Kids can get nervous about starting school for the first time or beginning a new year in a classroom with an unknown teacher. Reading these stories about school can help ease the pressure.
‘The Kissing Hand’
Author: Audrey Penn
Illustrators: Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak
This is a great book for students who are just starting school. Chester Raccoon doesn’t want to go to school, so Mrs. Raccoon fills him in on a family secret: the Kissing Hand. She kisses the center of his hand and reminds Chester that any time he feels frightened, scared or lonely, he should just hold his hand to his face and he will feel her love.
‘I Am Too Absolutely Small for School’
Author and Illustrator: Lauren Child
Charlie’s little sister, Lola, is nervous about going to school, so Charlie tells her why going to school is a good idea. (After all, learning to read, write and count is useful, and Lola will meet lots of new friends!) The book encourages interaction when reading to your child and reassures younger children (from the perspective of an older child) about the worries they feel in the beginning of the school year.
‘Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse’
Author and Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Lilly loooooved her teacher, Mr. Slinger; he dressed cool, brought yummy snacks and allowed his students to express themselves creatively. But when Lilly brings her purple plastic purse to school, she interrupts Mr. Slinger’s classes until he confiscates the purse. This saucy story illustrates how kids can be sorry and forgive and shows readers that listening, being considerate of others and being patient are important in the classroom.
‘The Teacher From the Black Lagoon’
Author: Mike Thaler
Illustrator: Jared lee
All kids think their teachers are monsters – until they meet them, that is. This book’s narrator is a boy who’s afraid of his teacher, Mrs. Green. She’s supposedly a slithery monster with long claws who incinerates students with her breath and gives MATH homework on the first day! When the boy wakes up from his nightmare, he is so glad to meet the real Mrs. Green that he forgets to be afraid of school, showing us that many of the things we fear most are nowhere near as bad as we imagine them to be.
‘Miss Nelson Is Missing!’
Author: Harry G. Allard Jr. Illustrator: James Marshall
What happens when a whole class is unruly? Dear Miss Nelson has one such class: spitballs in the ceiling, disruptive story time and paper planes whizzing through the air. After one too many days of bad behavior, Miss Nelson disappears, and witchy sub Miss Viola Swamp takes over the class! First published in 1977, “Miss Nelson Is Missing!” shows kids the value of what they have with much fun and good humor. A great read.
