There are so many great books about Kindergarten and starting school — I do have favorites, though!
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, Joseph Slate – There are quite a few titles in the Miss Bindergarten series. My kinders always loved them, and my girls love them now. There are animals from A to Z and rhyming verses paired with colorful, detailed illustrations.
Welcome to Kindergarten, Anne Rockwell – This is a nice, gentle book about starting Kindergarten. The little boy visits his classroom before school, tries out various centers, and decides that school is “just the right size for me!”
Tiptoe Into Kindergarten, Jacqueline Rogers – A fun story about a preschooler who visits her brother’s kindergarten class. My girls are especially enjoying this, since one will be in preschool and one in kinder this fall.
The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn – Just a classic, sweet book! We have been giving each other hand kisses for a while now – it’s a favorite part of any goodbye ritual with the girls. Delaney gets her hand kisses, then puts them in her pocket! There is also a sequel, A Pocket Full of Kisses, which deals with a new baby in the family.
Tom Goes to Kindergarten, Margaret Wild – A silly story about a panda’s first day of school and his parents, who don’t want to leave kindergarten because it’s so fun! I think my girls love this one mostly because they love pandas, like their mommy. 
Off to Kindergarten, Tony Johnston – First of all, this book is illustrated by one of my absolute faves, Melissa Sweet. My girls love the exaggeration in this story, as the little boy plans to take all his things to Kinder with him, including his sand box, his swing set, his paints and easel. Also nice if you have a bus-rider heading to Kinder.
How Do Dinosaurs Go To School?, Jane Yolen – What can I say about these silly dinosaurs? Gets my girls giggling every time!
I Am Too Absolutely Small For School, Lauren Child – We love, love, love Charlie and Lola!
Miss Mingo and the First Day of School, Jamie Harper – All the animals in Miss Mingo’s class share something that makes them unique — my girls loved learning the animal facts. Very cute!
On the Way to Kindergarten, Virginia Kroll – I just picked this one up at the book store a couple days ago. I haven’t read it to the girls yet, but I liked it enough to make an impulse purchase at the store! It goes through the little bear’s accomplishments from babyhood up to Kindergarten. I will probably save this to read the night before Nat’s first day.
It goes through the little bear’s accomplishments from babyhood up to Kindergarten. I will probably save this to read the night before Nat’s first day.
With all these stories, it’s fun to look at the illustrations of the Kindergarten classrooms and talk about what they have that’s the same or different, what we think will be in Natalie’s classroom this year, what things are the same as when I was teaching, etc.
Have a favorite story about Kindergarten or starting school or new adventures? Please share!
Happy playing this weekend!
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Those were some of my favorite kindergarten books too! I say ‘were’ because my kids are 10 and almost 8. I miss when they were little and I miss how new, fun, and exciting kindergarten was.
Great list of kindergarten books. I have used many of these at the end of the year as I say goodbye to my preschoolers.