--- title: 8 great books for kids who are starting preschool and kindergarten description: Find great books with a school theme for kids in preschool and kindergarten. Explore this book list for young readers from Reading Rockets. slug: 8-great-books-for-kids-who-are-starting-preschool-and-kindergarten author: The Understood Team published: '2019-10-16T12:03:57.190Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/C51825A8BE324451BFE365C477A1991E/c52ef90e8af98fde5bd1d59c692c0983/GreatBooksBTSPreKK.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/8-great-books-for-kids-who-are-starting-preschool-and-kindergarten lang: en --- # 8 great books for kids who are starting preschool and kindergarten For young kids, the start of school can be a time of anticipation, newness and nervousness. Reading school-themed books with your child can [help ease the transition](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-to-get-ready-for-kindergarten). Here are eight great back-to-school picks from founding partner [Reading Rockets](https://www.readingrockets.org/). ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/45D190983B1646D58EA464BBAD0B74F8/18bbd0d1171c6fc48b06083d88c8bcad/ReadySetPreschool.jpg) ## *Ready, Set, Preschool: Stories, Poems, and Picture Games* By: Anna Jane Hays Illustrated by: True Kelley Age Level: 3–6 Reading Level: Beginning Reader These stories, poems and games encourage children and their parents to get ready for preschool by exploring a range of skills and topics — from basic shapes and the alphabet to friends, body parts, and more. Cartoon illustrations add life to the activities and information. ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/5jzqpGhtq9KAPjnazLq2Xt/b45b7ae40996b721d43ab69da10886a2/School_Emily_Arnold_McCully.jpg) ## *School* By: Emily Arnold McCully Illustrated by: Emily Arnold McCully Age Level: 3–6 Reading Level: Beginning Reader Bitty, the smallest mouse in the family, decides to follow the big kids to school. When she gets to the school, Bitty works as the teacher’s helper until her worried mom comes to pick her up. The author/illustrator recently added light text to this book, which previously had only illustrations. ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/B1CBB3C10C234E51B397E5520BBFBA57/3387ded3d6a7cc379d8d49d71c415047/HuntersBestFriend.jpg) ## *Hunter’s Best Friend at School* By: Laura Malone Elliott Illustrated by: Lynn Munsinger Age Level: 3–6 Reading Level: Beginning Reader Hunter learns that even though he and Stripe are best friends, he still has to be true to himself. The gentle text and funny illustrations in [*Hunter’s Best Friend at School*](http://www.harpercollins.com/9780060753191/hunters-best-friend-at-school) can teach kids about peer pressure. Hunter and Stripe become rivals in this book. But they resolve their issues in *Hunter & Stripe and the Soccer Showdown*. ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/94015E22786F4DD7A822B1BF909906AF/62bae45c9fc2b45178f4655041dbbff9/InTheLeaves.jpg) ## *In the Leaves* By: Huy Voun Lee Illustrated by: Huy Voun Lee Age Level: 3–6 Reading Level: Beginning Reader On a beautiful autumn morning, Xiao Ming, his mom, and his friends visit a farm. As they explore the farm, Xiao Ming explains to his friends how to read several Chinese characters. Textured paper collages add a pretty touch to *In the Leaves*. ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/FCD514FB081D4F5FA4273F1289FE6E36/99632bf6b3efd607776ddc1825497afe/MoonyLuna.jpg) ## *Moony Luna* By: Jorge Argueta Illustrated by: Elizabeth Gómez Age Level: 3–6 Reading Level: Beginning Reader Five-year-old Luna is afraid she’ll find monsters at her new school. But a kind teacher and her new classmates show her she has nothing to fear in [this touching bilingual story](https://www.leeandlow.com/books/moony-luna-luna-lunita-lunera). ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/74vMclbM0AhRJB6vLGtNXx/dc714aa92d5feb5dca049e7381af350d/Ms_McCaw_Learns_to_Draw.jpg) ## *Ms. McCaw Learns to Draw* By: Kaethe Zemach Illustrated by: Kaethe Zemach Age Level: 3–6 Reading Level: Beginning Reader Dudley Ellington has trouble focusing on schoolwork. And his teacher, the very patient Ms. McCaw, seems to have the answer to everything. But then one day, the class learns that Ms. McCaw doesn’t know how to draw a face in profile — that is until Dudley shows her (and the class) how to do it. Lighthearted watercolor illustrations enhance the straightforward text in *Ms. McCaw Learns to Draw*. ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/73B2DB4756FF45F29CBB9E818975B6FA/52bac5a808232eb0b305e7d0c97abd79/MyTravelinEye.jpg) ## *My Travelin’ Eye* By: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw Illustrated by: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw Age Level: 3–6 Reading Level: Beginning Reader Jenny Sue’s left eye wanders, and it gives her a unique perspective. But her classmates tease her about her eye patch and glasses — until she turns them into a fashion statement. The illustrations in *My Travelin’ Eye* capture Jenny Sue’s world as she sees it. ![](https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/3VsMNBETL1J3IpQE9NNC2y/12fa0c5fcb2a2366972496a362e450dd/Brand_New_Pencils.jpg) ## *Brand-New Pencils, Brand-New Books* By: Diane deGroat Illustrated by: Diane deGroat Age Level: 3–6 Reading Level: Beginning Reader In [*Brand-New Pencils, Brand-New Books*](http://www.harpercollins.com/9780060726164/brand-new-pencils-brand-new-books), Gilbert is starting first grade and his little sister is starting preschool. With support from a wise teacher, Gilbert discovers that everyone can do different things well — including make new friends. --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/8-great-books-for-kids-who-are-starting-preschool-and-kindergarten#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/8-great-books-for-kids-who-are-starting-preschool-and-kindergarten","description":"Find great books with a school theme for kids in preschool and kindergarten. Explore this book list for young readers from Reading Rockets."},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/8-great-books-for-kids-who-are-starting-preschool-and-kindergarten","name":"8 great books for kids who are starting preschool and kindergarten"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","datePublished":"2019-10-16T12:03:57.190Z","description":"Find great books with a school theme for kids in preschool and kindergarten. Explore this book list for young readers from Reading Rockets.","headline":"8 great books for kids who are starting preschool and kindergarten","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/8-great-books-for-kids-who-are-starting-preschool-and-kindergarten","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.understood.org/#organization","name":"Understood for All Inc","logo":"https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/307jFAYQevghG8nQMCjh89/ccdbbec895765824db43f6d30b496e83/logo_lockup_navy.jpg"}}] ```