This Week's Favorite Books for Nurturing Kingdom Kids: Back to School Edition

My son starts kindergarten tomorrow so I have back to school on the brain! The wonderful thing about all of these books is that you can read them to prepare for back to school or at anytime in the first few weeks of school as many of them deal with some of those early year anxieties and issues kids may face.

School's First Day of School, Adam Rex and Christian Robinson
Age: Kindergarten-2nd
Type: Picture Book
What I Love
This is the first day of school from the school's perspective and it's absolutely adorable and completely hysterical all at once. My son laughed out loud for several minutes when the book complained about having milk shot out someone's nose and onto him (the school) during recess. It's a very sweet story and gives kids a sense of how they should respect their school space as well as their classmates and teachers.

All are Welcome, Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman
Age: Preschool-3rd
Type: Picture Book
What I Love
This is a great way to let children know that they'll feel welcome on their first day. It's a bit more positive that The Day You Begin (which I write about below). The diversity throughout is absolutely beautiful. I think it would be helpful for kids returning to school, kindergartners going for the first time or children attending a new school. It reminds them both that they will be welcome and that they should be welcoming to other kids.

The Day You Begin, Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael Lopez
Age: Kindergarten-3rd
Type: Picture Book
What I Love
This book reads almost like an encouraging poem. I like how it talked about a kid not being sure they had great enough adventures over the summer and being anxious about what to share with their classmates. It also shares anxieties over the way you talk, dress or what you eat. It's really beautifully done and a great read for any kids starting a new school year.

We Don't Eat our Classmates, Ryan T. Higgins
Age: Preschool-1st
Type: Picture Book
What I Love
This book is just adorable and funny. The dinosaur actually does eat his classmates, so be ready for that! But don't worry--he also spits them back up. This book deals with the difficulty with making new friends in a really fun, low-key way. And the diversity throughout it is beautifully done.

Is your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?, Audrey Vernick and Daniel Jenney
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Type: Picture Book
What I Love
This is best for kindergartners, obviously. I loved that it dealt with a lot of the fears children entering kindergarten might be facing, but it was assigned to a buffalo so it wasn't telling of the fears in a way that would cause the child to worry about those things if they aren't already.

Two other great books that didn't make my top five, but are wonderful are 

• How to Get your Teacher Ready--This one helps kids to think about how a teacher might feel going through a school year for the first-time.
• The Kissing Hand--A classic that is especially great for kids that are new to school.

Happy Back to School, everyone!