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August, to me, marks the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year! I’ve always loved back to school time because of the school supplies on sale and I love all things school related! My educational experience growing up consisted of learning in public school, private school, and homeschool settings.
I love learning and helping others learn excites me which is why the books in our August book basket are centered around school. Click the link below to download a full list of the titles as well as a printable check list to bring along on your next library visit.
1. A Letter From Your Teacher on the First Day of School
This darling book is something teachers can read to their students on the first day of school. It’s a letter from a teacher to her students encouraging them for the school year ahead.
2. Back to School
We checked out this title as an ebook in Hoopla and I chose it because my oldest daughter is excited about geography. This book details different things kids around the world might learn and do while at school. It includes photos of students and classrooms around the world making it a fun read.
3. Brown Bear, Brown Bear
This book is a classic story that is likely to be found in many kindergarten classrooms. Children learn the names and colors of animals and the book concludes with a teacher recalling all the animals listed in the book.
4. Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom
This classic is perfect for helping little ones learn the alphabet as they follow the letters up a coconut tree. My kids ask for this book on repeat and I almost have it memorized.
5. Curious George’s First Day of School
This fun tale follows George as he starts school. George gets into some mischief while mixing paint and makes it right with the help of his new classmates.
6. Daddy’s Back to School Shopping Adventure
This is a silly and sweet tale about a family who goes back to school shopping and tries desperately to stick to their supply list. The dad gets distracted and finds a lunchbox like the one he had as a kid. The kids remind him that they need to stick to the list but end up buying it for him as a surprise.
7. How Do Dinosaurs Go to School?
Told in rhyme, this story helps children understand appropriate classroom behavior. It’s sweet and silly and sure to be a hit with little ones preparing to attend school for the first time and may even be a helpful reminder for returning students.
7. If You Take A Mouse to School
This story follows the boy and mouse from the classic tale If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. In this story, the mouse spends a day at school enjoying various educational experiences.
8. It’s Back to School We Go
This book profiles fictional students around the world as they start their new school year. It’s a fun read for learning about how children around the world are educated.
9. I Spy School Days
I loved the I Spy books as a kid and was particularly fond of this one that my dad gifted to me. The pages are filled with school related scenes with various objects for children to find.
10. Miss Nelson is Missing
I greatly enjoyed James Marshall’s books when I was a kid and this one is no exception! This is a hilarious story about a teacher whose class is out of control. She disappears for some time and the students are left with a mean substitute named Viola Swamp.
In the end, Miss Nelson returns and readers learn that she never actually left as she was disguised as Miss Swamp to teach her students to appreciate her. We’ve enjoyed all the books in this series and are excited to own Miss Nelson is Missing both in hard copy and Yoto card format.
11. Owen
Owen is a sweet story about a mouse who’s attached to his favorite yellow blanket. I purchased this book because my son’s name is Owen and he also happens to have a deep attachment to his yellow blanket. In this story, Owen’s parents and influenced by their neighbor who believes that Owen needs to let go of his blanket as he prepares for school. Owen finds unique ways to protect his blanket and in the end, he and his parents compromise as Owen starts school.
12. S is for School
This book contains a letter of the alphabet on each page along with a school related item that corresponds with that letter. It’s a fun read for helping younger students learn the alphabet.
13. School Buses
In this book, children learn all about what school buses are and the functions they serve during the school year. Photographs of school buses are included on every page making this a hit, especially for readers who enjoy learning about vehicles.
14. School is Cool
We love Sabrina Moyle and Eunice Moyle’s books both for the artwork and the stories. We own their book My Mom is Magical and enjoyed this one about animals starting a new school year. It’s told in rhyming format and is a fun read for August.
15. Starting School
Starting School details the activities and emotions experienced during the first semester at school. This book’s authors were British and some of the terminology reflects that. I love that this book includes the students praying at school and putting on a nativity performance at the end of the semester.
16. Teach Us, Amelia Bedelia
In this story, Amelia Bedelia finds herself accidentally filling in as a substitute teacher. Her silly antics make for an entertaining school day for the students who enjoy her style so much that they ask her to return.
16. The Berenstain Bears Go to School
As Brother Bear gets ready for a new school year to start, Sister Bear anxiously anticipates kindergarten. She is nervous at first but finds herself enjoying school after all.
17. The Crayons Go Back to School
In this silly story, crayons return from summer break and prepare for the first day of school.
20. The Night Before Kindergarten
My girls love the The Night Before books and I selected this one for our August book basket because my five year old is starting kindergarten this year. Although we homeschool, I know she’ll enjoy this book and I’m hoping it will increase her excitement for kindergarten.
21. The Pigeon Has to Go to School
In this silly story, a pigeon is nervous about his first day of school. He has so many questions and things he wonders about school that he eventually concludes he must go to school to receive the answers to his questions. This story is silly and a helpful read for children who are feeling nervous about attending school for the first time.
22. The Smart Cookie
This sweet story is about a cookie who struggles in school due to her own perceived lack of intelligence. When her teacher gives an assignment with freedom for creativity, she realizes that she is smart after all and that intelligence can be displayed in more than one way.
I enjoyed this story and love the lesson it teaches. It is highly relatable to children and adults alike and I love how it encourages readers to consider the ways in which they are gifted.
23. This Is A School
This book is a perfect August read as it helps children learn that a school is a community and each member has a valuable part to play.
24. This Is My Home, This Is My School
This is a sweet picture book that highlights some of the lovely elements of home school like how your home is also your school and how any adventure can turn into a field trip. This book is another one we borrowed as an ebook on Hoopla.
25. This School Year Will Be The Best
This story finds students telling their teacher what they wish for the new school year. The wishes are pretty silly but the teacher ends it on a sweet note as she expresses her desire to get to know each student.
