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New Favorites and Timeless Classics: 10 Back-to-School Books I Love

Now that June has flown by, I find myself thinking about school a little more each day. Judging by the growing number of social media posts about lesson planning, school supplies, and back-to-school ideas, I don’t think I’m alone. Recently, I have noticed several fellow librarians asking for recommendations for back-to-school read-alouds. Those conversations inspired me to put together a list of my favorite books to share in the library for the first few weeks of school.

Those First Few Weeks 

The first week or two of school is spent teaching library procedures. We do not attempt to check out a library book until each class has visited the library and learned our expectations for behavior. We spend a lot of time learning how to enter the library, where to sit for storytime, what good listening looks like, and how to exit the library. During these first lessons, I do not necessarily focus on book care. I save that lesson for the week we begin checking out library books. Instead, I choose books to read aloud that are high-interest, school-themed books. I've narrowed my curated collection of back-to-school books down to ten favorites. Some are beloved classics, while others are newer discoveries. I hope you'll find one or two to add to your own back-to-school lineup.

Oldies, But Goodies

I’ll start with my favorite classics. I don't think you'll discover any unfamiliar titles here, but perhaps this list will inspire you to pull a few forgotten favorites off your shelves.


  1. The Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen 

This is my favorite book to read aloud to second graders. This book is an ode to libraries everywhere. It tells the story of what happens when a friendly lion wanders into the library and finds that he loves storytime. The magic of the story is increased when it is paired with the Novel Effect app. The classic illustrations are soothing, and the book lends itself well to discussing library rules and procedures. It is always a favorite among students!


  1. I Took My Frog to the Library by Eric Kimmel 

This book easily falls into the classic category, as it was published in 1992. This book is a favorite of Kindergarteners at my school. This book details This book shows the hilarious chaos that unfolds when various animals visit the library. We add to the excitement of this book by bringing out stuffed animals to represent the characters from the book and retelling the story. It is a great way to kick off the first library lesson of the year.


  1. The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill 

This is another Kinder favorite. This is the story of what happens when a new kid arrives at school and refuses to be bullied. This book lends itself well to hand motions and repeated phrases, which always makes a Kindergartner fall instantly in love. We use this book to discuss playground behavior and bullying.


  1. Library Lil by Suzanne Williams 

This is a staple for my first third-grade lesson of the year. I have been reading this book to my third graders for over twenty years, and it just never gets old. This is the story of how one girl, Lil, goes from being a book lover to the town's best librarian. Lil uses her love of books to turn the entire town into readers. It is essential to bring out your toughest, roughest voice when reading for one of the main characters, Bust-em-up Bill. Your third graders will be fighting over who gets to check this one out first!


  1. Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack 

This book has been stealing librarian hearts since 2001. This is the story of a little girl who finally gets to visit her special place (the library, but this isn’t revealed until the end).  Along the way, she encounters prejudice and cruelty, but when she makes it to her special place, her hope is renewed. I read this book to my fourth graders. Throughout the book, we take turns guessing where the main character is headed. Once the read-aloud is complete, we discuss the importance of libraries. This beautiful story reminds students just how special libraries can be.


  1. A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech 

This book is a must-read for third or fourth graders. This book tells what happens when an overzealous principal decides that he loves school so much that he wants to have school every single day. I love the student reactions each time the principal decides to add more school days to the calendar. This is a really fun back-to-school read.


Shiny and New

Over the past few years, I've discovered several newer books that have earned a permanent place in my back-to-school rotation.


  1. Rescuing Mrs. Birdley by Aaron Reynolds. 

Whenever you see Aaron Reynolds' name on the cover, you know you're in for a charming, wild ride. This book tells the story of a little girl who has that awkward moment of seeing a teacher out in the community for the first time. Her love for both nature and her teacher sends her on a hilarious mission to get her teacher back to her “natural habitat” (her classroom). My second and third graders love this imaginative story.


  1. Overdue: The Misadventure of Bob the Book by Gloria Koster 

This is a favorite among first and second graders. This book follows Bob as he reigns as the favorite of all the books in the library, then is forgotten and overlooked as time goes on. This book lends itself well to discussing book care. 


  1. School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex. 

This book is told from the point of view of a school. It is great for Kindergarten through second graders. School is nervous about the first day. It is a great book to use when discussing the back-to-school jitters that are so common with our youngest readers. We read this book to our entire school community on our school’s first day in the new building. This book helped make that day even more magical.


  1. Caboose by Travis Jonker 

This is my newest favorite discovery. This hilarious book is written by a fellow librarian who truly understands just how important it is to be the line leader. Every teacher and student will relate to the crazy lengths the main character goes through in order to hold the coveted first place in line. I use this book when covering procedures, especially how to line up to exit the library. It is a true gem.


Whether you're a brand-new librarian planning your very first back-to-school lessons or a veteran dusting off favorite read-alouds, I hope this list gave you a few ideas to kick off the school year. Some of these books have been part of my library routine for more than twenty years, while others are newer discoveries that quickly earned a permanent place on my shelves. That's one of my favorite things about children's literature—there's always another wonderful book waiting to become a new tradition.

I'd love to hear from you! What are your favorite back-to-school read-alouds? Leave your recommendations in the comments so we can all add a few more titles to our library wish lists. Happy reading, and here's to another wonderful year in the library!

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