Back to School Books

It's that magical time of year when the kiddos go back to school. For some of our younger friends, it may be the first time away from home. We'd like to share books to help relieve anxiety and get your youngsters pumped to go to school.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Tanglewood Press, 2007.

Image from Amazon

When Chester Raccoon is nervous about starting school and being away from his mom, she fills him in on a family secret: the kissing hand. When she kisses Chester's hand, she assures him that she will be with him all day long, and soon school will be just as comfortable as home. This story is so sweet and could easily become a first day family reading tradition.


The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster. Hyperion, 2005.

Image from www.readingkingdom.com

This book would be perfect for children who spend the day with grandparents or at day care. When a little girl is dropped off at Nanna and Poppy's house, while her parents are at work, she doesn't mind one bit! There are many fun things to do with Nanna and Poppy, but her favorite thing is to look through the 'Hello, Goodbye Window'. The window seems to be a magic portal that shows what's going to happen next, like the pizza delivery guy bringing dinner. This Caldecott book shares a sweet, simple story of a child dealing positively with separation.

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes. Greenwillow Books, 2010.

Image from Amazon.

Wemberly is a big worrier. Little questions plague her and leave her feeling anxious, like if she will spill grape juice on her stuffed animal. Going to school for the first time is no different for Wemberly, in fact she is worried about this more than anything else. What if no one else brings a doll? What if no one has spots? What if the teacher is mean? Lucky for Wemberly, her very nice teacher introduces her to a new friend (who happens to have a doll with her) and she stops worrying quite so much.
 
Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah. Disney-Hyperion, 2010.

Image from Amazon.

These days we hear a lot about bullying and fighting in schools. This sweet picture book about two best friends shows exactly how such misunderstandings can happen. In this story, the sandwiches the girls bring for lunch end up causing so much turmoil they stop sitting together at lunch and playing together after school. They think the other's lunch is so gross, their dispute ends up causing a school-wide food fight! Being respectful of other cultures and their foods helps bring these two friends back together at the end.

If you are looking for a memento to give your child before he or she begins school, look no further. No Time For Flash Cards shares a simple photo flipbook that your child can easily tuck into a backpack or desk. When they are worried, they can flip through and see pictures of you together, or read a special message just for them.


Get out your cookie cutters and cupcake liners! We are huge fans of the adorable bento boxed lunch for the kiddos. There are so many amazing ideas out there, but we've narrowed it down to a few to get you started: Lunchbots shares a picture gallery with tons of inspiration; Parenting shares 21 ideas for those of you that have made one too many pbj; Keeley McGuire shares allergy friendly non-sandwich ideas;  Stuffed Suitcase shares 40 weeks of nut-free lunches; and finally more bento goodness at Bento Lunch. 

We hope you have a great start to this school year!