2025 School-Themed Picture Books children’s book recommendations are by Angela Ferraris, The Retired School Librarian.
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Big Kids
by K. L. Going (Author), Reggie Brown (Illustrator)
Summary: A young boy describes his first day of school, highlighting all the activities the older kids participate in. It’s Buddy Day, when he gets paired with an older student. His new friend takes him on a tour of the school, helping to ease his fears of the older students.
Comments: I love how the perspective of the big kids and little kids is complemented by the illustrations, which show the physical contrasts.
This would be the perfect read-aloud for the start of the school year, just before introducing the buddy system. We paired kindergartners with fifth graders.
Rating: 4.5/5 🟩🟩🟩🟩1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Fish Don’t Go to School
by Deb Pilutti (Author)
Summary: Henry wears his fish costume to school because it makes him feel safe and less anxious. Although everyone stared at him, as the day went on, Henry slowly felt more comfortable. Will he continue to wear his costume every day?
Comments: I think this would be a good book to read aloud to help those students who feel insecure at the beginning of the school year.
I remember several students dressing in Halloween costumes or like ballerinas at the beginning of the school year, and gradually shedding their fears as they got to know everyone in the classroom and the daily routine.
The illustrations were created with gouache and wax pastels on watercolor paper with a little digital painting.
Rating: 4/5 🟩🟩🟩🟩
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Maybe Just Ask Me!
by Katie Mazeika (Author, Illustrator)
Summary: Mazie goes to school wearing her favorite head scarf and a pretty eye patch. Throughout the day, she hears her classmates speculating about the reasons behind her accessories. After listening to their whispers all day, she decides to confront them and share her story.
Comments: This text is based on the author’s personal story. She includes it at the back of the book, along with a list of ways to support individuals with disabilities.
The illustrations were created digitally.
Rating: 4/5 🟩🟩🟩🟩
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Recess
by Lane Smith (Author)
Summary: Everyone needs a break from learning, and that is when RECESS comes in. What happens when recess is already over but we still need a break?
Comments: This is a fun interactive book featuring a call-and-response format that will have students giggling and full of energy. It makes an excellent read-aloud option for a “recess” moment when the day feels dull and a mental break is needed.
I loved how the book alternates between boring gray and then a bright color for the recess activity.
The illustrations were created with oil paints, colored pencils, cold wax, gesso, sandpaper, and digital scribbling on 24″ x24″ wood panels.
Lane Smith never disappoints me with his books. Another masterpiece!
Rating: 5/5 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Sammy and Sunny’s First Day of School
by Nina LaCour (Author), Elizabeth Lilly (Illustrator)
Summary: Sammy and her dog, Sunny, both attend their first day of school. Sammy is dropped off at her kindergarten classroom, while Sunny goes to puppy school.
Readers see how their days parallel each other. They were both a bit nervous, but then learned the routine and made friends.
Comments: The illustrations were created with pen and ink and painted with watercolor.
Rating: 4/5 🟩🟩🟩🟩
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Sunnyside School: A Community Helpers Book
by Lindsay Ward
Summary: Ali, Matty, and Mila are new to Sunnyside School. Readers walk along with the students and learn about their classrooms, the school building, and all about the volunteers and staff members.
Comments: This book provides excellent details in both the text and the illustrations. It features traditional narrative, speech bubbles, and informative text boxes. As the day progresses, the book poses questions and includes a search-and-find activity at the end. This is a fantastic community helper book and would be a valuable addition to any library or classroom.
Rating: 4.5/5 🟩🟩🟩🟩1/2
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
Trusty Bus
by Elizabeth Weiss Verdick (Author), Jeff Harter (Illustrator)
Summary: Driver Dee and Trusty, a school bus, get ready to go on their route to pick up the students for the first day of school, being mindful of safety as they go around town.
Comments: This is a darling little book for toddlers and preschoolers. The rhyming text and onomatopoeias make the book interesting and fun.
The illustrations were created digitally.
Rating: 4/5 🟩🟩🟩🟩
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
You Can Sit With Me
by Rachel Tawil Kenyon (Author), Tatiana Kamshilina (Illustrator)
Summary: A young child is new to the school and unsure of the routine. A girl kindly invites the newbie to sit with her throughout the story.
Comments: This would be a superb story to read aloud to promote kindness and inclusion. I think there could be some meaningful class discussions afterwards about ways everyone can be kind to one another.
Rating: 4/5 🟩🟩🟩🟩
Details and buying options are on this book’s Amazon page.
The selected children’s books are chosen by a certified, retired elementary school librarian who passionately reads and recommends picture books to teachers, school librarians, parents, grandparents, and other book enthusiasts.
Most of the books Mrs. Ferraris recommends are checked out from the public library. The only exception is for the complimentary copies that she receives for an honest review, which are duly noted.
