It’s time once again to get out the books, pencils, erasers and backpacks. School may mean more homework and class projects, but it hopefully also means more books to read. Here is a list of great books that relate to school.
Let’s begin with books geared for older kids, ages eight and up. Return of the Homework Machine,by Dan Gutman, is a sequel to the great adventure book, The Homework Machine. However, it’s not necessary to read the first book to enjoy this one.
In the last book, four friends built, and then destroyed, a homework machine by throwing it into the Grand Canyon. But they discover that the computer chip inside the machine is still working. And so they have to trek to the Grand Canyon in order to locate this chip. But they are also about to take on more exciting adventures as they become embroiled in a valuable treasure hunt and with a dangerous adversary. This book is uniquely written with viewpoints from each friend as well as other main characters and is definitely a page-turner.
Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School,by Barbara Park, is a hilarious and insightful look into getting through the school year with a positive outlook. The book has the appearance of a notebook, with the print reflecting handwriting. Some of the chapters include “Getting Bossed Around,” “Getting in Trouble (Plus How to Stay Out of It),” and “Getting Smiley (New Friends and Other Happy Stuff!).” This book actually helps open discussions with kids about preventing possible problems and helps them manage toward a successful school year. And stickers are included at the back of the book.
Extra Credit, by Andrew Clements, is the kind of book teachers love to read aloud because of the cultural exchanges of two students. There is much to learn and appreciate in this story when two eleven-year-old students begin corresponding between Illinois and Afghanistan. The girl, Abby, is finding that her slacking off in sixth grade pushes her into having to do extra credit to pass. Part of this homework is to write to a pen-pal.
Sadeed isn’t allowed to write to a girl, so he has his little sister write as he dictates. The book is filled with much to learn as these two begin to understand and appreciate their differences. There is also conflict in both communities to resolve. This book will open minds beyond the boundaries of lifestyles. The full-page pencil illustrations, by Mark Elliott, are sprinkled throughout the story.
Camille McPhee Fell Under the Bus…, by Kristen Tracy,is a story about Camille and her life in an Idaho school, where she deals with friendship, life and hypoglycemia. Because of her low blood sugar, she has to bring extra food in a cooler, which already makes her stick out. And when she slides on the ice and falls under the bus, that is just one of many bad things that happen to her. But Camille overcomes all her difficulties because of her hopeful outlook on life — and besides, she loves to read.
Amelia’s Middle School Survival Guide,by Marissa Moss, is another notebook type book with handwriting as the type of font. There are annotations throughout that are hilarious and insightful as well as two stories in the book. Girls ages 8 and up will enjoy reading this book.
Andrew Clements has another book dealing with school and classes. No Talking,with pencil illustrations, involves fifth-grade Dave as he decides not to talk because he has just researched India and learns about Mahatma Gandhi, who did not speak all day each week to “bring order to his mind.” But what evolves out of this experiment has the entire grade experimenting on this for two days. The author allows some logistics of talking to take place with teachers so as to allow the understanding and mishaps to continue in the story. Here is another great read-aloud that kids and adults will enjoy!
The rest of the books are picture books and are geared for ages 4 through 7. Here’s a book with the title you may have heard your youngster exclaim: I Don’t Want To Go To School!.This picture book, by Stephanie Blake, is clever as it features a young rabbit dealing with the first time experience of school.
Wilson and Miss Lovely,by John Stadler, is another great book for releasing the first-day jitters of school. Wilson, another rabbit, wakes up bright and early and goes to the bus stop, where no bus comes. He ends up at school where he is the only student. The suspense builds as open-flaps help with the intrigue. Kids will love this book!
The Hair of Zoe Feefenbacher Goes to School,by Laurie Hales Anderson, and illustrated by Ard Hoyt, is as clever as it’s meant to be. Zoe’s unruly vibrant red hair doesn’t follow the rules and must comply in school. But will it? This book is a nice celebration of individuality.
I’m Your Bus,by Marilyn Singer, and illustrated by Evan Polenghi, rejoices in all that the school bus does during the pick up and delivery of children heading to school.
And lastly, Messing Around on the Monkey Bars, by Betsy Franco, and illustrated by Jessie Hartland, is a book for all ages and is filled with an excellent tool to help kids get to know one another. This book has school poems for two voices, which you can easily utilize with more combinations of children in order to read, enjoy, reflect and learn.
