Back to school picture book round-up

A lot of schools are going back now in August; my school district doesn't resume until after Labor Day, but the "back to school" books start flying off the shelf now. There are plenty of classic favorites, familiar tropes, etc. (many of which I, personally, hate) but here's a list of what I've reviewed recently as well as some past favorites and what I'll be giving my teachers.

I also have a Pinterest board that includes back to school and first day of school items.

First school experiences/preschool or kindergarten

• The king of kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
• The queen of kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
• Lupe Lopez: Rock star rules by E. Charlton-Trujillo
• Ready for kindergarten by Bethany V. Freitas
• Our classroom rules by Kallie George
• We belong to the drum by Sandra Lamouche
• Sora's seashells by Helena Ku Rhee
• Mina belongs here by Sandra Niebuhr-Siebert
• On the night before kindergarten by Rosemary Wells
• Bitsy Bat, School Star by Kaz Windness
• Play day school day by Toni Yuly

Returning to school, attending a new school, elementary grades

• Mr. S by Monica Arnaldo
• Hurry little tortoise, time for school by Carrie Finison
• Tomatoes in my lunchbox by Constantia Manoli
• Kindergarten Diary by Antoinette Portis
• Yuna's cardboard castles by Marie Tang
• This is not my home by Eugenia Yoh

Social-Emotional Learning

• Big by Vashti Harrison
• Marker by Anna Kang
• Snake's big mistake by Sarah Kurpiel
• One Thursday afternoon by Barbara DiLorenzo
• I am darn tough by Licia Morelli

Education and school-themed stories for elementary school kids

• Spanish is the language of my family by Michael Genhart
• Brain Storm by Rebecca Levington
• One boy watching by Grant Snider
• Love in the library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
• A land of books: Dreams of young Mexicah Word Painters by Duncan Tonatiuh
• Rivka's Presents by Laurie Wallmark

Just for fun!

• Milk goes to school by Terry Border
• Bruce and the legend of soggy hollow by Ryan T. Higgins
• We don't eat our classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
• Once upon a book by Grace Lin and Kate Messner
• The best/worst poet ever by Lauren Stohler