The Big Day: 25 Picture Books About Mighty Girls Starting School

Maisy Goes To Preschool

Many kids will start their school lives in a preschool classroom, and they may be curious about what their day will look like when they start this new adventure. In this book, Maisy and her friends lead readers through a typical preschool day, from hanging your coat on its hook until it's time to go home. In between, there will be crafts, playtime with friends, and lots of fun! Going to preschool is a lot more fun with a friend like Maisy to show you the ropes!

Lena's Shoes Are Nervous

A First Day of School Dilemma

Lena is ready for kindergarten (of course) but she has a problem: her favorite shoes, which she explains to her patient father are critical for her first-day outfit, are too nervous to go! As Dad looks on, Lena comes up with some tactics to convince her shoes to go: she enlists her headband (who is "friends with everybody") to help her talk to her shoes about their fears and remind them that, together, they can all be brave enough to try something new. This clever and funny take on school nerves allows its main character to stay competent and in control, while still providing useful techniques for dealing with human first-day jitters.

Pearl Goes to Preschool

Pearl is the smallest ballerina at her mother's ballet school, but she loves practicing dance moves (at a barre she can't even reach) with her stuffed mouse Violet by her side. But when her mother suggests Pearl could try preschool, Pearl isn't sure. "Violet and I already go to school," she says. But Pearl's mother answers her questions about what this new experience would be like. pointing out that she will learn fun new things, like the alphabet, and counting, and even how to paint a sugar plum fairy! — and Pearl concludes that she and Violet are ready for preschool after all. This charming picture book, with its winsome illustrations, looks at the transition to preschool through a child's eyes in a way that's perfect for budding dancers!

Lola Goes To School

It's almost Lola's first day of school, and she can't wait! She's visited the school with her mother, so she knows it "will be a bit like story time at the library, but Lola will stay by herself." When the big day comes, she wears her special first day outfit, gets a quick picture, and heads off with a backpack full of special gifts from her loving family — and before she knows it, it's time to greet Mommy again at the end of the day! This charming addition to the beloved Lola Reads series is the perfect read for soon-to-be preschoolers and kindergarteners.

Eliza's Kindergarten Surprise

Many kids find it hard to be away from parents for the first day at school, especially if Mom or Dad was their full-time caregiver. Eliza's mom slips a kiss into her pocket on the first day of kindergarten, but it isn't much comfort when Eliza finds herself missing home during a long first day. But then Eliza starts noticing things that remind her of her mother — everything from blue buttons to a clump of yarn — and at craft time, this resourceful Mighty Girl puts the pieces together to make something that will help her through the day. When Mom comes to pick her up, Eliza is delighted to have a special surprise to show her and to discover a surprise from her mother in return.

Go Be Wonderful!

Daisy has grown up with an adoring family; in the eyes of her father, her mother, her grandma and grandpa, her uncles, and even her neighbors, Daisy is wonderful. And they encourage her to "go be wonderful" wherever she goes, whether it's banging on pots and pans like drums, or riding a scooter to the library. But when it's time to start school, Daisy doubts herself; can she still be wonderful in an unfamiliar situation? It turns out the answer is yes! While the school day has its ups and downs, she remembers to share, she makes a friend, and when she comes home, she shouts "I was wonderful!" This exuberant book celebrates the power of unconditional love to build confidence, perfect for encouraging kids to "go be wonderful" on their own school adventures.

Mae's First Day of School

No matter how much Mae's parents try to convince her that she'll love school, all she can imagine is everything going wrong. So when she walks to school, instead of going in through the front door, she hides in a big tree. It's not long before another nervous girl, Rosie, joins her... and then, to Mae's surprise, so does an adult, Ms. Pearl, who asks, "What if the kids don’t like me? Or what if I forget how to spell Tuesday? Or what if I miss my cat?" It turns out that, with a little support from each other, all three are able to get started on their first day. This funny book still treats these common fears with respect, but reminds kids that, together, they can conquer any fear.

