Books to Ease Back-to-School Jitters
It’s the back-to-school season!
As August draws to a close and September quickly approaches, that can only mean one thing: Back to school season! It’s time to pack the school bags and splash out on those back-to-school essentials. Lucky for you we have all your child’s book essentials stocked up in one affordable place. Whether your child is strapping on a backpack for the first time or beginning a new academic year, the first day of school can be nerve-wracking and overwhelming for both parents and children.
Establishing a new routine, making new friends and transitioning to a new school environment can be extremely daunting at the best of times. That’s why we have hand-picked a selection of back-to-school books for children and young adults to help them get over that first day of school jitters. What better way to help ease this transition than by hearing from kids themselves? Our selection of books features memorable young characters dealing with their own back-to-school jitters to help bring some comfort and relief to this new period of adjustment.
Each book tackles important messages about some of the big feelings your child may be experiencing as the academic year quickly approaches including themes such as kindness, identity, and cyber-awareness.
Ages 0-5
For those little ones just starting their first day of school, why not teach them the power of kindness and compassion? Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller explores the power of kindness and compassion. Each act, big or small, can make a difference- or at least help a friend in need. When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmates contemplate how to make her feel better. This thoughtful and moving story explores what your child can do to be kind. Continuing with the theme of kindness, Kind by Alison Green is the perfect inspiring book to go through with your child together. With stunning illustrations
by a host of the world’s top illustrators, this inspiring picture book shows the many ways children can be kind, from sharing their toys to helping those from other countries feel welcome. This book is endorsed by The Gruffalo illustrator Alex Scheffler where £1 from the sale of each printed copy will go to the Three Peas charity, giving vital help to refugees from war-torn countries. Teach your kids to be kind on their first day of school, it's a great way to make new friends.
The Colour Monster Goes to School by Anna Llenas, is the perfect book to help your child tackle those first-day jitters. Follow the most popular Colour Monster as he heads off to school. But what exactly is school? A spooky castle filled with terrifying animals? Or a place in the sky amongst the rainbows and clouds? From music lessons to making new friends, the Colour Monster’s first day of school is filled with exciting new adventures your child can explore.
Ages 5-7
Say hello to Rebecca Cobb’s beautifully illustrated picture book, Hello Friend! Follow the story of a big-hearted and enthusiastic little girl who is insistent on making friends with a certain little boy. She’s very good at sharing- even if it’s a sandwich he, unfortunately, doesn't seem to like. And she’s certain that playing outside is her favourite thing to do, even if he isn't so sure. But while he doesn't seem keen on many of the things that she loves to do, there is one thing he’s very keen on…being her friend. This stunning book teaches your child how the best of friends don’t have to be alike after all.
For a spot of light-hearted adventure, check out Mina Mistry (sort of) investigates series by Angie Lake. Join the best detective in town, Mina Mistry, as she investigates the case of the disgusting school dinners, the case of the disappearing pets and the case of the bicycle thief. This laugh-out-loud detective series is perfect to give children a positive experience of school by finding new adventures in the every day. Who knows, they might even explore their own detective stories.
Ages 7-9
At Books2Door, we understand that not every child is the same. Each child views the world and learns in their own unique way, which is why our
collection features school stories that deal with different types of students from a range of cultures and backgrounds. Told with heart and humour, The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf is a child’s perspective on the refugee crisis as the new boy Ahmet, a refugee having fled from war back home, joins the class. This compelling story highlights the importance of friendship and kindness in a world that doesn't always make sense.
For those children who were born to stand out, meet August Pullman - a 10-year-old boy who was born with a facial anomaly in R. J Palacio’s Wonder. He has been home-schooled all his life and, for the first time, he’s being sent to a real school - and he’s dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted, but can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them underneath it all? You might have seen the 2017 coming-of-age film adaptation directed by Stephen Chbosky, and fans of the movie are sure to be intrigued by the book that was based on the film.
A Dangerous Game by Malorie Blackman is suitable for children 8+ who are struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers. Sam has a long-term illness, sickle cell anaemia, and just wants to lead a normal life. He is thrilled when his parents let him go on a school trip to the Scottish Highlands to prove to everyone that he’s just as strong as his friends. But when some of the boys take a reckless risk to win a challenge, the trip turns out to be more dangerous than Sam could have imagined.
Ages 9-14
As your child reaches Key Stage two, navigating their way through school can be tough. Lucky for you, Greg Heffley has done it all. Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid collection is nothing short of a household name and is considered one of the best children’s books. Fans of the live-action and animated adaptations are already familiar with the infamous adventures of Greg Heffley and his best friend Rowley as they traverse their way through Westmore middle school and zoo-wee mama is it a hit! Told through diary entries and wacky illustrations, this book explores the stresses of growing up.
Andrew Clement’s 2009 book Extra Credit is a story of the clash between two different cultures and the unlikely friendship that arises between children that are worlds apart. Abby Carson doesn't like doing schoolwork, but when she learns she’s in danger of failing sixth grade her teacher assigns her an extra credit assignment to help with her grade. Abby will write to a pen pal in Afghanistan and report back to the class. When Sadeed writes back to her, she learns that although they are different, they are also the same, and she begins to see life in America from a new perspective.
Growing up in the 21st century means that your children are more cyber-literate than ever before. But do they really understand the dangers of technology? Breaking the Rules by Maxine Linnell introduces Mo, a teenager that hates her new school and her new town. So when a nice boy befriends her on Facebook, she’s happy to receive the attention. Then he invites her to meet him and Mo decides to take the risk…Intertwined with captivating illustrations, this powerful tale of reckless behaviour and real friendship, older children will understand the importance of true friendship offline. Printed on tinted paper with dyslexia-friendly font, this book helps support reading practice for struggling and reluctant readers, those with dyslexia, or those with English as an additional language.
Don't know where to start with back-to-school shopping? To help make back-to-school shopping so much easier, check out our full back-to-school range. Our collection pages feature books from nursery & reception to year 6 for our mighty readers of all ages.