10 Books to Get Kids Ready for School

BOOKS FOR PRESCHOOLERS (AGES 2 TO 5)

The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten, by Maureen Fergus and Mike Lowery
Mom's having a hard time accepting that her little girl is off to school. So our protagonist decides to invite her to class one day. Mom gets so excited that she forgets her manners, cutting into line and shouting out answers. It's up to her daughter to remind her how to behave properly in kindergarten. Kids (and parents!) will enjoy the role reversal in this story, as the mom misbehaves in class while the child patiently guides her in the right direction. It's a fun way to prepare kids for the expectations of school.

Augustine, by Mélanie Watt
Augustine the penguin is moving from the South Pole to the North Pole. Moving is a lot of hard work, but the hardest part is starting at a new school. There are no other penguins at Augustine's new school, and the other students sound different when they talk. But after sharing some of her artwork, Augustine finds it easier to make friends and have fun. Readers will enjoy Mélanie Watt's quirky illustrations, and may even notice all the pun-like references to cold. A perfect book for anyone who's starting at a new school.

Martin on the Moon, by Martine Audet; illustrated by Luc Melanson
Martin is a great daydreamer. He's a bit nervous about the first day of school, though. He really wants to concentrate so he can learn his letters and numbers. But in the end, it's his imagination that helps him to learn and make new friends.

We Share Everything, by Robert Munsch; illustrated by Michael Martchenko
One of the most important things kids learn in kindergarten is how to share. But it may not be the easiest concept to grasp. Amanda and Jeremiah's teacher must intervene several times to remind them that "In kindergarten, we share. We share everything." Finally, Amanda and Jeremiah take the message to heart and really do share EVERYTHING. Readers will enjoy Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko's usual wacky style and unconventional resolution.

The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn
Chester Racoon doesn't want to go to school. He wants to stay home with his mother, play with his friends and read his books. Mrs. Racoon reassures Chester that he'll like school once he starts. Then she shares with him the secret of the Kissing Hand. She takes his hand and places a kiss in the centre. She tells him that when he feels lonely, he is to press that hand against his cheek and think, "Mommy loves you." I remember sharing this story with my children when they were first starting school. It's a gentle way of preparing a child for their first adventures on their own and of preparing us parents for letting them go.

BOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL-AGED (AGES 6 TO 9)

Too Many Chickens, by Paulette Bourgeois; illustrated by Bill Slavin
When Mrs. Kerr's class receives a dozen eggs from the farmer, the kids enjoy watching them hatch into cute little chicks. But then the chicks get bigger and multiply, and then they're not so cute. The class must get pretty resourceful in order to deal with all the chickens. They learn to collect eggs - and even start selling them. Everything seems under control ... until the students receive a gift of two bunnies!

Counting on Fall, by Lizann Flatt; illustrated by Ashley Barron
In Counting on Fall, we explore what would happen if plants and animals knew about numbers. Rhyming text guides kids through counting and comparing quantities, as well as other basic math concepts, while activity boxes invite kids to estimate and count what they see on the page. In addition to math concepts, kids learn about how plants and animals change and adapt in the fall. Ashley Barron's collage art depicts scenes of nature in a lively and engaging way. Nature notes about the animals depicted are included at the back of the book.

Violet, by Tania Duprey Stehlik, illustrated by Vanja Vuleta Jovanovic
Violet is starting at a new school and, like a lot of kids, she's concerned about fitting in. Everything goes okay on the first day, until her dad arrives to pick her up. You see, Violet is violet and her dad is blue. She's never thought about this until one of the other kids asks why she's not blue like her dad or red like her mom. This book is a highly accessible way to introduce ideas of diversity and individuality to kids.

Jasper John Dooley: Star of the Week, by Caroline Adderson; illustrated by Ben Clanton
Jasper John is excited about having his turn at being star of the week. But when his friend steals his thunder by telling everyone about his baby sister, nobody is interested in Jasper John's show and tell. With a little help and some ingenuity, he manages to turn things around and become the star he knew he could be. This first book of the Jasper John Dooley series, featuring a quirky, enthusiastic character, will be a good choice for those who are ready for chapter books.

Taming Horrible Harry, by Lili Chartrand; illustrated by Rogé
Harry is a big, horrible monster whose job is to scare away humans who wander into the forest. One afternoon, he spies a little girl sitting hunched over a book. She's so consumed by the story, at first, she doesn't notice Harry's growls and cries. When she finally runs off, she leaves her book behind. Harry, intrigued by the object that had captivated her, picks it up. Once he discovers it's a book, he sets out to learn to read it. Beautifully illustrated, the story perfectly captures the power of books to transport and transform a reader.