May's Brave Day

May's day starts with butterflies in her tummy — a quiet worry that keeps her from taking even one bite of her toast. She goes out in the garden to watch the bees and ladybugs on the plants and the goldfish in the pond, and silently wishes she could trade places. Slowly, readers learn that it is May's first day of school, and she's nervous. Fortunately, May's mom reminds her that everyone is anxious when they take big steps, even birds and butterflies about to fly. And when May finds a friend on her first day, she realizes that "butterflies like to live in gardens much more than they like to live inside children." This contemplative, gentle story is a poetic way to talk about quiet courage during big changes.

I Will Be Fierce

Every day is an adventure; every day is a chance to be fierce! This exuberant young narrator starts her day by putting on "armor" (a rainbow sweater) and prepares to face the challenges of her world. From monsters (dogs on a walk) to giants (big kids at the bus stop), she knows there's no beast she can't overcome. Her courage can also help others, like when she refuses to let a classmate sit alone in the cafeteria. After a busy day, she returns home to rest... after all, tomorrow, she'll be fierce again! This joyous celebration of bravery, compassion, and imagination is a reminder that you can be a hero every day.

Twinkle

On her first day at Fairy School, Twinkle is so excited she bursts into song! But while her friends Pippa and Lulu quickly master their first spells, Twinkle just can't seem to make them work. To learn them, she goes against her teacher's advice and tries practicing her spells at night, only to forget the words and make such a ruckus that she wakes up half the inhabitants of Sparkle Tree Forest! Fortunately, patient Miss Flutterbee reassures Twinkle that she'll succeed in the end... and teaches her to play to her strengths by singing spells rather than chanting them. This sparkly, relatable story about a feisty fairy dealing with the frustration of struggling with a skill is perfect to share with new students worried about learning something new.

Maple and Willow Apart

Sisters Maple and Willow do everything together, but one fall, that all changes: suddenly, Maple is off to school, and even though Willow is a big girl too, she has to stay at home. To console herself, Willow imagines an acorn friend named Pip to keep her company while Maple is away. When Maple gets home, she's excited to tell Willow all about her adventures — but when she hears about Pip, suddenly it's Maple who's jealous of Willow! Fortunately, these loving sisters find the perfect solution: Pip joins Maple at school, while Willow stays home and plays with other imaginary acorn friends. Fans of these sweet sisters from Maple and Maple and Willow Together will enjoy watching how they adjust their relationship to the start of school.

Pirates Don't Go To Kindergarten

Pirate Emma has loved her time with her awesome preschool teacher, Cap'n Chu — but now it's time for kindergarten. Not only does that mean leaving Cap'n Chu behind, but her kindergarten classroom is a rocket, not a pirate ship! So Emma decides a little mutiny is in order and, despite attempts at encouragement from her new Cap'n Hayes and a kindergarten classmate, "swims" back to Cap'n Chu. Fortunately, with a little reassurance from Cap'n Chu, Emma finally decides to take a bold step into kindergarten and accept her new identity: space pirate! Bold cartoons emphasize Emma's bravado and imagination as she comes to terms with a big transition.

Love

Tess' family is filled with love, and her home is a warm, comforting place. So when it's time for her first day at school, Tess is worried: can her family's love come with her, even when she's far from home? Her mother assures her that the strands of love that connect them can stretch far, far away, and when Tess arrives at school, she realizes that the other kids have similar strings connecting them to people they love — even those who are far away, and those who are no longer with them except in spirit. This gentle story subtly addresses separation, anxiety, grief, and love in a sensitive way, providing the perfect reassurance for new students that their family's love will be with them every step of the way.

Lily's Cat Mask

Lily does NOT like the idea of buying things for school, but when she finds a cat mask on the shelf — and her father buys it for her — she thinks she's found the perfect solution to feeling shy: everything is easier with her mask on! But when she arrives at school, she gets a shock: her teacher tells her she can only wear the mask at recess. At first, Lily doesn't know what to do, but despite a bit of rebellion, she learns to cope without her mask on all the time... and when she gets a special chance to wear it in class, it even becomes the link that helps her make a new friend! Kids who are feeling reluctant for all the changes school brings will love watching Lily find both her confidence and her place in her classroom.

