Thematic Lists

Six children aged from kindergarten to the fifth grade share their excitement for the new school year, from meeting new teachers and friends to preparing to leave in the morning. Ethan is nervous about starting Kindergarten. First grader Zach is worried about having to learn everything all over again. Katie finds out that their second-grade teacher's name starts with "Mr." It turns out that Jackie isn't the only third grader who gets dropped off early each morning. Carlos notices only a few other fourth graders who look like him. Fifth grader Mia takes time to adjust her hearing aids and is almost late

Why does the Pigeon have to go to school? He already knows everything! And what if he doesn't like it? What if the teacher doesn't like him? What if he learns TOO MUCH!?! Ask not for whom the school bell rings; it rings for the Pigeon!

It's the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone's just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself. What will the children do once they come? Will they like the school? Will they be nice to him? The school has a rough start, but as the day goes on, he soon recovers when he sees that he's not the only one going through first-day jitters.

Children Just Like Me: A School Like Mine looks at different countries and cultures around the globe and reveals the lives of children as they learn at school. Broaden children's views of the world and learn about the daily lives of real students from places near and far, from Australia to South Korea. Where do children in Jordan learn? What subjects do they study in Egypt? Through the shared experiences of a school routine, Children Just Like Me: A School Like Mine highlights the differences and similarities between international schools, using school activities, classrooms, meals, and playtime in photographs and easy-to-understand text. From Africa to the Americas, students explain their daily routines in their own words and talk about what makes their schools special to them. Children can learn about their international peers through these engaging photographic stories of students.

When North American kids picture a school, odds are they see rows of desks, stacks of textbooks, and linoleum hallways. But there are schools in caves, on boats, and on train platforms; there are green schools, mobile schools, and even treehouse schools. There's a whole world of unusual schools out there! But the most amazing thing about them isn't their location or what they look like. It's that many of these schools have been able to provide safe learning environments for students who have unique lifestyles and who face tough environmental and cultural challenges. Education is not readily available for kids everywhere, and many communities lack the resources that would make it easier for kids to go to school--but people around the world are finding creative ways to make education happen. In Off to Class, readers will travel around the globe to visit some of these incredible schools and, through personal interviews, meet the students who attend them, too. Their stories aren't just inspiring--they'll also get you to think about school and the world in a whole new way!

Whether they take a school bus, a boat, or a rickshaw to get there, kids around the globe are going to school and growing smarter and more curious every day. Beautiful, joy-filled, color photographs of children studying, learning, exploring, and having fun from nation to nation, will inspire readers of all ages with the excitement of discovery and sharing new ideas.

Today is the very first day of school! Busy Bus is excited, but he also has some first-day jitters. Will the children like him? Will he be homesick? What if he gets lost?! Luckily, bus driver Ben knows just what to do to make sure that the school year gets off to a great start.

Today is a big day! Today, Lena starts kindergarten. She is very excited. But there's just one problem... Lena's shoes are nervous. Lena doesn't want to miss out on her first day of school, but she can't go without her favorite shoes! How can she convince them to be brave?

Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever desperately wanted to fit in? America understands how you feel. America dreams of adventures, making new friends, and being strong. But America's first day at a new school turns out to be a nightmare. Fortunately, America's new teacher introduces the Welcome Wagon-a cart filled with books about real-life historical figures who also had trouble feeling accepted. When America falls asleep that night, Amelia Earhart, Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr., and Emma Lazarus jump off the pages to share their stories-inspiring America to return to school the next day and make their dreams come true. While we never see America, Bob McKinnon's lyrical writing and Thai My Phuong's unique, sweeping art helps readers see the world through America's eyes and encourages us all to be as kind as we are brave, because everyone always deserves to feel welcome.

Catchy rhymes and visual cues introduce young readers to the people they'll encounter as they embark on their first day of school. Drying clothes suggest different people the reader will meet on the first day of school. From teacher to custodian, from crossing guard to new friends, who wears what?

Peanut Butter has a big day tomorrow--it's his first day at a new school! With help from his friends, Peanut Butter can have a great first day, because they'll all go together- Peanut Butter and Hamburger and Cupcake and Egg and Meatball and French Fries and Soup and... of course Jelly.

