Fast Five Fiction: Back to School

It's FRIDAY! Which means it's time for Fast Five Fiction. Each week I'll be sharing 5 fiction books: new books, notable books, books around a common theme. This week I'm featuring 5 of my favorite back to school picture books recently added to our shelves. Click the title to be directed to the books in the library's catalog.

With so many new books it was REALLY hard to narrow it down to my five favorite.  Check out our New Shelf for even more great school related picture books!

All Welcome Here by James Preller

A picture book collection of haiku poems celebrates the first day of school and all of its excitement, challenges, and anxieties, while multimedia paintings and collages by the Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of The Noisy Paintbox depict diverse characters navigating relatable first day experiences.

Choo-choo School by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

"No racing in the haul-ways! Take a look at seven adorable train cars on their first day of school. All aboard the train-car pool! A new lineup of students is off and rolling to Choo-Choo School. After reciting their classroom rules -- Work hard, play fair, be kind -- it's time for some math to get the wheels turning. Then everyone's ready to climb a hill in gym (it's good to blow off steam), sing songs in music (Flat Car is a bit off-key), and learn the whole alphabet, especially the letter R. Lighthearted verse portrays a world where train stations are classrooms, the conductor doubles as the teacher, and Boxcar is happy to hand out tissues to anyone who ah-choo-choos. 

Cookie & Broccoli: Ready for School by Bob McMahon

New best friends Cookie and Broccoli are as different as peanut butter and cheese, but that doesn't stop them from taking on the first grade! Together they navigate the first day of school: finding the classroom, making new friends (all various fruits, veggies, and desserts), and silly secret greetings. When Broccoli discovers that Cookie also has shy moments, the two of them come up with the perfect solution--inviting all their classmates to join their Shy Friends Club.

First Day Critter Jitters by Jory John

It's almost the first day of school, and the animals are nervous. Sloth worries about getting there on time, snake can't seem to get his backpack fastened onto his body, and bunny is afraid she'll want to hop around instead of sitting still. When they all arrive at their classroom, though, they're in for a surprise: Somebody else is nervous too. It's their teacher, the armadillo! He has rolled in as a ball, and it takes him a while to relax and unfurl. But by the next day, the animals have all figured out how to help one another through their jitters. School isn't so scary after all.

I'm Afraid your Teddy is in the Principal's Office by Jancee Dunn

What would happen if your teddy bear stowed away in your backpack and followed you to school? And what if your teddy convinced all your friends' stuffed animals to come along for the party? Would you believe they might sneak into the cafeteria to play Pizza Disc, head to the band room to put bubbles in the wind instruments, make a clever glue trap for the art teacher, and roll around in finger paint as well? Luckily, the principal remembers what it was like to be young and may let the rambunctious teddy bear and crew off just this once.