The Best Books for Anxious Kids

The first day of school can be a nerve-wracking experience for children. It can be hard to leave mom and dad and head off to a new classroom with new kids and a new teacher. But don't worry, books can help ease back-to-school anxiety. My students always enjoy seeing plots and events in books that are similar to their own lives. The biggest benefit of reading is allowing children an opportunity to exercise their imagination. Reading books about starting school can help kids feel more prepared and less anxious about what’s to come in the upcoming school year.

Here are some of my favorite back-to-school books for anxious kids:

The Best Books for The First Day of School

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a story about a raccoon named Chester. Chester Raccoon did not want to go to school. He didn't want to leave his mother. But, she gave him a kiss and told him that she would be right there with him, every step of the way.

His mother reassures him that she will be with him every step of the way and gives him a kiss. This kiss helps him feel calm and brave as he starts his first day of school.

This book is perfect for any child who is starting school for the first time. The story is comforting and the illustrations are adorable. I highly recommend giving this book to your child as they start their journey in education.  It will help them feel strong and supported as they face new challenges.

 Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel is a story about two best friends, Frog and Toad, who go through all the ups and downs of life together. These two friends have different personalities, but they love each other anyway. Frog is always doing kind things for Toad, like making him breakfast in bed or taking him on walks. However, Toad never seems to notice all of the things Frog does for him. This doesn't bother Frog though, because he just loves being around his friend.

Frog and Toad show us that it's important to be kind to others, even if they don't always appreciate it. Frog never gets angry with Toad for not noticing all of the good things he does for him. He just keeps doing them anyway, because he knows that it makes him happy.

This story teaches children that it feels good to do good deeds, even if they go unrecognized. It also teaches them that it's important to be kind to others, no matter what.

 This book is great for teaching kids how to deal with friendship problems.

Classic Children's Books

The Berenstain Bears Go to School by Stan and Jan Berenstain is a classic tale of the first day of school. This book helps kids prepare for all the different things they might encounter on their first day at school. If you're a fan of the Berenstain Bears, you'll love their latest book, The Berenstain Bears Go to School. In this book, Sister Bear is starting school and has some nerves about it. But with the help of her teacher Miss Honey Bear and her family, she learns that school can be a lot of fun.

One of my favorite things about this book is how realistically it portrays the challenges and joys of starting school. For instance, Sister Bear is nervous about leaving her parents for the day, but soon realizes that she can make new friends and learn new things. And while there are some challenging parts to starting school - like learning to read - there are also plenty of fun activities to enjoy, like making new friends and playing in the sandbox.

If you have a child who's starting school this year, The Berenstain Bears Go to School is a great book to read together. It'll help them prepare for what to expect on their first day, and will let them know that they're not alone - plenty of other kids have been through the same experience.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling follows the story of an orphan who, on his eleventh birthday, learns he is a wizard.This book is perfect for introducing kids to the world of magic and adventure. After being raised by his aunt and uncle who despise him, Harry is excited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, he makes friends with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and begins his journey to become a wizard. Along the way, he must face off against the evil Lord Voldemort, who killed his parents when he was just a baby.

Since 1997, when the first book in the Harry Potter book was published, it has been a smashing success, with all seven books topping The New York Times bestseller list. The books have been translated into dozens of languages and have sold more than 450 million copies worldwide. The movies, which were released between 2001 and 2011, are also incredibly popular, making more than $7 billion at the box office.

Despite being targeted at children and teenagers, the Harry Potter series has become a cultural phenomenon that appeals to people of all ages. The books are full of adventure, magic, and intrigue and continue to be one of the most popular series in the world today.

Most people know the feeling of first day jitters, and that’s the topic of Julie Danneberg’s First Day Jitters. It's that feeling of anxiety and uncertainty that comes along with starting something new. For Sarah Jane Hartwell, that feeling was especially strong. She was scared and didn't want to start over at a new school. She didn't know anybody, and nobody knew her. It would be awful. She just knew it.

With much prodding from Mr. Hartwell, Sarah Jane reluctantly pulled herself together and went to school. She was quickly befriended by her classmates, who were all eager to get to know her. Sarah Jane soon realized that starting over at a new school wasn't so bad after all. In fact, it turned out to be a great experience. She made new friends and learned a lot about herself.

So if you're feeling anxious about starting something new, don't worry! It's normal to feel scared in the beginning, but chances are things will turn out just fine. Don't be afraid to take a chance and jump into the unknown. You might be surprised by what you find.

The Night Before Kindergarten by Julie Durell is a wonderful book that will help prepare your child for their first day of school. The story follows a group of kids as they get ready for kindergarten, packing school supplies and saying goodbye to their parents. But once they discover how much fun kindergarten is, they'll be ready for anything! The Night Before Kindergarten is a great way to get your child excited for their first day of school. The colorful illustrations and uplifting story will help ease any anxiety they may have about starting school. So if your child is about to start kindergarten, be sure to read them The Night Before Kindergarten! We promise it won’t disappoint. 

As a child, I always looked forward to the start of a new school year. There was something about the crispness in the air and the smell of new textbooks that just made me feel excited for what was to come. This year, however, is different. My youngest is starting kindergarten and I'm not sure how I feel about it.

On the one hand, I'm excited for her to get started on her educational journey. But on the other hand, I'm feeling a little bit anxious about letting her go. Will she be okay on her own? Will she make friends? Will she like her teacher?

Thankfully, I have Emily's First Day of School by Sarah Ferguson to help ease my worries. In this sweet story, a little girl named Emily gets ready for her first day of kindergarten by writing a letter to her future self. She talks about all of the things she's looking forward to- -making new friends, learning new things, and most importantly, having fun.

Reading this book made me feel so much better about my daughter starting kindergarten. It's helped me to remember that it's not only going to be an exciting experience for her, but also for me. After all, I'll be getting regular updates on how she's doing via report cards and class photos!

What a great book! I encourage everyone to read Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor. The story is about children with differences and challenges who work together to build a community garden. The reader learns that those children’s differences can also make them interesting and powerful in unique ways. Sotomayor’s story encourages children to Just Ask when they encounter someone who is different from them, but they’re not sure why.

I think this book is so important because it teaches kids to be accepting of others, no matter how different they may be. It also teaches kids the importance of communication and asking questions. We should all be taught these things at a young age, so that we can grow up to be more complete and forbearing adults.

I highly recommend reading Just Ask if you want to promote learning about acceptance, communication, and diversity.

These are just a few examples of great back-to-school books for anxious kids! I'm sure your local library has plenty more titles that your child can read to help ease their nerves before heading back to school.