Books to Get Your Year off to a Great Start

Posted by Wendy on Aug 16, 2011 in Kindergarten Reading and Writing, Teaching Tips | 1 comment

A good book can help a set the tone for a great day in kindergarten – especially at the beginning of the year.  There are so many emotions as the new school year starts, and the right story can help you work through them all with your class. Here are some of our favorites to help you get started on the right foot.

The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn – Chester Raccoon doesn’t want to go to school – he just wants to stay home with his mother. To help him feel comfortable with being separated from her, she gives him a special kiss on the hand and tells him that whenever he misses her during the day, he has only to press his hand to his cheek and it will comfort him. (For a fun first day treat, consider making handprint sugar cookies – and adding an unwrapped chocolate “kiss” pressed into the palm).

Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten, Joseph Slate – This is a great introduction to this fabulous series with its engaging rhymes and adorable animal characters. Explore the classroom with Miss Bindergarten as she sets everything up so it’s ready for her students to start the year.

Tiptoe into Kindergarten, Jacqueline Rogers – This super sweet book features pastel illustrations that accompany the story of a little sister who sneaks into her brother’s kindergarten classroom. She finds a traditional classroom, complete with a sensory table and blocks that unfortunately might not match up with classrooms today. Nevertheless, this gentle story has a lovely calm air to it.

Welcome to Kindergarten, Anne Rockwell – As usual, Anne Rockwell does not disappoint. This calming look at kindergarten is told through the eyes of Tim. He goes to visit his kindergarten classroom before the start of the school year. After exploring the room, he decides that, rather than being intimidating, school is really just the right size for him.

The Night Before Kindergarten, Natasha Wing – This fun take-off on the traditional poem is told in rhyme. In this light hearted story, it’s the moms and dads who are teary eyed on the first day of school.

Have a favorite back to school book? What are you reading in your classroom to get your year off to the right start? Please share!