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It’s the eve of the first day of school once again and I’m prepping our bedtime stories. If you’ve been around here any amount of time you know I LOVE picture books. So it’s probably no surprise we have a collection of favorite books to read for the first day of school. My boys are entering first grade and third grade and I read these books every year during back to school season.
The Kissing Hand
This is a classic about a little raccoon named Chester who is going to school for the first time. His mom kisses his hand so he can feel her love all day at school. I always read this the night before the first day of school and “do the kissing hand” before they get on the bus in the morning. Get it here: https://amzn.to/3SGnGcc
The Pigeon HAS to Go To School
This book is HILARIOUS and my boys just love it. It’s my all time favorite Mo Willems story (though he doesn’t have a bad one)! Get it here: https://amzn.to/3PdiREg
Llama Llama Misses Mama
This is always my number one recommendation for preschool and kindergarten kids who are nervous about school. It’s very sweet and my boys love the sing-song rhyme scheme. Get it here: https://amzn.to/3SDGLfd
Curious George’s First Day of School
Both of my boys went through BIG Curious George stages so we were reading this on repeat well before they ever got to school. But it’s still a favorite and they like to laugh at the trouble George gets into. Get it here: https://amzn.to/3zDyA9S
How Do Dinosaurs Go To School?
If you have a dinosaur lover this series is a MUST! They have a great rhyme scheme and are so silly and fun. I like that they model good behavior. Get it here: https://amzn.to/3zDyOhe
Do you have any of these books? Is there one you love for the first day of school I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments!