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Back to School Book
List
by Lisa Von Drasek
Ah, back-to-school, the smell of a new pack
of crayons, sharpened yellow pencils with pink erasers, and
the excitement of the fresh and new. September means a clean
slate for some and a reunion of friends for others. For children’s
librarians “Back to School” means constant requests
for the perfect “going to school” book:
We want books about separation, making friends,
dealing with new situations.
Do you have books that will help our family
with the feelings of anticipation, excitement and dread?
Our list this month includes two books for
preschoolers with the theme of separation anxiety (the children’s
and the parents’) For first and second graders, two very
different alphabet books and an absurd tale. For those middle
aged kids, third through sixth grade, a classic, an early
chapter book, and a “starting at a new school” story.
by Kathi Appelt, Jane Dyer Harcourt
Brace
Ages 3-5
This is one of the sweetest books on separation
anxiety. The mama bird says to her preschooler, who is off
to school, “Oh, my baby, little one, / the hardest thing
I do / is hold you tight, then let you go, / and walk away
from you.” Mama then describes how during the day her
love is always there. While he tends to the work of school,
painting, playing, and napping we also observe the mother
going through her daily tasks at her job. Dyer’s exquisite
watercolor paintings of the different animals dressed as people
are enchanting.
story and pictures by Janet Breskin
Zalben Clarion
Ages 3-5
Again addressing the issue of that first
school separation, Zalben in a matter-of-fact tone and expressive
detailed watercolor paintings prepares children and their
parents from drop-off to pick- up. Daniel, a young elephant,
is starting school. His mom packs a lunch, a change of clothes,
and Daniel’s stuffed dog, Dog. The new, unknown experiences
of goodbyes, cubbies labeled with names, and nametags soon
become familiar. Mom stays to help put away his coat and stays
standing by the door to listen to a song and a story. When
the children go to play at the water table, Daniel is ready
to wave goodbye. Includes a checklist for the first day, hints
for getting ready, and a recipe for pumpkin cookies.
By Kevin Henkes Greenwillow
Ages 5-8
Chrysanthemum was perfect, her life was
perfect, her family was perfect, and her name was perfect.
This is what she thought until she started school. When Mrs.
Chud took roll call everyone giggled hearing her name. “I
am named for my grandmother” said Victoria, “You
are named for a flower.“Chrysanthemum wilted.” Now
she hated her name. Henkes has an ear for the language of
children and an empathetic ability to describe and provide
solutions to the overwhelming issues of early childhood. His
sweet illustrations of charming mice lighten the drama and
provide comic relief. Look for his other award winning picture
books Owen, a 1994 Caldecott Honor Book; Lilly’s Purple
Plastic Purse; and Julius, the Baby of the World.
by Joseph Slate, illustrated by Ashley
Wolff Dutton
Ages 4-6
This kindergarten teacher accomplishes the
impossible. With the help of her pet cockatiel she prepares
her classroom in just one day as her twenty-six pupils prepare
to arrive. The story unfolds as an alphabet book written in
rhyme, “Danny Hess rushes to dress. / Emily Moko cools
her coco / Fran Lister kisses her sister. And Miss Bindergerten
gets ready for kindergarten.” Slate matches each animal
character with a letter of the alphabet, and readers can flip
to the back to discover that Adam is an alligator, Brenda
is a beaver, and Christopher is a cat. Miss Bindergarten,
a Border Collie, has all the attributes of the breed, an intensive
worker who is intelligent, alert, and responsive. The humorous
double-page illustrations are rich with the details of home
and classroom. Children will want to pore over this one again
and again. Great to share one-on-one or with a group.
by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Barney
Saltzberg Harcourt
Ages 5-8
Judy Sierra, winner of Bank Street’s
Irma S. and James. H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s
Literature for Tasty Baby Belly Buttons, hits a bull’s-eye
again with this collection of twenty-six poems — an ode
to the classroom pet. This rhyming romp though the ABC’s
is perfectly paired with Salzberg’s outrageous, cartoonish
illustrations.
“Please don’t ask to feel Our electric eel, Because,
if you bug him, We cannot unplug him.”
by Sharon Creech, illustrated by Harry
Bliss HarperCollins
2001
Ages 5-8
Mr. Keene was a principal who loved his
school. He would wander around peeking into classrooms and
pondering aloud, "Aren’t these fine children? Aren’t
these fine teachers? Isn’t this a fine, fine school?"
In fact according to Mr. Keene the only way to improve this
fine, fine school would be to have school every day. School
on Saturday then school on Sunday, then on holidays, even
on Christmas and Chanukah. The humorous illustrations portray
our heroine, Tillie, wearily trudging endlessly to school
under her over-stuffed backpack, covered with yellow post-it
notes stating, “Massive test on your birthday” and
“gym test today.” Tillie’s brother, who doesn’t
go to school yet, isn’t learning the things only Tillie
can teach, like skipping, and her dog, Beans hasn’t learned
how to sit. Something must be done, and Tillie is just the
kid to stand up to Mr. Keene.
by Clifton L. Taulbert, illustrated
by Earl B. Lewis
Dial Books for Young Readers
Ages 6-8
Set in the 1950’s, this is an African
American writer’s memoir of the first day of school.
Little Cliff does not want to go. He makes up all kinds of
excuses and silly delaying tactics. His grandparents insist
that he will be going and that he will “work, work, work”
and be “quiet, quiet, quiet.” Children will identify
with first-day anxiety and recognize Little Cliff’s relief
when he arrives at Miss Maxey’s school and greets all
of his friends. Lewis’s rich watercolor paintings are
filled with the details of the rural past.
By Beverly Cleary Morrow Jr.
Ages 6-10
Grown-ups will remember the experiences
of this outrageous kindergartener’s first days in school.
Like when Ramona is told to “wait for the present”
and is sure there will be a present for her soon. It is a
rule-of- thumb that children want to read about characters
the same age or older than themselves. Ramona is the exception
to that rule. The first of eight Ramona books, this classic
novel of five-year-old Ramona Quimby’s unique point of
view is a delightful read-aloud for children who are looking
back on their own experience starting school.
by Elisa Carbone Knopf
Ages 8-12
Fifth grader Sarah’s family has moved
her kicking and screaming from their home in Maine to Maryland.
Not only does she have to go to school and be the “new”
kid but she has already made an enemy of a sixth grade bully.
He pushes her, teases her, and embarrasses her in front of
all the other kids. Retaliating just makes the situation worse.
Sarah’s obsession to get even almost costs her the friendship
of the one girl she is getting to know. This insightful, humorous
school story will appeal to the fans of Louis Sacher and Jerry
Spinelli.
by Gail Gauthier Putnam
Ages 8-12
Jasper Gordon is the perfect student and
he anticipates that this year will be no different. Teachers
love him, he always gets great grades, and he is pulled out
with the other really smart kids for "enrichment." Then he
meets his sixth grade teacher, Mrs. McNulty. She seats him
between “the Cootches”— cousins Butch and Spike
Couture, the kids with the worst reputations in school. Although
Jasper has an almost scientific interest in them as subjects
of observation, he is horrified to be sitting next to them.
Butch and Spike are bad kids without malice in the tradition
of the Herdmans from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
An exaggerated look at friendship and fairness, this book
will have everyone rooting for the Cootches in the end.
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