As teachers and librarians are busy preparing for the new academic year, we’ve gathered a list of titles to help ease kids’ transition from summer to fall, including their return to the classroom.

100 Things I Love About School by Amy Schwartz, illus. by Dasha Tolstikova. Abrams Appleseed, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-7238-2. Ages 3–5. In this addition to the 100 Things series, the late Schwartz offers a rhyming celebration of the joys of the classroom. Featuring illustrations by Tolstikova, the book includes a poster of all 100 things, fit for classroom decoration.

ABCs of Kindness at School by Patricia Hegarty, illus. by Summer Macon. Rodale Kids, $8.99 board; ISBN 979-8-217-11549-5. Ages up to 3. The 12th title in the Books of Kindness series follows a parade of animals on their alphabetical journey in discovering joy and generosity at school.

All the Ways We Learn by Chloe Ito Ward, illus. by Yaroslava Apollonova. Rise x Penguin Workshop, $18.99; ISBN 979-8-217-05037-6. Ages 3–6. Starting with a curiosity-led prompt—“What does learning look like?”—neurodivergent team Ito Ward and Apollonova highlight classroom accommodations in this supportive title. See our q&a with the author about how she pulled from her personal experiences as a student and teacher to write this story. The book received a starred review from PW.

Amina Banana and the Formula for Fairness by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, illus. by Aaliya Jaleel. Putnam, $16.99 hardcover, ISBN 978-0-593-69925-6; $6.99 paper, ISBN 978-0-593-69920-1. Ages 6–9. STEM-minded third grader Amina returns in the fourth installment of this chapter book series from National Book Award winner Safadi and illustrator Jaleel. This time, the young Syrian Muslim immigrant navigates teamwork and rivalry while participating in the school science fair.

Brave Like a Lion! How a Puppeteer Found Her Voice by Megan Piphus, illus. by Niña Mata. Dial, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-85759-5. Ages 3–7. Teaming up with illustrator Mata, Sesame Street puppeteer Piphus debuts with a peppy creativity-oriented story of how a Black girl’s passion for puppetry helps her acclimate to a new school. It’s a reassuring peek at one student navigating timidity by embracing star energy.

Buddy Up! (Squishy School #1) by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illus. by Becky Cas. Random House, $6.99 paper, ISBN 979-8-217-12398-8. Ages 6–9. In a jovial chapter book series launch with Toy Story flair, Bardhan-Quallen and Cas zoom in on a population of animal-shaped classroom toys encountering interpersonal dynamics on their first day of Squishy School, “where students stick together to learn!” Shape-based b&w art depicts every friendship mishap and opportunity across this animated, bubbly look at first-day-of-school-jitters.

Cantaloupe and HoneyDo Take the Bus by Mike Boldt. Dial, $19.99; ISBN 979-8-21700532-1. Ages 3–7. In this installment of the Can Do series, two melon friends—one cautious and the other confident—ride the bus to school for the first time.

Cat and Lola: School Picture Day by Melissa Villaseñor, illus. by Jimena Sánchez Sarquiz. Gloo, $16.95 hardcover, Sept. 22, ISBN 978-1-962351-36-2; $9.95 paper, ISBN 978-1-962351-37-9. Ages 6–10. Free-spirited Lola ropes her adopted fancy cat, aptly named Cat, into helping her find the perfect outfit for her school photo.

A Day Off School by Oliver Jeffers, illus. by Oliver Jeffers and Kevin Waldron. Philomel, $18.99; ISBN 979-8-217-03999-9. Ages 4–8. Time at home with “the sniffles” yields wild imaginings for the familiar-feeling child at the heart of Jeffers and Waldron’s madcap account. The restorative power of boredom cures all in this audacious tale. Before kids head back to school, and to fend off any boredom while traveling this summer, they can check out Jeffers’s Yoto Daily Draw Along with Trainline.

Doing Something New: A Prayer for Beginnings by Mitali Perkins, illus. by Andrés Landazábal. IVP, $18.99 Aug. 11; ISBN 978-1-5140-1332-8. Ages 4–8. Using the Bible’s Beatitudes as a framework, Perkins and Landazábal build a prayer-anchored narrative for children experiencing anxiety over new situations—here exemplified by starting at a new school.

The Explorers by Dee Hahn, illus. by Ashlyn Anstee. Dial, $18.99; ISBN 979-8-217-00664-9. Ages 3–7. Hahn and Anstee’s heart-tugging intergenerational tale gently guides readers through the anxiety that can come with a new life stage. As Etta begins kindergarten and Grandma Maisie moves into a senior living facility nearby, the single narrative shifts to a parallel peek at their solo adventures.

Fall Day, All Day by Kari Percival. Rise x Penguin Workshop, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-593-88862-9. Ages 2–4. Reminiscent of a field guide, Percival’s sprightly account features jaunty prose and texturized digital woodcut prints that invite readers to reflect on autumnal transformations. The book received a starred review from PW.

