Five Faves: New Back-to-School Picture Books

Whether your reader is going to school for the first time or returning for another busy year, these new picture books are a great way to get in the school year mindset!

Scarecited on the First Day of School

Written by Alliah L. Agostini

Illustrated by Lala Watkins

New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2025. Picture Book.

Have you ever felt more than one way about something? Of course you have! This delightful picture book perfectly encapsulates that phenomenon --because it's Afua's first day of school, and she's feeling so many things!

The Tour at School!

Written by Katie Clapham

Illustrated by Nadia Shireen

Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2025. Picture Book.

Get ready to smile until your face hurts at the antics of this young new tour guide! Our tour guide is very self-assured, and reminds readers that when you're assigned to show a new student around there are some things you absolutely must remember to do, like: Sound very excited, locate the echo-ey bathroom first off, and most importantly be sure to offer the hand of friendship.

When You Go to Dragon School

Written by Chelsea M. Campbell

Illustrated by Charlene Chua

New York : Feiwel & Friends, 2025. Picture Book.

Can you believe it? Human school is full! But rest assured, there are spots available at dragon school --where you'll be encouraged to learn to breath fire and sleep on piles of gold. Wait... you can't do those things? Hopefully, the humans and dragons can find a way to learn together.

Recess

By Lane Smith

New York: Abrams Books For Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book.

The book equivalent of a brain break, Recess, is a riotously fun interactive title that will leave teachers and students clamoring for more as the characters find small ways to break up the school day.

Comments

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester 2008

J Fiction 328 pages I almost didn't finish this book. I got to Chapter 4, and was just about ready to quit (a kind of slow story about a girl, name of Piper McCloud, who discovers she can fly, parents freak out, she becomes a social outcast, yadda, yadda) but suddenly, right there in Chapter 4, the story takes a sharp turn and becomes really interesting . Piper finds herself in the company of others like her, but not "fliers", and under the care and authority of Dr. Hellion. I won't even tell you any more. Read this book. Forester does a great job of keeping you wondering who's the good guy and who's the bad? Piper is a likeable, strong, endearing character that girl readers will enjoy. But don't NOT give it to boys! The main male character is an extremely intelligent young man who is one of the ones you wonder about . . . good or bad? This is a good one, well worth your time.

Review: Super Boba Cafe

Super Boba Café By Nidhi Chanani New York: Amulet Books, 2023. Comics. 215 pages. 14-year-old Aria is excited to spend her summer in San Francisco getting quality time with her Nainai. She loves helping at her grandmother's Super Boba Café. But she can't help but notice that her grandmother is acting strange and secretive. She refuses to let Aria into the kitchen at all and she disappears at the same time each night without telling Aria where she goes. Meanwhile, Aria is eager to drum up more business for Super Boba Café. She gets a major windfall when the shop cat, Bao, surprises them by having kittens, and Aria realizes this is a major social media opportunity. She knows this will help Nainai's shop, but she is apprehensive to get back on social media after a terrible cyberbullying experience she had back home. As the shop starts to get busier, Nainai is more and more anxious about her secret project. This prompts Aria to investigate with help from her Nainai's neighb...

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