Mirha is so excited for her first day of school! She can't wait to learn, play, and make new friends. But when her classmates mispronounce her name, she goes home wondering if she should find a new one. Maybe then she'd be able to find a monogrammed keychain at the gas station or order a hot chocolate at the cafe more easily. Mama helps Mirha to see how special her name is, and she returns to school the next day determined to help her classmates say it correctly--even if it takes a hundred tries.

This is no ordinary first journey. The rainy season has come to the Mekong Delta, and An, a young Vietnamese boy, sets out alone in a wooden boat wearing a little backpack and armed only with a single oar. On the way, he is confronted by giant crested waves, heavy rainfall and eerie forests where fear takes hold of him. Although daunted by the dark unknown, An realizes that he is not alone and continues to paddle. He knows it will all be worth it when he reaches his destination--one familiar to children all over the world.

Little Bat can't wait for his first night of school. He is excited about everything: his new school supplies, learning amazing things, and making new friends. But when he finally arrives, his world turns upside down. Any little bat who's tried something new or gone somewhere they've never been before knows that first times can be scary. With the help of Little Bat and his adorable classmates, readers will see that spreading your wings is easy when you listen, act with kindness, and take a chance on new friends.

English, with its blustery blues and whites, just feels wrong to Isabel. She prefers the warm oranges and pinks of Spanish. As she prepares for class at a new school, she knows she's going to have to learn--and she would rather not! Her first day is uncomfortable, until she discovers there's more than one way to communicate with friends. This is a universal story about feeling new and making new friends.

Calvin has always been a boy, even if the world sees him as a girl. He knows who he is in his heart and in his mind but he hasn't yet told his family. Finally, he can wait no longer- "I'm not a girl," he tells his family. "I'm a boy--a boy in my heart and in my brain." Quick to support him, his loving family takes Calvin shopping for the swim trunks he's always wanted and back-to-school clothes and a new haircut that helps him look and feel like the boy he's always known himself to be. As the first day of school approaches, he's nervous and the "what-ifs" gather up inside him. But as his friends and teachers rally around him and he tells them his name, all his "what-ifs" begin to melt away. Inspired by the authors' own transgender child and accompanied by warm and triumphant illustrations, this authentic and personal text promotes kindness and empathy, offering a poignant and inclusive back-to-school message- all should feel safe, respected, and welcomed.

My Mommy tells me I'm perfect and to be brave. "You know who you are," she says, "Just be yourself and always listen to your heart." With those words of encouragement from her Mom, Phoenix is preparing for her first day of school. She is excited but scared of being bullied because of her gender identity and expression. Yet when she arrives at school she finds help and support from teachers and friends, and finds she is brave enough to talk to other kids about her gender!

Meet Danbi, the new girl at school! Danbi is thrilled to start her new school in America. But a bit nervous too, for when she walks into the classroom, everything goes quiet. Everyone stares. Danbi wants to join in the dances and the games, but she doesn't know the rules and just can't get anything right. Luckily, she isn't one to give up. With a spark of imagination, she makes up a new game and leads her classmates on a parade to remember!

It's almost the first day of school, and the animals are nervous. Sloth worries about getting there on time, snake can't seem to get his backpack fastened onto his body, and bunny is afraid she'll want to hop around instead of sitting still. When they all arrive at their classroom, though, they're in for a surprise- Somebody else is nervous too. It's their teacher, the armadillo! He has rolled in as a ball, and it takes him a while to relax and unfurl. But by the next day, the animals have all figured out how to help one another through their jitters. School isn't so scary after all.

When Fang the shark is invited by his friends to attend Mini Minnows Elementary, he thinks it's a great idea! But then his first day of school arrives . . . and suddenly, he's not so sure. He's not very good at reading or math. He doesn't exactly fit in with his classmates. And the teacher looks crabby! Can Fang's best friend, Nugget, and the other minnows turn things around and prove to him that school really is fang-tastic? This reassuring first-day-of-school and friendship story is full of heart and humor, showing that everyone feels like a fish out of water sometimes, and that it's important to be a good friend.

In this humorous and reassuring picture book, a sweet fairy has a fun-filled first day at school. Her experience is remarkably similar to the first day of preschool for human children. From circle time (sitting crisscross berry sauce) to center time (art, spells, tooth), all the activities one might encounter at school are explored, with sweet fairy-like touches. Best of all is the kind, warm teacher and plenty of new friends. The perfect story to ease fears and build anticipation for any child--human or fairy--starting school for the first time.