First Day of School (Mission Milestone) by Derek Shun, illus. by Benson Shum. Simon Spotlight, $10.99; ISBN 979-8-3471-0842-8. Ages 3–7. In Shun and Shum’s affable launch of a series focused on new early childhood experiences, two “Star Scouts” embark on a mission: the first day of school. Alongside his best friend, orange extraterrestrial Sid, panda protagonist Ollie heads out to “learn new things and meet new friends.” Ollie’s cheerful, patient way make him a model ambassador for representing age-appropriate firsts.

I’ll Love You Till the Sloths Start School by Kathryn Cristaldi, illus. by Kristyna Litten. HarperCollins, $9.99 Aug. 25; ISBN 978-0-06-337661-8. Ages up to 4. In this new addition to the I’ll Love You Till series, a pair of sloths make their way over to school on their own time.

In This Classroom by Andrew Hackett, illus. by Arthur Lin. Red Comet, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-636-55181-4. Ages 4–8. Second-grade teacher Hackett offers a vision of an inclusive and supportive classroom where children are empowered to learn and grow.

Kindergarten Gets Ready by Naomi Danis, illus. by Pete Oswald. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-58113-4. Ages 4–6. A teacher prepares for the first day of school in this insightful behind-the-scenes book. Through the actions of bespectacled, brown-skinned educator Mr. Bee, readers watch the kindergarten classroom transform for the new school year. The book received a starred review from PW.

My Super Duper Me by Malcolm Mitchell, illus. by Deise Lino. Orchard, $19.99 Sept. 1; ISBN 978-1-338-22533-4. Ages 4–8. A school librarian comes to the rescue in this celebration of books’ transformative power from former NFL player Mitchell and collaborator Lino. Together, the creators deliver an MVP-worthy pep talk in praise of books, educators, and libraries.

Once Upon a Pickup Time by Johanna Lindemann, trans. from the German by Christian Maclean, illus. by Mareiki Ammersken. Floris, $18.99; ISBN 978-178250-957-8. Ages 3–6. An imaginative kindergartener uses storytelling to turn disappointment into diversion in Lindemann and Ammersken’s relatable tale. Pickup time has rarely been so entertaining.

Our Favorite Day of the Week by Ashley Franklin and Rahele Jomepour. Salaam Reads, $19.99 Sept. 29; ISBN 978-1-66593-567-8. Ages 4–8. In this sequel to the bestselling Our Favorite Day of the Year, Musa and his classmates share which days of the week are the most special to each of them.

School Spirits by Charlotte Gunnufson, illus. by Rebecca Crane. Atheneum, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-66596-451-7. Ages 4–8. One child’s school scaries manifest as mischievous ghosts in this spirited spin on facing first-day fears. Channeling nervous energy into positive vibes, this picture book offers a jolly relational game plan for tackling new-school-year jitters.

Simply Winnie by Winnie Harlow, illus. by Sawyer Cloud. Penguin Workshop, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-75360-6. Ages 4–8. Teaming up with artist Cloud, entrepreneur and model Harlow debuts with a school-day story about a fashionista with vitiligo who prioritizes being herself. Appealing digital illustrations spotlight the vibrant protagonist across this inspirational telling.

Stubby: A Pencil’s Journey by Sydra Mallery, illus. by John Hare. Greenwillow, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-236431-9. Part imagined autobiography, part how-things-work documentary, this quirky picture book presents the life story of an anthropomorphic pencil. Stubby, the account’s well-worn graphite-filled narrator, recounts its odyssey from its origins as a giant cedar to its jarring machine harvest and trip through the timber yard and pencil factory and into the hands of a classroom’s denizens.

Teachers in the Wild by Brad Davidson, illus. by Rachel Más Davidson. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-51630-3. Ages 4–8. The husband-and-wife creators offer a humorous field guide for young readers encountering their teachers outside of the familiar context of school.

What Do We Do in Preschool? by Kathryn Wanless. Red Comet, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-63655-163-0. Ages 3–6. Former early childhood educator Wanless has an inside track on just how this thing called preschool works, and her smartly structured solo debut supplies a lighthearted and reassuringly specific lowdown. Painting preschool as a welcoming and fun destination, spare, perky text and airy pastel-hued images offer up a consistent what-to-expect scaffolding for preschoolers-to-be. The book received a starred review from PW.

When You Meet My Friend by Mark Sperring, illus. by Marisa Morea. Tiger Tales, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-6643-0088-0. Ages 3–7. In what feels like a gentle open letter to readers, an unseen narrator expresses all the ways they hope their child companion will be welcomed on the first day of school: “Would you give a happy wave,/ then offer them a seat?// I promise you, this friend of mine/ is someone you should meet!” Kindness prevails and new pals abound in this cozy, uplifting work.

Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly’s Classroom? by Chris Priestley, illus. by Mariachiara Di Giorgio. Candlewick, $18.99 Sept. 1; ISBN 978-1-5362-4501-1 9781536245011. Ages 4–8. Tasked with a simple errand, an intrepid student embarks on an eerie, winding journey through “her strange new school” in Priestley and Di Giorgio’s uncanny picture book. The book received a starred review from PW.