How to Get Your Teacher Ready

There's lots to do if you're going to help your teacher be ready for the first day of school — let alone all the other big days of the school year, from picture day to concerts to the 100th day of school! In this hilarious book by the author of the bestselling How To Babysit A Grandma, an enthusiastic class of kids do their best to help their teacher make it through a busy year — and along the way, they feel more prepared too. Full of role-reversal humor and detailed illustrations that will get kids laughing, this book is sure to be a hit.

Lola Knows A Lot

Precocious Lola already knows plenty: she can tie her shoes, cartwheel, count, and more! In fact, Lola thinks she probably knows everything school has to teach her. However, her confidence is deflated when her older sister, Charlotte, makes her doubt herself. And while she spends the days counting down to school listing all the things she knows, Charlotte and Lola's mother gently remind her that she has plenty of exciting new things to learn, too. This funny book captures a situation that may be all too familiar to the parents of some kids, and provides a lovely way to show the adventure that kids are beginning when they start school.

We Don't Eat Our Classmates

Penelope Rex is startled to discover her classmates are all children, so she does what comes naturally... and eats them. Children are delicious, after all! Her teacher immediately gets her to spit them out, and tells her firmly that classmates are not snacks. But Penelope is always hungry, and no matter how hard she tries, she keeps forgetting the rule — until an unexpectedly voracious class pet teaches her what it feels like to be eaten! Beloved author/illustrator Ryan T. Higgins has created a laugh out loud story with a gentle message about the importance of treating others how you want to be treated. Penelope returns in We Will Rock Our Classmates and We Don't Lose Our Class Goldfish.

Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School

Young Amelia Bedelia is so excited for school! But for the literal-minded girl, things don't go as planned. When the bus driver tells her "Time to jump off!" she takes a running leap; when the librarian tells her to put her nose in a book, that hurts; and when she finds out she's supposed to stay "glued to her seat," well.... Fortunately, her gentle and understanding teacher Mrs. Edwards offers some guidance as Amelia Bedelia figures out how a school day works. Fans of the Amelia Bedelia books will love getting a peek at the literal-minded housekeeper's childhood — including her first day at school.

Wemberly Worried

Kids who are nervous generally are more likely to worry about school. Wemberly is one of those kids who worries about everything from spilling her juice to whether a snake could sneak in through the radiator, and school brings its own host of worries — including whether she'll find a friend. Fortunately, a sympathetic teacher introduces Wemberly to another nervous new student; soon the pair are not only comforting one another, but discovering that there's too much fun to be had at school — and with new friends — to spend all your time worrying.

First Day of Unicorn School

Milly is ready for her first day at Unicorn School, where rainbows and sparkles await the best and brightest young unicorns. Except Milly isn't a unicorn... she's a donkey wearing a party hat, who sent what she admits is a "misleading picture" along with her application. She's worried that she won't fit in with the other unicorns... until she realizes that quite a few of her fellow students may have secrets of their own. And when it turns out that NONE of the new students are unicorns, they come up with a clever solution — and change the name of the school to the Awesome Animal School! This laugh-out-loud picture book reminds kid that they may have more in common with others than they think — and celebrates the power of inclusiveness, too.

The Night Before First Grade

The transition from a bright, playful kindergarten class to the more serious first grade can also cause some nerves — especially if you don't have your friend by your side! In this story from "The Night Before..." series, Penny is excited for the first day of grade one — until she discovers that her best friend has been assigned to the other class. Although she's thrown temporarily, soon Penny is exploring everything her new classroom has to offer and making some new connections with other classmates. Imagine the fun stories she and her best friend can share when the school day is done!

The Day You Begin

There will be times when you walk into a room and no one there is quite like you.... There are many reasons to feel different. Maybe it's how you look or talk, or where you're from; maybe it's what you eat, or because you are quiet when others' voices fill the room. It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it. National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson lyrical text and two-time Pura Belpré Illustrator Award winner Rafael López's dazzling art celebrates the courage it takes to go out into a world where you feel strange and alone, and the acceptance and friendship you can find if you do.