Read Right Now! Starting School

In The King of Kindergarten a little boy is encouraged and filled with confidence in the time leading up to his first day of school. He can be the King of it, even if he doesn't know everything yet! "It sounds like a lot, but you're the King of Kindergarten. Piece. Of. Cake." This joyful attitude about how to welcome new experiences helps him have a great first day of kindergarten!

The parents in The King of Kindergarten helped by passing on the excitement of learning and the perspective that even if something is difficult at first - there will be a classroom of friends and a teacher to learn with. Learning will be fun! You can listen to The King of Kindergarten right now, read by Alvin Irby from Barbershop Books.

Talk!

After listening to the story, talk about some of the things that happened in it.

• What did the boy eat for breakfast? What is your favorite breakfast?
• What did the boy in the story do that was very brave?
• How was the boy going to get to school?
• What did the father use to measure how tall the boy was?

Read!

Another great idea to get ready for the first day of school is reading books about other kids and favorite characters who are ALSO worried about the first day of school. Stories featuring the Berenstain Bears, Amelia Bedelia, Curious George and more can help your child practice what it might feel like to be anxious about school and learn great strategies for having fun instead!

Here are several more stories about going to school for the first time. Each is a video read aloud, just click on a book cover to hear the story!

Find more FREE online reading at 100+ Free Video Read Alouds or try storytime at home!

Use your indyPL Library Card to check out books about Starting School at any of our locations, or check out e-books and e-audiobooks from home right to your device. If you have never used Axis 360 or OverDrive before, you can learn how to use them for both e-books and audiobooks.

• e-Books and audiobooks about Starting School from Axis 360 Kids
• e-Books and audiobooks about Starting School from OverDrive Kids

Need help? Ask a Library staff member at any of our locations or call, text, or email Ask-a-Librarian. The Tinker Station helpline at (317) 275-4500 is also available. It is staffed by device experts who can answer questions about how to read, watch and listen on a PC, tablet or phone.

Sing!

This sing-a-long will help you get excited to go to school! Watch Marshall, Skye, Chase, Blaze, Shimmer and Shine, Molly, Gil, Bot, and Geo reimagined as fuzzy felt friends singing about school.

Write!

Find a pencil or pen, some crayons or markers to color a school picture, practice writing the letters , or see if you can follow your way through a maze without getting stuck.

Websites, Printables & Activities:

• KidLitTV: Top 10 Multicultural Picture Books About Back to School
• Starting School with Mr. Rogers and Daniel Tiger
• PBS Kids: Back-to-School Checklist
• Printable: Big Bird Back to School
• Printable: Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes Coloring Page
• Printable: Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes Maze
• Printable: Junie B. Jones If I Ruled the School
• Printable: Get Ready for School with Rocket Activity Kit
• Printable: Bot's First Day of School Activity Pack Nick Jr.
• Online Game: Danial Tiger Classroom Helpers

Play!

Here are nine classic preschool games your new student is bound to play at school. Give them a heads up by pre-playing some of these crowd pleasers together!