From our friends at the Multnomah County Library

There really is a connection between reading aloud and later reading success! And it’s easy – ask your child questions as you read aloud, and talk about the pictures to involve your child in the story. Children who grow up in conversational homes — with parents who talk to them and encourage them to talk — have an edge over children who hear very little language. Have fun with word games and making up silly songs and rhymes. Children who play with sounds of words before they enter school are better prepared to learn to read.

Here are some ideas for picture books to check out at your local library. Books give you and your child an opportunity to explore and share the excitement and the apprehension of starting school.

Off to First Grade by Louise Borden
Each member of a first grade class, as well as their teacher, principal, and a bus driver, expresses excitement, worry, or hope as the first day of school begins.
Easy Picture Book

 

 

Marco Goes to School by Roz Chast
Marco the bird is eager to start school because he wants to learn how to reach the moon, and although he does not accomplish that on his first day, he does make a new friend.
Easy Picture Book

 

 

Peanut Butter and Homework Sandwiches by Lisa Broadie Cook,
When his teacher is out sick for a week, Martin MacGregor has a difficult time with the homework assigned by the substitute teacher.
Easy Picture Book

 

 

 

Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama experiences separation anxiety on his first day of nursery school.
Easy Picture Book with rhyme and word play. Fun for toddlers and preschoolers.

 

 

 

Back to School Tortoise by Lucy M. George
Summer is over and Tortoise must summon the courage to go back to school.
Easy Picture Book

 

 

 

My First Day at a New School by Charlotte Guillain
Photos show and tell the story of what happens during a day at school.
Easy Nonfiction Book

 

 

 

Keisha Ann Can! By Daniel Kirk
Keisha Ann is proud of all the things she can do during her day at school.
Easy Picture Book with Fun Letter-play

 

 

 

Eddie Gets Ready for School by David Milgrim
As young Eddie goes through his checklist to get ready for school, his mother does not agree with all of his choices.
Easy Picture Book

 

 

 

Write On Carlos! Stuart J. Murphy
With his mother’s help, Carlos learns to write his name, as some of his friends
can do.
Easy Picture Book

 

 

Yoko Learns to Read by Rosemary Wells
Despite the doubts of some classmates and her native-born Japanese mother’s
inability to read English, Yoko finds the key to reading and catches up with
the other children in her class.
Easy Picture Book

 

 

Mom It’s My First Day of Kindergarten! by Hyewon Yum,
A five-year-old boy, ready and eager on his first day at “the big kids’ school,”
must calm his very worried mother.
Easy Picture Book

 

 

 

First Friends by Lenore Blegvad
Follows two-year-olds as they explore independence and start to make new friends.
Easy Nonfiction Book