As the summer days dwindle, the stores begin filling up with boxes of pencils and fresh pencil cases, sparkling clean backpacks and stacks of crayons waiting for the magic to happen. Many parents may wonder, “What does my child need for kindergarten besides school supplies?” Well, the library has you covered! There are materials to prepare parents as well as students, resources to help you prepare your child for a full day of learning and books to help your kindergartener navigate the world of social and emotional learning.
It’s important to remember that you are your child’s first and most important teacher, so creating a comfortable environment for learning is key. Our website is a great place to start. Under Parents & Caregivers, you’ll find Scholastic Teachables. This treasure trove of information offers printable educational materials that you can access with your library card. Your little students will be able to practice their skills like writing, communication and math - and it won’t even seem like homework!
You can also introduce your child to the world of kindergarten through Easy Fiction picture books. Many books describe the anxiety and excitement of starting school, and help your child learn what to expect from the first day, the first 100 days, all the way to Kindergarten graduation.
Here are some great titles to get your kindergartner excited for their new adventure:
Kindergarten: Where Kindness Matters Every Day by Vera Aiyyaa
Leo, a quiet kid who is not ready for his first day of kindergarten, ends up having a great day when he makes a kindness pledge and discovers he knows a lot about being kind to others.
Getting Ready for Kindergarten by Vera Ahiyya
It's almost the first day of school and everyone is busy getting ready. A young girl and her parent pack a healthy lunch, fill her backpack with supplies, pick out a colorful outfit, and take a special photo... but is that everything she will need for her big first day?
The Queen of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
Instilled with confidence by her parents, a young girl has a great first day of kindergarten.
The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes
Instilled with confidence by his parents, a young boy has a great first day of kindergarten.
Kindergarten, Here I Come!By David Steinberg
Follows a child through kindergarten, from checking off a list of supplies for the first day through saying goodbye to the teacher on the last one.
Kitty Vs. Kindergarten by Martha Freeman
Kitty fights tooth and claw against any kind of change, but when he goes to kindergarten, he finds that new experiences can be a positive thing.
I'm Going to Kindergarten!by Andrea Posner-Sanchez
A terrific Little Golden Book to get your little one excited about starting kindergarten—told from the point of view of a very excited student experiencing the first day of school!
Ready for Kindergarten by Bethany V. Freitas
With each spread featuring a different kid-friendly, kindergarten-ready activity, this picture book, written in a call-and-response format, follows a diverse cast of soon-to-be kindergartners as they get ready for their first day of school.
Kindergarten's Cool By Linda Elovitz Marshall
Rhyming text describes the activities a child experiences on the first day of kindergarten.
Kindergarten Luck by Louise Borden
After he finds a brand new shiny penny, Theodore has a perfect day in Kindergarten.
Then you can expand your child’s reading journey into Easy Readers. Our team of librarians have prepared a book list of Easy Readers for Kindergarten, featuring your child’s favorite characters Pete the Cat, Pinkilicious, Elephant and Piggie and more, that will keep them engaged and develop a love of reading.
When you want to make productive use of screen time, you can download TumbleBooks onto your child’s tablet. This fantastic online resource offers over 1,200 animated and talking picture books, along with puzzles, games and books in French and Spanish.
This is your kindergartner’s first big-kid milestone, they may have a lot of big feelings. There are many thoughtful books about how to deal with the new emotions they may be experiencing. Share a classic like The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn or Mama, Don't Go! by the beloved author Rosemary Wells.
When paired with the exciting stories about how much fun kindergarten is, your big kid will feel right at home in their new classroom. And you’ll feel better, too!
