Books to Help Kids Fight the Back-to-School Scaries

This is the time of year when lots of kids, teens, and even adults are feeling anxious about transitioning back into school or starting in a new school. If you or someone you love is suffering from a case of the back-to-school scaries, here are some books that can help with a range of the common worries that kids (of all ages) face.

Separation anxiety

The world can be a scary place! Many kids (and adults!) struggle with leaving the safety and security of the nest. Here are some books for a range of ages that can help.

LLama LLama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney (Ages 2–5)
It's Llama Llama's first day of preschool and he's so excited—until it's time for Mama to leave. Will Mama Llama come back? Of course she will. But before she does, the other kids show Llama Llama how much fun school can be.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn (Ages 3–7)
School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester's fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary.

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (Ages 4–8)
A mother reassures her children that they're all connected by an invisible string. Her children are incredulous. "What kind of string?" The answer is simple: an invisible string made of love. A companion workbook is also available!

What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart by Kristen Lavallee and Silvia Schneider (Agest 6–10)
Flying a hot air balloon may sound like fun to some kids. But for other kids, the idea of flying off on their own doesn't sound like fun at all. If you feel scared when you do something alone or away from your parents, this book can help.

Fear of the unknown

Heading into new situations and taking on new challenges can be overwhelming and anxiety producing at any age. These books offer stories and strategies to help us manage these feelings.

The Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague (Ages 3–5)
This is the story of a circle. When we're first born, our circle is very small, but as we grow and build relationships, our circle keeps getting bigger and bigger to include family, friends, neighbors, community, and beyond.

The End is Just the Beginning by Mike Bender (Ages 3–7)
Accompanied by inspiring illustrations by Diana Mayo, this story is ideal for helping kids understand how to take on new challenges with optimism and hope. Perfect for kids of all ages who are facing transitions.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look (Ages 7–10)
Second grader Alvin is afraid of everything, especially school, where he never says a word. But at home, Alvin feels completely different. With the help of his family, can Alvin take on the outside world?

The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead (Ages 10–13)
This reassuring story is about a girl dealing with the transition of her parents' divorce and her father's new marriage, but many of the feelings she has and coping strategies she employs are relevant to kids making school transitions too.

Organization and time management

People of all ages struggle with time management and organization. Set your kids up for success by helping them learn organization strategies while they're still young.

A Place for Everything: Habit 3 by Sean Covey (Ages 5–7)
Jumper loves playing basketball, but he can't find his basketball shoes in his messy room. Readers learn that organization is the fastest way to fun in this third picture book of the 7 Habits of Happy Kids series.

Get Organized Without Losing It by Janet S. Fox (Ages 8–13)
In the quest for school success—not to mention a happy home life—kids have a lot to juggle. This handy guide provides tips, strategies, and tools to help kids conquer clutter, prioritize tasks, supercharge study skills, and more.

Where's My Stuff?: The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide by Samantha Moss and Lesley Martin (Ages 11–18)
Get it together and keep it together, for good. With useful illustrations and easy-to-follow charts, this comprehensive guide is an incredible asset for teens trying to organize schoolwork, lockers, bedrooms, and even schedules.

Social discomfort

Sometimes what kids worry the most about is, well, the other kids. These are some books to help conquer worries about how to interact with others and make friends.

Wemberley Worried by Kevin Henkes (Ages 4–8)
Wemberley had a lot of worries. And she worried about one thing most of all: her first day of school. But when she meets a fellow worrywart in her class, Wemberly realizes that school is too much fun to waste time worrying!

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson and (Ages 5–8)
It's not easy to take those first steps into a place where nobody really knows you yet, but somehow you do it. With lyrical text and Rafael López's dazzling illustrations, this story reminds us that we all feel like outsiders sometimes.

Nat Enough by Maria Scrivan (Ages 8–12)
It's the first day of middle school and Natalie discovers that she's no longer cool enough for her best friend, Lily. If Natalie can focus on who she is, rather than who she isn't, then she might realize she's more than enough, just the way she is.

Self confidence and individuality 

Kids may worry about the ways in which they differ from their peers. Learning that everyone is different and celebrating those differences is a big part of feeling comfortable out in the world.

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi (Ages 3–7)
Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious about fitting in. She considers choosing an American name to introduce herself. But with the help of a new friend, Unhei will learn that the best name is her own.

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman (Ages 4–8)
In our classroom safe and sound. Fears are lost and hope is found. Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where students from all backgrounds learn from and celebrate each other's traditions.

Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee (Ages 8–12)
Katie's always felt different. She's homeschooled, she has freckles, and her teeth are crooked. But none of these things matter to her best friend Kacey. But now Kacey is acting weird. And Katie can't stop worrying.

Performance anxiety 

Learning new things can be frightening and frustrating for kids who worry about not always knowing the answer. Help young students understand that goofing up is just your next learning opportunity.

It's Okay to Make Mistakes by Todd Parr (Ages 3–6)
With colorful illustrations, playful humor, and inclusive storytelling, this exuberant little book embraces life's happy accidents, the mistakes and mess-ups that can lead to self-discovery.

I Am Smart, I Am Blessed, I Can Do Anything! by Alissa Holder (Ages 4–8)
Ayaan has woken up on the wrong side of the bed, where nothing feels quite right. What if he doesn't know the answer at school? What if he messes up? But all he needs is a few reminders that every new day is a good day.

Something to Say by Lisa Moore Ramée (Ages 8–12)
Eleven-year-old Jenae is so good at being invisible in school, it's almost like she has a superpower. But then Aubrey, a new student at school, seems determined to be her friend and he's gently pushing her out of her invisible comfort zone.

General worries  

Here are a few more books that tackle the relatable feelings that kids (and adults) may be feeling as the school year gets underway.

Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective by Elizabeth Olsen and Robbie Arnett (Ages 4–8)
Hattie always finds the perfect tools to calm her friends' jitters—from things like speaking in front of the class to taking the bus. But when her own fears start to bubble up, can Hattie learn to overcome them herself?

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg (Ages 5–8)
Sarah Jane Hartwell doesn't want to start a new school year where she doesn't know anyone. With a little convincing, she reluctantly heads to class where a new friend reminds her that everyone gets the first-day jitters. Even the teacher!

Better With Butter by Victoria Piontek (Ages 8–12)
Twelve-year-old Marvel is afraid of absolutely everything. But when she stumbles on a group of older kids teasing a baby fainting goat, she finds that she can put aside her own fears when she steps in and rescues the frightened animal.

Outsmarting Worry: An Older Kid's Guide to Managing Anxiety by Dawn Huebner (Ages 9–13)
Worry has a way of growing, shifting from not-a-big-deal to a very big deal in the blink of an eye. This accessible guide teaches kids and the adults who care about them a set of skills to overcome common worries and fears.

Confront the back-to-school scaries head on with these books addressing a range of emotional roadblocks that kids may be facing as they make this big transition.

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon