Between new shoes, sharpened pencils, and a backpack that somehow still smells brand new, back-to-school season brings a mix of excitement and nerves for kids — and honestly, for the grown-ups dropping them off, too. These six Xist Publishing picture books cover the whole morning, from the chaos of getting dressed to the wobbly first steps through the classroom door to the friendships (and jokes) that make school feel like home. Here's our back-to-school lineup.
1. Time to Get Ready, Bunny!
1. Time to Get Ready, Bunny!
Written and illustrated by Brenda Ponnay
Every school morning starts somewhere, and for one very silly bunny, it starts with a wake-up call that goes sideways. Bunny gets dressed — sort of, cycling through a frog onesie, beach gear, and a pirate costume before finally settling on real clothes — brushes his teeth, eats breakfast, and hunts down his shoes and backpack before finally making it out the door and off to school. With its bright, playful illustrations and a running "Bunny!" refrain, this one turns the everyday scramble of getting ready into something kids will want to read (and laugh at) again and again. A fun, funny start to any back-to-school reading list, and a great pick for the littlest students who are just learning the morning routine.
Ages 2–5
2. Little Hoo Goes to School
2. Little Hoo Goes to School
Written and illustrated by Brenda Ponnay
First-day nerves get a name and a face in this gentle story about a young owl named Little Hoo. As she worries about missing her mom, whether she'll like her teacher, and whether she'll get hungry, her mother meets each fear with a warm, specific reassurance — right down to a special packed lunch. Little Hoo heads off to school and comes home having made new friends and had a great day. With its soothing question-and-answer structure and huggable owl illustrations, this is a natural choice for reading together the night before the first day.
Ages 2–5
3. Nonnie and I
3. Nonnie and I
Set on the plains of Botswana, this sweet story follows a young girl and her best friend Nonnie — a giraffe she's raised since Nonnie lost her family as a baby — on their last afternoon together before the girl's first day of school. She's sad to leave Nonnie behind, but at school she meets a new friend, Adanna, and by the end of the day she's discovered something every kid eventually learns: making a new friend doesn't mean losing an old one. The warm, painterly illustrations of the African savanna make this a standout read for talking through first-day worries about leaving someone (or something) important behind.
Ages 3–7
4. Peg Finds Her Place
4. Peg Finds Her Place
Written and illustrated by Brenda Ponnay
Peg is a heart-shaped peg in a world of squares and circles, and at school, neither group is sure what to make of her. The squares tease her for being too round, the circles tease her for being too pointy, and switching between them to fit in just leaves her exhausted. It isn't until a game where every peg has to find its matching hole that Peg discovers a heart-shaped slot made just for her — and learns that fitting in matters a lot less than finding where you truly belong. A warm, timely read for classroom cliques, peer pressure, and the relief of being accepted exactly as you are.
Ages 3–7
5. The Children at the Playground
5. The Children at the Playground
Written by Tracey M. Cox, illustrated by Dolores Costello
Once the backpacks are unpacked and the school day gets rolling, recess is never far behind — and this bouncy, rhyming read captures all of it. Three playground regulars swing, slide, hop the tires, cross the monkey bars, and share a picnic before heading home tuckered out. The repetitive, sound-driven text (think "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh") makes it a favorite for read-alouds with the littlest listeners, and a fun way to get toddlers and preschoolers excited about outdoor play and school-yard fun.
Ages 1–4
6. Too School for Cool
6. Too School for Cool
Written and illustrated by Brenda Ponnay
Once the first-day jitters have settled, it's time for a laugh — and this joke book delivers, spread after spread. Each page pairs a school-themed riddle ("Why was the math book so sad?") with a punny answer ("It was filled with problems!") and bold, silly illustrations covering everything from the school bus to the library to homework. There's no better way to send a new student off with a smile, or to keep the laughs going once they're home and ready to share their favorite joke from the day.
Ages 4–8
Whichever stage of back-to-school your reader is in — still working on getting dressed, nervous about the first bell, or just looking for a laugh — there's a Xist Publishing book for that. Browse the full collection and find the perfect read to send along with the new backpack this year.
