Lititz Public Library strives to help parents ensure that their children are prepared for kindergarten in a number of ways. Our Youth Services team participates in the Warwick School District bus orientations in August. We also offer a number of handouts (available here in downloadable PDF format) describing the various resources available from the library and have created this video to help introduce and virtually welcome you to our space.
Welcome Video –
Handouts:
- Kindergarten Readiness Checklist – (United Way of Lancaster County)
- Counting Down to Kindergarten – (R. Lynn Baker)
- 6 Ways to Readiness – (PA’s Promise for Children)
- Keeping Your Child Healthy – (PA’s Promise for Children)
- Building Good Attendance Habits – (Reach Out and Read)
- Student Readiness – (Jefferson County Public Schools)
- The Importance of Nursery Rhyme – (heidisongs)
- Ready for Kindergarten Bingo – (Resourceful Mama)
Recommended books about going to Kindergarten:
Hello School! by Priscilla Burris – A diverse class of excited youngsters are about to start school and experience all its wonders! Small moments like discovering one’s own cubby space and big moments like a first nature walk are all brought to life with inviting artwork. This is a great book to help familiarize children with all the activities they can expect at school, from circle time to snack time to goodbye time, all the while sharing the experiences with lots of great new friends.
Clothesline Clues to the First Day of School by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook – Catchy rhymes and visual cues introduce young readers to the people they’ll encounter as they embark on their first day of school.
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn – School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary
The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing – It’s the first day of school! Join the kids as they prepare for kindergarten, packing school supplies, posing for pictures, and the hardest part of all–saying goodbye to Mom and Dad. But maybe it won’t be so hard once they discover just how much fun kindergarten really is!
Mae’s First Day of School by Kate Berube – As Mae’s first day of school approaches she decides she IS. NOT. GOING. School is scary! What if the other kids don’t like her? Or what if she’s the only one who doesn’t know how to write? Or what if she misses her mom? Mae’s anxiety only builds as she walks to school. But then she meets Rosie and Ms. Pearl. Will making new friends show her that they can conquer their fears together?
Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro – Rosie can’t wait to start kindergarten–she’s had her pencils sharpened and her backpack ready for weeks. But suddenly, on the night before the big day, her tummy hurts. Rosie’s mom reassures her that it’s just butterflies in her belly, and she’ll feel better soon. Much to Rosie’s surprise, when she says hello to a new friend on the bus, a butterfly flies out of her mouth! As the day goes on, Rosie frees all her butterflies and even helps another shy student let go of hers, too.
On the First Day of Kindergarten by Tish Rabe – Perfect for nervous/excited kids about to go to kindergarten (and their parents!). This engaging adaptation of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” convinces parents and children alike that there is no place cooler than a kindergarten classroom. On the first day of kindergarten, there’s so much to do! From making new friends to jumping rope in the gym to riding the bus to school, there are lots of exciting firsts to look forward to.
Dad’s First Day by Mike Wohnoutka – All summer Oliver and his dad played together, laughed together, sang together, and read together. Now it’s time for Oliver to start school! On the first day, Oliver’s dad isn’t quite ready. . . . Suddenly he feels nervous. His tummy hurts, and he would rather stay home. But Oliver isn’t convinced. What if the first day is really fun? What if it’s the start of an exciting year? In this charming story of first-day jitters, acclaimed author and illustrator Mike Wohnoutka perfectly captures the mixed emotions felt by kids and their parents when big changes are afoot.
Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come! By Nancy Carlson – The first day of kindergarten is finally here, and Henry can’t wait to paint pictures, sing songs, and practice counting. When he gets to school, though, he’s not so sure he’s ready for kindergarten. But before long Henry discovers that the only thing he’s not ready for is how much fun he’s going to have at school! This gently humorous, encouraging story will give children about to enter kindergarten an extra boost of confidence.
I’m Your Bus by Marilyn Singer – Howdy, you can count on us. Morning, evening, I’m your bus! Welcome to a day in the life of a school bus and his road-hugging buddies. Morning, noon, and nighttime, too, that golden four-wheeled friend is at your service. Ready to drive you to and from school safely. ‘Cause he’s your bus. And in between those pick-up and drop-off moments, your bus spends time with his friends, other vehicles who drive around town doing what they do best. Sweeping, zipping, parking, creeping.
First Day Critter Jitters by Jory John – It’s almost the first day of school, and the animals are nervous. Sloth worries about getting there on time, snake can’t seem to get his backpack fastened onto his body, and bunny is afraid she’ll want to hop around instead of sitting still. When they all arrive at their classroom, though, they’re in for a surprise- Somebody else is nervous too. It’s their teacher, the armadillo! He has rolled in as a ball, and it takes him a while to relax and unfurl. But by the next day, the animals have all figured out how to help one another through their jitters. School isn’t so scary after all.
The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes – Starting kindergarten is a big milestone–and the hero of this story is ready to make his mark! He’s dressed himself, eaten a pile of pancakes, and can’t wait to be part of a whole new kingdom of kids. The day will be jam-packed, but he’s up to the challenge, taking new experiences in stride with his infectious enthusiasm! And afterward, he can’t wait to tell his proud parents all about his achievements–and then wake up to start another day.