A diverse class of excited youngsters are about to start school and experience all its wonders! Small moments like discovering one's own cubby space and big moments like a first nature walk are all brought to life with inviting artwork. This is a great book to help familiarize children with all the activities they can expect at school, from circle time to snack time to goodbye time, all the while sharing the experiences with lots of great new friends.

It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex, and she can't wait to meet her classmates. But it's hard to make human friends when they're so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all...

Second grade? Pfff! No, thanks. The comically anxious narrator in this book thought that first grade had its problems, but overall it was pretty awesome. He'll take grade one over grade two any day, thank you very much! Especially because he and Tyler, his best friend, will not be in the same class this school year. On top of that, Tyler's sisters have been feeding the boys a steady stream of rumors about the horrors of second grade. Luckily they catch on that just maybe some of those stories are not one hundred percent true. Could it be that second grade is not so bad? Find out in this laugh-out-loud story that has more than its fair share of heart.

The first day of school becomes chaotic when third-grader Will's younger brother, Steve, arrives for kindergarten. Will should be excited to start third grade. But his little brother, Steve, is starting kindergarten. The same laugh-out-loud writing and hilarious illustrations that brought us How Not to Babysit Your Brother now portray the tribulations and embarrassments of starting school with a very troublesome little brother. School will never be the same!

Count along with twenty young students from nineteen different homes as they get ready for their first day of kindergarten. Alarm clocks go off and students all over town wake up and get ready for their big day. Some feel eager, others are nervous, and a few are even grumpy! But they all get dressed, eat breakfast, pack backpacks, and make their way to school, where they will meet their new teacher and become a wonderful new class. Boni Ashburn's snappy rhyming text and Kimberly Gee's adorable and diverse group of children make this a great pick for little ones getting ready for their first day of school.

In this first day of school story with a twist, nervous alien Dewey Dew learns that new experiences--like going to school on another planet--might be okay after all. Click-Clack Waddle Dot Dewey Dew from Planet Eight Hundred Seventy-Two Point Nine does not want to go to school--not on his planet, and definitely not on Planet Earth at Mrs. Brightsun's School for Little Learners! Everything on Earth is different. His clothes don't fit right, his classmates don't look like him, and even Earth noises sound weird. Will Dewey Dew's first day of school turn out ok after all?

Albert can't wait for his very first day of school. But when Monday arrives, he finds that being at school is a lot different from being at home. Albert is in for a week full of surprises!

Mr. Fish is nervously awaiting his first day of school, and he frets about not knowing how to write his name, how to draw shapes, and how to do math--until he's reassured that school is the perfect place to learn how to master all of these new skills.

It is the first day of school in Chad, Africa. Children are filling the road. "Will they give us a notebook?" Thomas asks. "Will they give us a pencil? Will I learn to read?" But when he and the other children arrive at the schoolyard, they find no classroom, no desks. Just a teacher. "We will build our school," she says. "This is our first lesson." James Rumford, who lived in Chad as a Peace Corps volunteer, fills these pages with vibrant ink-and-pastel colors of Africa and the spare words of a poet to show how important learning is in a country where only a few children are able to go to school.

Sophy, a determined young girl living in an impoverished Cambodian village, fulfills her dream of going to school--with the help of a pair of running shoes

In this beginning reader, today is the first day of school. The Dinotrux are nervous! What will they eat for lunch? Will their teacher be nice? But the Dinotrux don't need to worry. They can help each other. And school isn't scary. It's fun, especially when you are part dinosaur and part truck!

All Rufus Leroy Williams III wants is to go to school so he can learn to read his favorite book. But there's one problem: he's a pig and Principal Lipid says: "NO PIGS IN SCHOOL!" Rufus even gets a backpack, a lunchbox, and a blanket to prove he's ready. But Mr. Lipid wont budge. Is there ANYTHING Rufus can do to change his mind? Kim Griswell and illustrator Valeri Gorbachev have created a love letter to reading that's also a charming, original, and child-friendly first-day-of-school story.

Amelia Bedelia is sure that she will absolutely love school--after all, what's not to love? But after hopping on the bus "just like a bunny" (hurry up, sweetie!), confusing her name tag with a game (we are not playing tag), and gluing herself to her seat (oh, dear), Amelia Bedelia discovers that what she takes for granted is not always the way the world works. Still, friendships are formed, lessons are learned, and projects are completed, and through it all Amelia Bedelia's teacher, Mrs. Edwards, offers gentle guidance and an open heart.

