distance, they find creative ways to maintain their friendship and stay connected.
Half a World Away explores the strength of friendship, handling separation, and finding creative ways to stay connected.
Home Is a Window by Stephanie Ledyard
Home is a Window takes students on a family’s journey from their old, beloved home to their new one, finding comfort and familiarity by taking the things they love with them.
The book illustrates that home is not just a physical place but also a state of mind shaped by love, memories, and shared experiences.
I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
A series of wishes for curiosity, wonder, friendship, and strength encourage readers to embrace the joys and challenges of life with an open mind.
I Wish You More explores hope, encouragement, and appreciating everyday moments.
In-Between Places by Alex Killian
It takes confidence to embrace uncertainty, an “in-between” place, and trust that we will land where we are meant to be.
In-Between Places explores change, uncertainty, transition, self-doubt, making choices, reflecting on challenges, and opportunities that come with being in uncertain situations.
The Kiosk by Anete Melece
Olga is stuck in her kiosk, physically and metaphorically. During the day, she sells to customers. At night, she dreams of living someplace exciting. An accident causes Olga and her kiosk to float to a sunset and a new business.
The Kiosk, translated from Latvian, sparks discussions about overcoming fears, following our dreams, and embracing change.
The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright
Kevin, a Koala, likes his steady, unchanging life. But when a woodpecker disrupts his routine, Kevin must confront his fear of change and step into a new chapter of his life.
The Koala Who Could encourages discussions about courage, risk-taking, overcoming fears of the unknown, perseverance and adaptability.
Last Day Blues by Julie Danneberg
Mrs. Hartwell’s students worry that she will miss them over the summer, so they plan a surprise to cheer her up. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hartwell and her fellow teachers have their own plans for summer fun.
Last Day Blues explores the last day of school, appreciation, transition, and the anticipation of change.
The Last Day of School by Louise Borden
As the school year ends, Mrs. Mallory’s class prepares to say goodbye with mixed emotions. Matthew Perez plans the perfect farewell gift for his teacher.
The Last Day of School explores gratitude, appreciation, transition, and the excitement of new beginnings.
A Letter From Your Teacher: On the Last Day of School by Shannon Olsen
This book explores the emotional bond between teachers and their students over a school year. Written as a letter from the teacher’s perspective, it focuses on encouragement, pride, and hopeful anticipation for the students’ futures.
A Letter From Your Teacher explores educational journeys, meaningful teacher-student relationships, personal growth, and the mixed emotions of transitions.
A Letter to My Teacher by Deborah Hopkinson
A former student writes a letter to her teacher and reflects on her school days and second-grade teacher. She highlights the patience, encouragement, and dedication of this teacher who made a lasting difference in her life.
A Letter to My Teacher explores appreciation, gratitude, and the lasting effects of good teaching and teachers.
Little Tree by Loren Long
Unlike the other trees around him, Little Tree holds onto his leaves despite the changing seasons. As he watches them grow tall and strong, he realizes he must let go and embrace change.
Little Tree explores change, growth, and the courage to let go.
Lizzie and the Last Day of School by Trinka Hakes Noble
Lizzie loves school and is sad when the year ends. Her disappointment is replaced with anticipation as she discovers that change can bring new adventures.
Lizzie and the Last Day of School explores disappointment, anticipation, enthusiasm for learning, change, and embracing new opportunities.
Look How Much I've Grown in KINDergarten by Vera Ahiyya
Ms. Perry’s class encourages students to set goals and helps them realize that personal growth can take many forms.
Look How Much I’ve Grown in KINDergarten explores self-improvement, confidence, and setting personal goals.
Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol
Inspired by Gran’s idea of making jam, Freda saves her favorite things, which prevents her from enjoying them. Some things are best kept as memories.
Memory Jars explores impermanence, memories, savoring the present, and the balance between holding on and letting go.
Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten
A kindergarten class prepares to bid farewell to their school year. The children bring gifts, tidy up, sign a memory book, and receive goodbye gifts from Miss Bindergarten.
Miss Bindergarten Celebrates the Last Day of Kindergarten explores transition, celebrations, gratitude, cherishing memories, and looking forward to new beginnings.
Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3 by Gretchen Brandenburg McLellan
As the school year ends, Mrs. McBee’s departure from Mayflower Elementary prompts her students to find a special way to say goodbye.
Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3 explores farewells, compromise, teamwork, and honoring connections.
Oh, The Places You'll Go! by Dr Seuss
This book illustrates life’s ups and downs and encourages readers to strive toward their dreams, fostering a sense of resilience and determination.
Oh, The Places You’ll Go! explores self-expression, self-discovery, a positive attitude, curiosity, goal-setting and pursuing dreams.
Our School is a Family by Shannon Olsen
Teachers create a classroom community where students feel safe, included, and loved. Classrooms are like a second home where children learn to be themselves, make mistakes, and support one another.
Our School is a Family explores community, kindness, belonging, and supportive people in schools.
Paper Planes by Jim Helmore
Best friends, Mia and Ben, love making paper planes and dream of one flying across a lake. When Ben’s family moves away, Mia finds a way to keep their bond strong despite the distance.
Paper Planes explores moving home, determination, friendship, change, and creative problem-solving.
See You Later Alligator by Sally Hopgood
A tortoise is ready for an adventure but insists on saying goodbye to each animal friend with rhyming farewells. His prolonged goodbyes suggest he might be stalling his departure.
See You Later Alligator explores farewells, anticipation, and new adventures.
Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar
Struggling to adjust to her new home, a girl is comforted by an old Parsi story about placing sugar in milk. She understands that, like sugar in milk, she can sweeten her new country.
Sugar in Milk explores immigration challenges, symbolism, acceptance, storytelling, loneliness, adapting to new environments, and resilience.
A Teacher Like You by Frank Murphy
Teachers impact their students’ lives, guiding learning and development and helping them discover new skills, understand diverse perspectives, and grow with kindness and patience.
A Teacher Like You explores gratitude, the power of education, and teachers’ diverse roles in students’ lives.
Ten Beautiful Things by Molly Griffin
During a long car ride to her new home, Lily and her grandmother search for ten beautiful things. Initially, she struggles but then discovers it in unexpected places.
Ten Beautiful Things explores moving home, perception, beauty in everyday life, and the strength of family bonds.
Things That Go Away by Beatrice Alemagna
Explore the transient nature of things. While many things change or disappear, some things, like love, persist, reassuring readers about the constancy of important things in life.
Things That Go Away explores impermanence, constancy, and acceptance of change.
Tilda Tries Again by Tom Percival
Everything seems so hard when Tilda’s life is turned upside down. She sees a ladybird stuck on its back and keeps trying until it gets back on its feet. Tilda takes inspiration and adapts to the changes in her life.
Tilda Tries Again explores problem-solving, perseverance, self-belief, determination, and overcoming adversity.
What the Road Said by Cleo Wade
A road answers a child’s questions about making choices and the fear of making the wrong ones. The road reassures the child, “Sometimes we go the wrong way on our way to the right way.”
What the Road Said explores persistence, the fear of making mistakes, a growth mindset, resilience, and adapting to change.
You Will Do Great Things by Amerie
A young boy’s imagination takes flight as he explores family photos, connecting with his heritage and ancestors. He gains the strength and courage to make a difference.
You Will Do Great Things explores imagination, cultural heritage, and empowerment.
Questions To Use With Books About Transitions
- How did the character feel about the change they faced?
- What challenges did they face, and how did they overcome them?
- Have you experienced something similar to the character[s]?
- How did the character’s friends or family help them?
- What would you have done differently in their shoes?
- How do you think the character felt at the end of the story?
- What did the character learn from their experience?
- How did the illustrations help you understand the character’s emotions?
- How do [can] you prepare for changes in your life?
- How does the story make you feel about your own upcoming change?
In Summary
As the school year comes to a close, picture books about transitions offer a comforting and practical resource for children, parents, and teachers alike. They open discussions about change, emotions, and growth, helping children approach transitions with confidence and understanding.
How do you support children going through change? Do you have any favorite picture books about transitions for the end of the school year? Share your thoughts in the comments!
