As summer breathes its last gasp and the buses start their engines, young children might be facing down their first days of school with some serious anxiety.

Check out six stories that might help calm the nerves of the 5+ set.

Ready and Waiting for You by Judi Moreillon
Bright paper-collage artwork and fold-out pages invite a multicultural cast of kids to get ready for their school to open its doors.

First Day at Zoo School by Sarah Dillard
Animals have back-to-school jitters too—and when an introverted alligator meets an extroverted panda, things don’t go smoothly at first.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Give kids a secret way to carry your love with them with this sweet tale about a raccoon starting kindergarten.

How to Be a Friend by Laurene Krasny Brown
Ease kids’ social anxiety with this nonfiction guide to early friendships, which also does a little troubleshooting about potential problems to nip in the bud.

School Buses by Allan Morey
It’s the journey, not the destination: Get kids who ride the bus ready and excited with this nonfiction, photo-heavy book.

Albert Starts School by Eleanor May
In this math-centric book, Albert the mouse learns how to behave at school (and the days of the week).

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your picks, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend.

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