Top 20 Back to School Picture Books
Are you looking for a fun story to share with your students at the start of the school year? I recently asked my school librarian colleagues to name their favorite back to school picture books to read aloud, and, boy, did they answer! Check out the top 20 back to school picture books, as recommended by experienced school librarians.
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School by Mo Willems (2019): Our favorite worried pigeon is heading off to school for the first time, and the nerves are piling up. He’s anxious about tackling math problems, mastering his ABCs, lugging around a heavy backpack, and — maybe most of all — whether the teacher and his fellow feathered classmates will actually like him. These PDF activity pages from the publisher include a License to Read for your students.
Butterflies on the First Day of School
Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro (2019): Rosie has been counting down to kindergarten for weeks, with her pencils sharpened, backpack packed, and ready to go. But the night before the big day, her stomach starts acting up. Her mom explains it’s just a case of the butterflies, and they’ll flutter away soon enough. Sure enough, the next morning, when Rosie greets a new friend on the bus, an actual butterfly flutters right out of her mouth! Throughout the day, more butterflies escape as her nerves ease, and Rosie even helps a shy classmate release a few butterflies of her own.
Turkey Goes to School
Turkey Goes to School by Wendi Silvano (2021): Part of the Turkey Trouble series, Turkey is eager and ready for the approaching school year, Turkey is eager and ready. He and his barnyard buddies have been diligently practicing their reading, writing, and math right along with everyone else. But when the school bus finally arrives, they’re turned away — turns out animals aren’t welcome in the classroom. Pig thinks that’s downright ridiculous, and Turkey couldn’t agree more. Determined to prove that he and his farmyard friends belong, Turkey hatches a plan. Between a gobble here, a gobble there, and some clever disguises, he just might pull it off.
The Book of Rules
The Book of Rules by Brian Gehrlein (2021): Follow the rules, or Dennis the monster might just gobble you up! This playful read walks kids through a set of must-follow instructions: sitting crisscross-applesauce on the floor, making a silly fish face, and getting ready to listen mindfully, all in the name of staying safely off Dennis’s menu.
If I Built a School
If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen (2019): Jack’s imagination is back in session! This time, he’s reimagining school from the ground up, dreaming up the ultimate learning environment for himself and his classmates. Picture hover desks, textbooks that pop up in 3D, a wind tunnel for skydiving practice, a gym with a trampoline basketball court, library books that come alive, field trips all the way to Mars, and so much more. This book does have a soundscape and activity link on Novel Effect. You could also use Legos to have students build their own dream school.
Crunch the Shy Dinosaur
Crunch the Shy Dinosaur by Cirocco Dunlap (2018): Crunch is a shy, sweet brontosaurus tucked away in the shrubbery, and he’d love to play, if your students can coax him out. This one is made for read-aloud: kids will be leaning forward, whispering encouragement, and giggling at Crunch’s silly hat and dance moves before you’ve reached the last page. Underneath the fun, it’s a quiet lesson in how to befriend someone new or a little different: respecting personal space, being patient, showing interest in what the other person loves.
The Book with No Pictures
The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak (2014): The rule of this book is simple: whoever reads it aloud has to say every single word on the page, no matter what. And that’s where the fun begins, because the pages are stuffed with nonsense words, ridiculous confessions, and silly declarations that leave the reader looking foolish and the kids absolutely howling.
There are no pictures, and that’s the point. Novak lets the typography do the work, with words that swell, shrink, and burst into color across wide-open white space, so the text itself becomes the show. It’s a brilliant way to teach students that the words on a page have power, and a guaranteed hit for any read-aloud where you need to win over a squirmy crowd fast.
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins (2018): It’s Penelope Rex’s first day of school, and she’s thrilled to meet her new classmates. There’s just one problem: they’re children, she’s a T. rex, and they look delicious. Making friends is tricky when you keep eating them. It takes a nip from the class goldfish for Penelope to finally see things from the other side and realize how it feels to be someone’s snack. This one earns big laughs at read-aloud time, but it’s doing quiet work too, opening up easy conversations about empathy, first-day jitters, and what it means to be a good friend. Perfect for kindergarten and first-grade visits in the first weeks of school
Jabari Tries
Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall (2020): Jabari has a plan: build a machine that flies clear across the backyard. And he’s going to do it all by himself, thank you very much. Except the first try crashes. And the next one. Frustration sets in fast, but with a well-timed pep talk from Dad and a surprisingly helpful little sister in fairy wings, Jabari learns that asking for help isn’t giving up, and that a good idea sometimes needs a few crashes before it gets to WHOOSH. It gently makes the case that flexibility and teamwork are part of what makes an inventor great, a great way back to school picture book for growth mindset.
The Smart Cookie
The Smart Cookie by Jory John (2021): This little cookie has never felt like a smart cookie. Surrounded by clever cupcakes and brilliant rolls at the bakery, she’s convinced she just doesn’t measure up, no matter how hard she studies. But when a creative project lets her shine in her own way, she starts to discover that being smart isn’t only about perfect scores and quick answers. Part of the Food Group series that already flies off your shelves, this one is a gift for the kids who quietly compare themselves to the “smart” ones in class. It opens up an easy back to school conversation about different kinds of intelligence and where confidence really comes from, and the puns will keep the whole room giggling along the way.
The Library Doors
The Library Doors by Toni Buzzeo (2008): Sung to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus,” this picture book practically teaches itself. It’s a lively, sing-along introduction to what happens in a library, and the library in the story looks a whole lot like yours: bustling with kids all day, built around them, and a place they actually want to be.
The verses cover the essentials in the most memorable way possible, from checking books in and out to using quiet voices and settling in for a story. A few verses also open the door to bigger lessons, like searching by subject, author, or title, if you want to build on them later. Ideal for those first-week orientation visits with your youngest patrons and a guaranteed earworm they’ll be humming on the way back to class. You can grab a teaching guide and reader’s theatre script here on the author’s website.
Pete the Cat: Rockin’ in my School Shoes
Pete the Cat: Rockin’ in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin (2011): Pete the Cat is rocking his brand-new school shoes, and he’s ready to explore. Follow him through the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and everywhere in between as he takes on a full school day the way only Pete can: grooving, singing, and completely unbothered by whatever comes his way. Because, as Pete would say, it’s all good.
This is a back-to-school favorite for a reason. It’s a perfect fit for kindergarten library visits in those first weeks, when everything is new and a little overwhelming, and Pete’s easygoing attitude models exactly the calm we’re hoping to see. Bonus points if you sing it. Your students will join in by the second verse.
The Secret Life of Library Books
The Secret Life of Library Books by Anne J. Brown (2018): When Mrs. Davis returns to the Robinson Elementary library after summer break, she finds a mysterious stack of letters on her desk, and they’re not from students. They’re from the books. Each one spills a funny, imaginative secret about what really goes on in the library after hours, and along the way, the books make a pretty convincing case for gentle hands, dry places, and coming home on time.
This is a natural pick for your first library visits of the year. It covers book care and library expectations without a single lecture, and it’s a fun springboard for a follow-up activity: have your students write their own letter from a book on the shelf.
Overdue: The Misadventure of Bob the Book
Overdue: The Misadventure of Bob the Book by Gloria Koster (2024): Meet Bob, the most-loved book in the Wisdom Hill Elementary library. Bob is used to being adored, until Sebastian checks him out and promptly forgets he exists. Left behind and lonely, Bob wonders if he’ll ever be read again. Told entirely from the book’s point of view, it’s a gently dramatic little story with a big heart, and kids feel every bit of Bob’s worry.
Written by a fellow librarian, this one hits all the notes we care about: returning books on time, treating them kindly, and remembering that a book on your nightstand is waiting for you. It’s a lovely opener for a book-care lesson or a quiet way to nudge those overdue reminders along. Pair it with a “what would your favorite book say?” writing prompt and watch the empathy roll in. You can grab coloring pages here.
