As I mentioned in my last post, Jackson is starting preschool this year, and it’s a big milestone! Although he has been in daycare in the past (full-time when I was working and part-time since I’ve been at home), preschool feels much different. It’s the step before starting legit school and it just makes Jackson seem so much more grown up! Not gonna lie, I’m freaking out a little bit. I know it’s going to be so great for both of us though. We just have to get through the transition! 

Speaking of transitions, one of the things I always do to help prepare Jackson for any kind of transition is read. Whether it’s welcoming a new baby, moving from a crib to a big bed, learning to use the potty, giving up the pacifier, etc., there’s a book for it! For starting preschool, I found several preschool-related books at the library and began reading them with Jackson about a month ago. We read them before bed and sometimes even at nap time. Although I know books can’t totally erase any anxiety he may be feeling when he starts school, I do think they help by introducing the concept of preschool and making it seem familiar. I know I’m late in posting this considering school has already started back up in many areas, but in case yours hasn’t, or even if it has and your child is still struggling with jitters, here are my favorite preschool books that I’ve read.

It’s Time for Preschool: This is a sweet book that covers all the bases when it comes to preschool–drop off, circle time, sharing, playing, crafts, making friends, missing parents, etc. My favorite part is the end where it talks about going home and how parents will never forget to pick their kids up. One thing to note is that this book is rather long, and some people actually gave it bad reviews for that reason, saying it’s too much for preschool aged kids. While I agree that it’s long–much longer than my other picks here–I haven’t had any issues with Jackson not following the story or losing interest. I actually like how comprehensive it is. That said, we read a lot and his language skills are quite good, so if your kid is on the younger side and isn’t used to reading longer and more wordy books, you might prefer the shorter options. 

The Night Before Preschool: Following the format of “The Night Before Christmas,” (who doesn’t love that poem?) this book is simple, fun to read, and has adorable illustrations. It focuses on a boy named Billy who is very nervous to start preschool the next morning, and follows him through his first day. By the end of the poem, Billy’s nerves are long gone and he can’t wait to go back to school to see all his friends. 

The Berenstain Bears Go to School: We love The Berenstain Bears in this house so I knew this would be a good one. Although the book is about Sister Bear starting kindergarten and not preschool, all the concerns of starting school are the same. Sister Bear worries about not liking school and not making friends, but she winds up loving it and excited to go every morning. I sure hope this is the case with Jackson!

D.W.’s Guide to Preschool: This is part of the Arthur book series by Marc Brown, a series that Jackson knows and really likes. It’s focused on Arthur’s sassy sister, D.W., and her experience going to preschool. I like that it’s written from D.W.’s perspective, so it’s very no nonsense, and it makes preschool seem like a great time and no big deal. It’s quite pricey on Amazon for some reason, maybe it’s out of print, so if you can find this at the library, that would be the way to go.

If you have a kid starting preschool this year, I wish you the best of luck! And if you have any other favorite preschool-related books for kids, let me know. I’d love to add them to my collection!