Best Books for Kindergarteners

Last updated: January 28, 2025

Kindergarten is all about getting kids ready for elementary school. But how do you get your kids ready for kindergarten? These books can help ease first-day-of-school jitters by showing kids the lay of the land: classroom, cubbies, and playground. They'll be reassured as they see kids, animal characters, even monsters having fun, making new friends, and returning home to share all they've learned. And for more stories to get your kid ready for school, check out our Back-to-School Books.

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I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything! Poster Image

BOOK

I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything!

age 2+

Inspiring viral video comes to life in beautiful book.

Alissa Holder , Zulekha Holder-Young Picture Book (2020)

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The King of Kindergarten Poster Image

BOOK

The King of Kindergarten

age 3+

Fun tale pictures a kid's royally good first day of school.

Derrick Barnes Picture Book (2019)

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The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! Poster Image

BOOK

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!

age 3+

Fresh, wacky take on first-day-of school jitters.

Mo Willems Picture Book (2019)

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123 Versus ABC Poster Image

BOOK

123 Versus ABC

age 4+

For number or letter fans, this adds up to a fun read.

Mike Boldt Alphabet (2013)

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All Are Welcome Poster Image

BOOK

All Are Welcome

age 4+

Kind, uplifting story of inclusion and diversity at school.

Alexandra Penfold Picture Book (2018)

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Click, Clack, Quack to School! Poster Image

BOOK

Click, Clack, Quack to School!

age 4+

Animals let loose at recess in fun school-visit tale.

Doreen Cronin Picture Book (2018)

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Curious George's First Day of School Poster Image

BOOK

Curious George's First Day of School

age 4+

George makes school silly and fun.

Margret Rey , H. A. Rey School (2005)

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Llama Llama Loves to Read Poster Image

BOOK

Llama Llama Loves to Read

age 4+

Reading looks exciting and fun in lively classroom story.

Anna Dewdney , Reed Duncan Picture Book (2018)

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Marco Goes to School Poster Image

BOOK

Marco Goes to School

age 4+

Bird's first day at human school is good, silly fun.

Roz Chast Picture Book (2012)

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Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten Poster Image

BOOK

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten

age 4+

Calms first-day-of-kindergarten fears.

Joseph Slate Coming of Age (1996)

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Monkey: Not Ready for Kindergarten Poster Image

BOOK

Monkey: Not Ready for Kindergarten

age 4+

Warm book guides preschoolers through kindergarten nerves.

Marc Brown Picture Book (2015)

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Monsters Love School Poster Image

BOOK

Monsters Love School

age 4+

Monsters lead way in reassuring first-day-of-school romp.

Mike Austin Picture Book (2014)

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Off to Kindergarten Poster Image

BOOK

Off to Kindergarten

age 4+

Playful rhyming story for jittery new students.

Tony Johnston School (2007)

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Otter Goes to School Poster Image

BOOK

Otter Goes to School

age 4+

Otter plays teacher, gains confidence in reassuring tale.

Sam Garton Picture Book (2016)

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Planet Kindergarten Poster Image

BOOK

Planet Kindergarten

age 4+

Space mission a fun metaphor for starting kindergarten.

Sue Ganz-Schmitt Picture Book (2014)

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Princess Cupcake Jones Won't Go to School: Princess Cupcake Jones, Book 2 Poster Image

BOOK

Princess Cupcake Jones Won't Go to School: Princess Cupcake Jones, Book 2

age 4+

Funny look at overcoming first-day-of-school jitters.

Ylleya Fields Picture Book (2014)

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School's First Day of School Poster Image

BOOK

School's First Day of School

age 4+

Start-of-school story with clever twist helps soothe fears.

Adam Rex Picture Book (2016)

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The Class Poster Image

BOOK

The Class

age 4+

Relatable look at different kids getting ready for school.

Boni Ashburn Picture Book (2016)

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The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten Poster Image

BOOK

The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten

age 4+

Kindergarten jitters flipped in cute story of mom at school.

Maureen Fergus , Mike Lowery School (2013)

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The Day You Begin Poster Image

BOOK

The Day You Begin

age 4+

Encouraging advice for kids who feel excluded or less than.

Jacqueline Woodson Picture Book (2018)

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