Help your child prepare for their first day of kindergarten or school with some popular books about starting school.
Here are some books that you can read to your child to give them an idea of what to expect on their first day.
Books for children starting school
- Starting School by Jane Godwin & Anna Walker
- Miffy at School by Dick Bruna
- Old Friends, New Friends by Andrew Daddo and Jonathan Bentley
- This Is Our House by Michael Rosen and Bob Graham
- First day by Andrew Daddo
- Wombat goes to school by Jackie French
- All the ways to be smart by Davina Bell
- I am Too Absolutely Small for School by Lauren Child
- Maddie's First Day by Penny Matthews & Liz Anelli
- Just Jack by Jane Tanner
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- My first day at school by Meredith Costain
- Kindness makes us strong by Sophie Beer
- The Berenstain Bears go back to school by Stan and Jan Berenstain
- Hammie Goes to School by Cathie Whitmore (illustrated by Cathy McCulloch)
- Tom Goes to Kindergarten by Margaret Wild
- First Day by Margaret Wild (illustrated by Kim Gamble)
Books with themes of building confidence and self-esteem
- You be you by Linda Kranz
- Invisible String by Patrice Karst
- Whoever you are by Mem Fox (illustrated by Leslie Staub)
Where to find books
You should be able to find many suitable books in your school or local library, or you may have some of these books at home.
The Vision Australia Information Library Service provides services to persons with a print disability under the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). In Victoria it has the status of a public library ensuring free membership for persons with a print disability. Membership is only available to persons with a print disability as defined by the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). For more information, visit Vision Australia Library.
Want to read more?
You can find suggestions for age-appropriate books for your child on the Premiers' Reading Challenge web page.
Information for parents
Reading to your child is important for developing language and literacy skills. Children starting school with greater literacy skills perform better in school.
Visit the Learning and play web page for a range of resources to help build your child's literacy skills in their early years.