First Day of Preschool Books

The first week of preschool is a very tricky time! We have to spend the majority of each day just teaching our little ones how to do school-- where to put their backpacks, how to sit on the carpet, what to do if they have to go to the bathroom, how to carry scissors, where to line up, and on and on and on. Instead of planning great themes and dramatic play centers for our class that first week, we focus on survival!

It is important that we plan great books for the first week, keeping in mind that our goal is survival and not college prep! Our youngest students will have attention spans that might (if we're lucky) range from 2-5 minutes. The first week is not the right time to pull out a 15 minute book!

The perfect First Week of School books must have at least 1 of these qualities to make the cut:

1. Students can MOVE while they listen.
The first day of preschool might be the first time that some 3-year-olds have had to sit "criss cross applesauce" on the floor with a dozen other kids. They might not be very good at it, and they might be restless and ready to go home. Read them a book that doesn't require sitting!

Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley

Here Are My Hands by Bill Martin Jr.

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

2. Students can INTERACT with the story.
Books that ask questions and encourage the students to participate in the story are perfect!

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

The Monster at the end of this Book

Press Here by Herve Tullet

3. The book has REPEATING text.

Books that have a verse or line that repeats throughout the story are great because they allow the students to interact and join in! If you can read Pete and not have "I'm rocking in my school shoes" stuck in your head all day, then my hat goes off to you. 

Pete the Cat Rocking in my School Shoes by Eric Litwin

Make sure that you download the free audio! It's the best part of this book.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin Jr.


Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton

4. The story RHYMES.
Rhyming books are perfect because their sing-songy feeling helps to make sure that they don't drag on. Even if the book is a tiny bit longer, the rhyme will help hold our young students' attention!

I Love School! by Philemon Sturges

Mouse's First Day of School by Lauren Thompson

Silly Sally by Audrey Wood

Which books do you plan to read to your preschoolers during the first week of school? I'd love to hear your favorites so that I can add them to my list.