5 Best Childrens and Young Adult Books to Ease Back to School Fears

What are our five favorite books to help ease the kids, preschool through high school, back to school and calm those first-day, back to school jitters?  Whether your child is heading off to school for the first time—or the sixth or the twelfth—she is likely to experience a little anxiety. 

We all sometimes feel a little uncertain and insecure when faced with new faces and spaces--and a hint of the unknown.  As our oldest ventures off to her senior year of high school this year, we would like to share some of our favorite books that have helped us help the girls face back to school jitters over the years.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.

Our middle daughter was so painfully shy that even after two years of crying every day when her dad left her at preschool, we were all dreading kindergarten.  The Kissing Hand is an adorable book that eases nerves and calms fears as a little raccoon is comforted by his mother before his first day of school.  We continue to read The Kissing Hand before the first day of school every year and it is one of my favorite books to help parents get the little ones back to school.

D.W.’s Guide to Preschool by Marc Brown.

Our girls have always loved the Arthur series of books written by Marc Brown.  Each book focuses on the big things that little ones—and parents sometimes need a little help addressing.  In this book, Arthur's outspoken little sister, D.W., offers a D.W.-style guide to the ins and outs of preschool.  As always it’s a great book to prompt a conversation about your child’s first day of preschool—or even her new preschool class.

First Day Jitters by Robert Quackenbush.

Jitters.  We have all had them—and most of our kids get them at the start of the new school year.  They imagine the worst, fear everything—and experience that ultimate sense of relief when those fears never materialize.  First Day Jitters follows a little boy fearing, dreading, and conquering his back to school jitters.

American Girl:  A Smart Girl’s Guide to Starting Middle School

If you have daughters and have not yet discovered the American Girl library of books, I encourage you to take a look at them.  They provide so much information on so many topics that really help moms and dads connect with daughters as they grow.  The Smart Girl’s Guide to Middle School is an awesome introduction to the changes and challenges that girls face (and dread) as they move into a middle school.  I love these books so much—that I would also recommend adding A Smart Girl's Guide to Friendship Troubles (which are bound to happen in these tween/early teen years), and A Smart Girl's Guide to Liking Herself, Even on the Bad Days (American Girl)…..and, if you do not already have it—a copy of The Care and Keeping of You from the American Girl Library is a must have for little girls turning into teens before your eyes!

Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Teens Talk High School

If you are familiar with the Chicken Soup for the Soul series—this book follows suit with inspirational stories about a difficult time:  high school.  Teens are a bit too old for picture books—and are beyond lesson teaching chapter books.  I think this book offers wonderful insights and moral support to help them prepare for the high school years ahead.

Photo Credit:  Back to School.  www.sxc.hu/avolore