As usual, the summer has fairly flown by, and the new school year is approaching. Our children or grandchildren might be thinking about the new school year with a variety of emotions, based on everything from perceived social standing to preferred level of sleep and general inactivity. And, of course, as parents and grandparents, we look at the start of the school year differently based on what our relationship to our progeny has been over the summer. We may miss them terribly, every moment they are out of the house. Or not. Regardless of what age the child is, or how they feel about the new school year, we have delightful books for all. Here’s a sample of some favorites:
Picture Books
- Bus! Stop! by James Yang (2018) - When a boy misses the city bus he takes to school, each vehicle that arrives at the bus stop is increasingly odd.
- Best Frints at Skrool by Antoinette Portis (2018) - Two aliens go to school with experiences that Earth children can relate to.
- I Walk with Vanessa: A Story about a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët (2018) - A wordless picture book about bullying; great for beginning a conversation.
- We Don’t Eat Our Classmates! by Ryan T. Higgins (2018) - T. rex Penelope keeps getting reprimanded for ingesting her classmates, and she just doesn’t get it.
- Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube (2018) - Mae hides in a tree so she won’t have to go into school, where she is joined by another child - and a teacher.
- The Pigeon Has to Go to School! by Mo Willems (2019) - Like he always does, the pigeon has feelings about starting school.
- The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright (2017) - Kevin never leaves his tree, until it falls down, and he learns the ground isn’t as scary as he thought.
Middle School
- Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez (2022) - This graphic novel brings together five overlooked Hispanic middle school students. Will they be able to work together to make a difference at their school?
- Unschooled by Allan Woodrow (2017) - Best friends end up on opposing teams during Spirit Week.
- Dread Detention by Jennifer Killick (2022) - In this horror book, four students must work together to survive Saturday detention.
- Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow (2023) - After a trauma, Simon and his family move to a small town where cell phones and internet are banned.
- Nat Enough series by Maria Scriven (2020- ) - This graphic novel series focuses on Nat as she goes into middle school and learns to focus on who she is instead of who she isn’t.
There are many more I haven’t listed that cover new friends, new situations, and new feelings. Feel free to look for your own at the library!
New at the Library
Fiction
- Silvercloak by Laura Steven
- Mrs. Endicott’s Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen
- The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh
Nonfiction
- Personal Finance in Your 20s & 30s by Eric Tyson (For Dummies series)
- A Beginner’s Guide to Dying by Simon Boas
- Card Games: The World’s Best Card Games by Sara Harper
Children
- Watch Out for Falling Iguanas by Edwidge Danticat
- The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia by Philip Parker
- Giant by Judith McQuoid