The Library Fish
The Library Fish by Alyssa Satin Capucilli (2022): When Mr. Hughes finds a lone fish in the library and names her Library Fish, she knows she’s exactly where she belongs. She makes friends, keeps an eye on the returns, rides along on the bookmobile, and lives for story time, when she can travel the world (and beyond) without ever leaving her bowl. Then a snow day empties the library, and for the first time, Library Fish has to decide whether she’s brave enough to venture out and explore the place she loves on her own.
This is a warm, gentle celebration of everything a library can be, and a lovely fit for your youngest visitors. It quietly reinforces how books carry us to new places, and Library Fish’s big, brave leap opens the door to a conversation about trying something new.
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell (2001): Molly Lou Melon is tiny, clumsy, buck-toothed, and blessed with a voice that could startle a bullfrog. None of that bothers her one bit. Her grandma taught her to walk proud, smile big, and sing loud, and Molly Lou has taken that advice all the way to heart. So when she lands at a new school and the class bully sets his sights on her the very first day, she meets every jab with confidence, cleverness, and a whole lot of charm.
This one has been a library staple for years, and for good reason. It’s a bully story where the answer isn’t fighting back but standing tall, and kids love watching Molly Lou turn every “flaw” into a superpower.
The Book That Jake Borrowed
The Book that Jake Borrowed by Susan Holt Kralovansky (2018): It starts with a little jelly on a library book. Then a rat wanders by for a lick. Then a cat catches the rat, a dog chases the cat, and poor Jake’s borrowed book is caught in the middle of the whole mess. Built on the familiar cumulative rhythm of “There Was an Old Lady,” this one piles up the trouble verse by verse, with repeating lines and sound effects that have kids chiming in long before the ending.
It’s also a sneaky little book-care lesson. Your students will be too busy giggling at the chain reaction to notice they’re learning exactly why food and library books should keep their distance. A fun, low-pressure way to set expectations early in the year, and a great follow-up to any “sticky situations” you’ve already found on your returns cart. You can download bookmarks, a reader’s theatre script and lesson plan here on the author’s website.
You’re Finally Here
You’re Finally Here by Melanie Watt (2011): If you want a back-to-school read-aloud that gets a laugh on the very first page, this is your bunny. A wildly expressive rabbit breaks the fourth wall to celebrate that you, the reader, have finally shown up, then can’t resist telling you exactly how long, boring, and downright insulting the wait was, even producing a contract to make sure you’ll never leave again. The tables turn when his phone rings and he ignores you, which opens the door to great conversations about patience, manners, and how it feels to be kept waiting.
It’s a natural fit for PreK–2 library orientation, and with an end-of-year sequel You’re On Your Way! now out, it can bookend your whole year.
Where Are My Books?
Where Are My Books? by Debbie Ridpath Ohi (2015): Spencer loves his books so much that he reads one every night and keeps his shelf just so, which is why he’s horrified to find his favorite title missing one morning with only a tulip in its place. As more books vanish (and a nut and other odd clues appear), Spencer suspects his family, gets into trouble for blaming his little sister, and finally sets a trap that uncovers a band of book-loving squirrels. His solution is the part that will make every librarian’s heart swell: he starts a lending library so everyone can enjoy his books. Ages 4–8 will chime in on the repeated “WHERE IS MY BOOK?” refrain, and it doubles as a gentle intro to how libraries work and why we treat shared books with care.
The author’s website is a goldmine, with a downloadable teacher’s guide, how-to-draw Spencer and squirrel sheets, an “I Love My Library” poster, bookmarks, a reading-recommendation sheet, and four coloring pages.
I hope you found a new favorite back to school picture book!
I’d love to share this fun library scavenger hunt to start your school year with movement and exploration. Grab it for free here!
Happy reading!
