Are you looking for back-to-school books for your kindergarten classroom library? I have a great list of great books to share with you!
Last year, I wrote some blog posts about literacy and math books that are perfect for the beginning of the school year. Recently, I acquired some new picture books that I think will be great for creating a sense of belonging for my students and starting the year off by getting to know them.
There are so many amazing books out there, so it can be difficult to get all the books you want for your classroom. In a recent podcast episode, I go over some of the ways that I have bought books relatively cheaply or free! You can listen to that here.

75 – Books for the Classroom – Creative Kindergarten
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Learning With Books in the Classroom
More than just a story, books can be a vehicle for teaching and learning about different concepts:
- Build your students’ comprehension skills;
- Teach about concepts of print or vocabulary;
- Introduce math and literacy skills;
- Inspire students to write their own book.
I try to keep all this in mind when I am picking new books to add to the classroom library.
Back to School Books
The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes and I Got the School Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison are two perfect books for reading on the first day of school (or during the first week).
I love how positive they are about starting the school year. The authors have done a great job showcasing resiliency and growth.
Names
I start the school year by focusing on my students’ names. This is because they are so personal to each child, and it is something that they know.
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi and Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow are the perfect way to start conversations about different names. You can talk with your students about what each child’s name means to them and learn more about them!
Sense of Belonging
Getting to know your students and families at the beginning of the school year sets the stage for positive relationships. I always want to make sure that I know each family and provide a space that they feel welcome in.
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Our Favorite Day of the Year by A. E. Ali can be a great starting point to conversing with your students about their families and home life.
Find More Books
Building your classroom library is an important part of creating a classroom environment. I am continually adding any books that I love to my Amazon storefront as I find new ones.
I also have a wishlist that I add any books to that I want. However, it can get expensive buying all these books so I try to wait until I can find a less costly way of getting them.
What are your favourite back-to-school books? Which ones am I missing? Let me know in the comments!
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