For young children, a new school (or just the first day of school) can be scary. Many children's books have been written to try to lessen the tension.  Here are just a few of them. 

1) Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten: This book, for entering kindergartners, is catchy and fun for the younger set.  It focuses around Miss Bindergarten, a sheepdog, and her class of other animals.  Each animal has a name that coincides with what it is: for example, Zak the zebra.  It's cute and easy to read and will make children not so nervous for the first day. 

2) The Kissing Hand : This book is one of the sweetest, most touching books about first day of school jitters.  A young raccoon is nervous for his first day so his mother tells him a family secret: the kissing hand.  She opens his little hand and kisses it in the palm and tells him if he's nervous or sad at school, he can just touch his hand and the kiss will travel right through his body into his heart.  The little raccoon then gives his mother a kissing hand too. 

3) Miss Nelson is Missing: This story revolves around Miss Nelson, a sweet and beautiful teacher, and her terror of a class.  One day Miss Nelson doesn't come to school and the kids are thrilled thinking they've run her off.  In her place comes Mrs. Viola Swamp, an ugly and strict teacher who makes them so upset that they beg for Miss Nelson to return.

What are some of your favorite back to school children's groups?