Back to School Tips with eBooks for Kids in Grades K–3 

As the new school year approaches, it’s the perfect time to help young learners get excited and prepared. For the very first day of school or moving up a grade, eBooks can offer an engaging and educational way to ease nerves and spark curiosity. With these back-to-school tips and recommended digital reads from Hoopla, kids from kindergarten to 3rd grade can confidently get ready for school! 

Start with Back-to-School Story Books 

Reading fun and relatable stories can help calm first-day jitters. Try these charming back-to-school story books: 

My Kindergarten in 100 Words (various authors): Introduce little ones to key kindergarten words—like lunchbox, crayons, and swing—while building language, emotions, and confidence through colorful, engaging scenes and activities.

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon: Uh oh. It’s the first day of school and Camilla has stripes from head to toe. And then polka dots, and any other pattern someone mentions. What will she do? 

ABC Ready for School by Celeste Delaney: This cheerful alphabet book teaches social skills from A to Z, using playful art and tips to encourage a confident, positive start. 

I Like You So Much: Celebrating What Makes You, You by Heather Avis: This New York Times Bestseller reminds kids that their unique characteristics and abilities is what makes them wonderful. The core truth that children are loved exactly as they are could be just what they need to hear upon their return to the classroom.

Ly-Lan and the New Class Mix-up by Há Dinh: Ly-Lan is entering the third grade and things are changing all around her. From her best friend having a different teacher, to serving as a translator to the new Vietnamese student in her class, this story serves as a guide to any student with reservations about moving onto a new grade. 

Here’s a special message from author Há Dinh:

Ly-Lan and the New Class Mix-up has a handy back-to-school guide for parents and kids to help prep for the upcoming school year. Download the guide below!

HarperCollins Back to School Guide

Learn with Purpose: Educational Back-to-School Books 

Support children’s curiosity with books that turn learning into an adventure: 

The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses by Joanna Cole: Join Ms. Frizzle’s class on a wild ride through eyes, ears, and more to explore the senses in humans and animals—with plenty of fun facts! 

Math Fables by Greg Tang: The basics of addition and subtraction are presented in the form of fables about sharing, teamwork, and more. Each story blends math concepts with gentle life lessons, making early numeracy both meaningful and memorable.

The Earth Book for Kids by Dan. R. Lynch: Explore rocks, landforms, and Earth’s layers in this fun, hands-on geoscience guide! With colorful illustrations and 16 activities, kids discover what makes our planet truly fascinating.

All About Weather by Huda Harajli: Introduce kids ages 3–5 to the wonders of weather—from rainbows to storms—through simple explanations, fun facts, and bright, engaging illustrations about the seasons and sky! 

There Was an Old Astronaut Who Swallowed the Moon by Lucille Colandro: The Old Astronaut swallows the moon, stars, and more—blending silly rhymes with fun space facts for eager young readers!

These books are perfect for kids who are curious about the world and want to learn while they prepare for a new school year. 

Dive into BingePasses for Extra Learning Fun 

BingePasses give you instant access to entire collections and premium streaming services for a single borrow through your local public library. With BingePass you get unlimited 7-day, free access to binge movies, magazines, books and more with your library card. 

Hoopla’s BingePasses offer collections of themed learning experiences: 

The Highlights Collection BingePass: Fun, interactive content from the magazine’s publisher—featuring 200+ series like The Timbertoes, Tex and Indi, and more, with eBooks, audiobooks, puzzles, and movies kids love.  

Science Squad BingePass: Explore 100+ exciting eBooks on science, tech, and innovation! Designed for ages 4–12, this STEM collection blends fun facts, diverse role models, and classroom-friendly learning for budding inventors. 

The Empathy Shelf BingePass: Featuring 100+ fiction and nonfiction eBooks for ages 4–9, this collection supports social-emotional learning by teaching empathy, emotional management, positive relationships, and responsible decision-making through engaging stories. 

Space Explorers BingePass: Showcasing diverse voices and hidden figures, this nonfiction collection for ages 4–12 explores space science, Mars missions, black holes, and technology, inspiring STEM learning and curiosity about the universe. 

Read-Along 2 Learn BingePass: Young readers explore topics like sports, animals, emotions, and STEM independently or with narrator support and word highlighting, learning at their own pace.  

Social Studies for Kids BingePass: 100+ nonfiction eBooks covering world history, geography, and culture—blending engaging topics with SEL themes and age-appropriate, leveled reading. 

These collections are ideal when exploring how to prepare for back to school with a mix of learning and fun. 

How to Get Ready for School – The Fun Way! 

Books are more than just reading—they’re a gateway to creativity, confidence, and curiosity. As we approach school routines and the year ahead, Hoopla has something for every young learner.