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Books for feelings and life

Books for the first day of school and starting kindergarten

First-day books work best when read in the weeks before. They name the nerves and show that others share them.

Picks drawn from long-standing children's-librarian lists, ALSC notable and award records, and Common Sense Media age ratings, with each title and author checked against Open Library, Oct 2026. Checked 2026-10-25. Nobody paid to be here. The buy links are plain search links, not affiliate links, so Peabody earns nothing from them.

  1. The Kissing Hand

    Audrey Penn · Ages 3-6

    Chester Raccoon is nervous about school, so his mother kisses his hand to carry her love.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  2. Wemberly Worried

    Kevin Henkes · Ages 4-7

    A mouse who worries about everything gets through the first day.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  3. Llama Llama Misses Mama

    Anna Dewdney · Ages 2-5

    Llama Llama is unsure on his first day at nursery school.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  4. First Day Jitters

    Julie Danneberg, illustrated by Judy Love · Ages 4-8

    Sarah doesn't want to go to a new school, and the twist is that she is the teacher.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  5. Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!

    Nancy Carlson · Ages 4-7

    A boy worries but kindergarten turns out better than expected.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  6. David Goes to School

    David Shannon · Ages 3-6

    The grumpy, funny David of the 'No, David!' books gets in trouble at school. The humor reaches children who dread rules.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  7. The Night Before Kindergarten

    Natasha Wing · Ages 3-6

    Rhyming take on 'The Night Before Christmas'.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

  8. Chrysanthemum

    Kevin Henkes · Ages 4-8

    A girl's school confidence is shaken by teasing about her name.

    Watch for: Teasing.

    Buy: Bookshop.org · Amazon

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