Going back to school for a new year is always a big change for children. Either because they are changing school altogether or have to get used to a new teacher and their habits, or there are new kids to meet and maybe befriend. This selection of novels and first reads will show young readers that change is not always that terrifying and that a new year at school is also a new adventure!
Mon premier jour de classe by Davide Cali and Amélie Graux (first read, 6+)
The beginning of a new school year is also the moment where you can see your best friends again after long months without them! This is the case for this band of friends who are just excited to spend their last year of primary school together!
Borrow Mon premier jour de classe from the library.
La liste des fournitures by Susie Morgenstern and Catharina Valckx (first read, 6+)
The idea of going back to school doesn’t always start in September, sometimes it starts with the list of school supplies the teacher gives just before the holidays. Emma, Ugo, Farida and Josselin will try their best all summer to gather all the ingredients and demands from their respective teacher to be ready for this new year.
This funny easy read will remind kids and their parents that a good year doesn’t start with just a set of new pencils!
Borrow La liste des fournitures from the library.
Bogueugueu entre en sixième by Béatrice Fontanel and Marc Boutavant (novel, 8+)
Secondary school is always a big step for kids, and it usually means meeting lots of new faces which can be particularly hard for those who are a bit different like Basile. Thankfully, when you have a best friend, you can always count on them to help you go through the challenge of a new year.
This beautifully illustrated novel shows the importance of inclusivity in school and that not all disabilities are visible.
Borrow Bogueugueu entre en sixième from the library.
Lili Graffiti (3) : la rentrée de Lili Graffiti by Paula Danziger and Tony Ross (novel, 8+)
Even if you stay in the same school, everything can be different from the year before, especially if your parents got divorced and your best friend moved away as Lili Graffiti could tell you. This time she really doesn’t want to go to school! Lili is really scared to spend her year alone and she’ll learn that making new friends can take a bit of time.
Borrow La rentrée de Lili Graffiti from the library.
La sixième by Susie Morgenstern (novel, 10+)
Secondary school is definitely the moment to start to be serious about your studies (If you were not before!), and this is why the studious Margot will try her best to turn around her classmates and makes them stop creating so much chaos in the classroom. But not everything always goes according to plan and a school trip to Rome might even change the situation.
Borrow La sixième from the library.
Want more? Check out:
Our back to school selection on Culturethèque
Our back to school blog post for the under 6s
Our back to school selection on the library catalogue