Books About School and Starting School for PreK–Year 3

School is a significant part of a child's life. It's where they spend much of their time and undergo considerable personal and academic growth. Reading books about school – and books about starting school – is a great way to prepare preschoolers for the exciting adventure ahead. Learning about school routines in advance can ease anxiety and build school readiness. Older children can also benefit from reading books about school – helping them navigate classroom life, unfamiliar social situations and challenges they might be facing. Beyond preparation, reading fictional books set in schools with relatable characters and storylines can be an effective way to spark enthusiasm for reading.

Our curated collection spans picture books for early readers, nonfiction books and fictional stories with a dash of humour for older children.

Many of the titles include an optional read-aloud feature to help young readers. Alternatively, you and your child can read together. If you’d prefer your child read the books independently, a reading age level is included to guide your choices.

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Books about starting school

• 

  Reggie & Friends: School

  It's a big day for Reggie. He is so excited. Today is Reggie's first day of school.

  • 8 pages

  • Lexile: Beginner Reader

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Fiction

  This book is one of hundreds in Reading Eggs Junior, our learning program for ages 2–4.

• 

  Toby Goes to School

  Today is a very special day for Toby the wombat. Today is his fifth birthday! Raised by humans, Toby has watched his sister and brother go to school once they turned five. He wants to be a student just like them. But are wombats allowed to go to school?

  • 33 pages

  • Reading age: 7

  • Lexile: 620L

  • Read-aloud feature: No

  • Fiction

• 

  Bella's First Day

  It's the first day of reception for Bella. Will her day be as magical as she imagined?

  • 8 pages

  • Lexile: Beginner Reader

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Fiction

  This book is one of hundreds in Reading Eggs Junior, our learning program for ages 2–4.

• 

  Celebrate 100 Days

  Lily was excited. She had homework! The teacher had asked everyone to bring 100 things to celebrate the 100th day of school.

  • 8 pages

  • Lexile: Beginner Reader

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Fiction

  This book is one of hundreds in Reading Eggs Junior, our learning program for ages 2–4.

• 

  Molly is New

  Molly is new at school. What will happen on her first day?

  • 31 pages

  • Reading age: 6

  • Lexile: 150L

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Fiction

• 

  Can Bella Go to School?

  Bella is a little ginger cat and she wants to go to school.

  • 15 pages

  • Reading age: 7

  • Lexile: 400L

  • Read-aloud feature: No

  • Fiction

• 

  Going to School

  Discover what happens at this play school.

  • 6 pages

  • Reading age: 5

  • Lexile: 120L

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Fiction

• 

  New Country, New School

  When Afdal starts school in a new country, he is both excited and scared. Will he have anything in common with his new classmates? Afdal soon learns that although some things may be different to his old school, one thing remains the same – playing soccer is just as much fun!

  • 22 pages

  • Reading age: 8

  • Lexile: 530L

  • Read-aloud feature: No

  • Nonfiction

Nonfiction books about school

• 

  My School

  Discover things to see and do at school.

  • 12 pages

  • Reading age: 5

  • Lexile: 380L

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Nonfiction

• 

  Teachers and You

  Learn about the ways teachers help their students. From learning a musical instrument, solving maths problems to training to become athletes.

  • 15 pages

  • Reading age: 7

  • Lexile: 500L

  • Read-aloud feature: No

  • Nonfiction

  This book is phonetically decodable and focuses on the phonemes /e_e/ and /ea/.

• 

  So Many Classes

  What do we learn in school? We learn to count. We learn the alphabet. We learn to paint with different colours and we sing songs. So much to learn and we do it together!

  • 21 pages

  • Reading age: 6

  • Lexile: 250L

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Nonfiction

• 

  Our School Week

  Discover what each day of the school week looks like at this school.

  • 11 pages

  • Reading age: 5

  • Lexile: 460L

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Nonfiction

• 

  School Rules

  Every school has rules. Why do they have them?

  • 11 pages

  • Reading age: 5

  • Lexile: 360L

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Nonfiction

• 

  At School

  Things we do at school.

  • 15 pages

  • Reading age: 5

  • Lexile: Beginner Reader

  • Read-aloud feature: No

  • Nonfiction

Fiction books set in schools

• 

  Pet to School Day

  It's pet day and the students have brought their pets to school. But where is Mr Spink's pet… and what is it?

  • 1 chapter

  • 31 pages

  • Reading age: 7

  • Lexile: 420L

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Fiction

• 

  Pirate School

  What happens when a pirate ship school captures Captain Red Beard and his crew?

  • 1 chapter

  • 24 pages

  • Reading age: 7

  • Lexile: 520L

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Fiction

• 

  Grandparents Day

  Ruby's grandfather refused to wear his glasses. He was bumping into everything and Ruby had to tell him what he had collided with each time.

  • 4 chapters

  • 27 pages

  • Reading age: 8

  • Lexile: 580L

  • Read-aloud feature: No

  • Fiction

• 

  The Lunchbox

  Miles discovers a small, metal box buried under the steps at school. What could be inside? Is it filled with treasure?

  • 4 chapters

  • 27 pages

  • Reading age: 8

  • Lexile: 600L

  • Read-aloud feature: Yes

  • Fiction

We hope this collection will help your child approach primary school with confidence and enthusiasm. May their learning adventure be filled with exciting discoveries and a lifelong love of reading.