For Hubie, preparing for school is worse than actually going to class -- his mother picks out all the wrong clothes, he endures anxiety-provoking visits to the doctor and dentist, and there are rumors about a new teacher who is worse than any other

Five little monkeys go shopping for school clothes with their mama, but in spite of her warnings about not wandering off, things quickly get complicated

Suki's favorite possession is her blue cotton kimono. A gift from her obachan, it holds special memories of her grandmother's visit last summer. And Suki is going to wear it on her first day back to school -- no matter what anyone says. When it's Suki's turn to share with her classmates what she did during the summer, she tells them about the street festival she attended with her obachan and the circle dance that they took part in. In fact, she gets so carried away reminiscing that she's soon humming the music and dancing away, much to the delight of her entire class! Filled with gentle enthusiasm and a touch of whimsy, Suki's Kimono is the joyful story of a little girl whose spirit leads her to march -- and dance -- to her own drumbeat.

Dinosaur is starting preschool today. ROAAAR! There are new friends to meet, dress-up outfits to wear, glitter and googly eyes to paste, musical instruments to play, and snacks to eat. What's not to like? But then... oh, no! It's Dinosaur vs. Clean-up Time! Fortunately, when friends work together, everyone wins!

Maria is from Spain, Jin is from Korea, and Fatima is from Somalia. All three are new to their American elementary school, and each has trouble speaking, writing, and sharing ideas in English. Through self-determination and with encouragement from their peers and teachers, the students learn to feel confident and comfortable in their new school without losing a sense of their home country, language, and identity. Young readers from all backgrounds will appreciate this touching story about the assimilation of three immigrant students in a supportive school community.

In this companion story to I'm New Here, three elementary schoolers--who aren't new--begin to understand and embrace three immigrant students. Are you new here? Do you know someone new? In I'm New Here and Someone New, young readers explore the immigrant experience through both "windows" and "mirrors." In I'm New Here, readers meet three recent immigrants trying to adjust to a new country and school. In Someone New, the same story is told from the perspective of the students who welcome the newcomers. An honest and heartwarming look at diversity, inclusion, and friendship.

In this book Meg brings her prairie diary to an end describing her days in the Kansas Territory, a deadly twister, and the start of school

Briefly describes how school in the United States has changed through the years, including such topics as transportation, supplies, and subjects taught

With more than 80 activities in each book, these valuable resources will enrich your curriculum. For each activity, literature links promote reading, while Internet links encourage the best use of technology. Individual and team projects for K-5 classrooms, connected to NCTE standards.
Includes an activity for the First Day of School

With more than 80 activities in each book, these valuable resources will enrich your curriculum. For each activity, literature links promote reading, while Internet links encourage the best use of technology. Individual and team projects for K-5 classrooms, connected to NCTE standards.
Includes an activity entitled "Back To School Supplies"

The only thing better than making things is making memories. No matter what the season, enjoy gathering together as a family to express your creativity. The hundreds of fantastic projects in this book will spark imaginations and provide hours of fun and conversation through the year.
Includes a section with back to school projects

A comprehensive collection of the best art and craft activities for young children. The result of a nationwide competition, these art and craft activities are the best of the best. Just the thing to add pizzazz to your day!
Includes a section entitled "Starting School"

This book provides educators and support staff with viable and inspired ways to meet the particular needs of children in transition, whether it be children who have recently moved to a new home or children who will be moving in the future. This ground-breaking volume provides a model of transition education that can be used in all elementary schools - public, independent, and international - and is easily integrated into an existing curriculum. The authors have chosen quality children's literature as a springboard for learning about transitions and have developed excellent follow-up activities to use in the classroom. Books include those written by such beloved children's authors as Eve Bunting and Betty Bao Lord and some newer favorites like Kevin Henkes. Appendices include Children's Literature Resources, Suggested Resources Related to Transition, and Tips for Parents.

These open-ended Holiday & Seasonal Chipper Chat game boards will provide hours of fun all year 'round. The open-ended, themed game boards display celebrations, holidays, famous Americans' birthdays, and national observances every month of the year from back to school to the end of summer.
Choose your teaching topics: articulation, fluency, reading, math...any lesson! Students earn magnetic chips by making correct responses. After filling a game board with chips, the fun begins as the students move the magnetic wand over them and watch the chips "fly!"
Contains a game board related to Back to School