August Book Companions: Back to School
- LeCha Brown
- Aug 15, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 22, 2025
The start of a new school year brings so many feelings - excitement, nerves, and big transitions for our learners. Whether you’re a special education teacher welcoming students into the classroom or a homeschool parent helping your child adjust to a new routine, providing engaging and appropriately themed stories in your setting can help them navigate feelings & transitions while helping them understand they aren't alone.
For August, I’ve chosen four powerful picture books, each tied to one week of the month, that address themes of separation, belonging, community, and adjusting to school life. These books not only spark meaningful discussions but also provide opportunities for social-emotional learning and literacy skill-building.
Each of these books is paired with a FREE Book Companion. These companions include structured supports: title, author, illustrator, character, setting, problem, solution, vocabulary words, retelling/sequencing, and comprehension questions, that deepen understanding and meet the needs of diverse learners. To learn more about the book companions, you can check out my blog post here.
So what's in the line up for August?
Week 1: The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Why It’s Perfect for Back to School
The Kissing Hand is a classic story about Chester the raccoon, who feels nervous about leaving home for school. His mother reassures him by giving him a “kissing hand,” a kiss placed on his palm that he can hold onto whenever he misses her.
For children in special education and homeschool settings, this book is especially powerful because:
Separation anxiety is common, and the story normalizes those feelings while offering a comforting strategy.
It provides a concrete, sensory-friendly coping tool (a hand-to-cheek gesture) that children can use when they miss home.
The repetitive, gentle text and engaging illustrations make it accessible for students with language delays or comprehension challenges.
Added Benefits of the Book Companion
The companion I created ensures our learners move beyond simply listening to the story and instead build connections:
Identifying the title, author, and illustrator builds print awareness and book-handling skills.
Naming characters and setting helps students visualize and anchor the story.
Discussing the problem (Chester’s fear) and solution (the kissing hand) builds early comprehension.
Highlighting key vocabulary words introduces meaningful language.
Using sequencing and retelling cards provides structure for students with processing or language delays.
Comprehension questions help students reflect on times they felt worried and how they overcame it.
The companion provides visuals for every aspect. This makes the companion a powerful tool for turning story time into a lesson that reinforces emotional skills and literacy growth.
Some Added Ideas for Extension Activities
Make “kissing hand” crafts with cut-out raccoon paws.
Practice role-playing “sending love” with stuffed animals.
Create a class or family ritual around a goodbye routine.
If you don't already own it, here is a link to purchase the book on Amazon!
If you don't want to purchase, here are a couple of free read aloud options on youtube:
Week 2: Time for School, Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry
Why It’s Perfect for Back to School
Little Blue Truck is a beloved character who teaches kindness, patience, and friendship. In this back-to-school installment, Little Blue helps a young friend navigate getting to school on time for the first day.
For diverse learners, this book is a gem because:
It emphasizes the importance of friendship and cooperation
The rhyming text and predictable phrasing are ideal for building fluency and supporting emergent readers.
The familiar, friendly character of Little Blue Truck offers comfort and continuity for children who may struggle with change.
This book emphasizes friendship, kindness, and bravery.
Added Benefits of the Book Companion
The structured activities extend the joy of the story while targeting key learning areas:
Reviewing title, author, and illustrator reinforces literacy routines.
Identifying characters (Little Blue, Toad, the animals) and the school setting makes abstract concepts concrete.
Discussing the problem (running late) and solution (friends helping) teaches problem solving and collaboration.
Key vocabulary words give our learners an introduction to new words.
Sequencing cards help students retell the story in order, a crucial skill for language development.
Guided comprehension questions encourages recall and retention as you can review the story through questions.
For special education and homeschool, the companion adds structure and ensures that important social lessons aren’t missed.
Some Ideas for Extension Activities
Use toy trucks or cars for hands-on retelling.
Draw other ways Little Blue Truck can be helpful to his friends
Work on sequencing the story with picture cards to support comprehension.
If you don't already own it, here is a link to purchase the book on Amazon!
If you don't want to purchase the book, here are a couple of free read alouds on youtube.
Week 3: Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen
Why It’s Perfect for Back to School
This uplifting book helps children see their classroom as a place of belonging, safety, and love. It emphasizes kindness, respect, and the idea that “family” can be found in the people we learn with.
Special education and homeschool learners benefit because:
It fosters inclusivity and empathy, helping children appreciate differences.
The concept of classroom-as-family supports positive behavior reinforcement by framing peers as teammates.
It’s an opportunity to establish classroom norms and expectations in a warm, inviting way.
This book creates a sense of belonging by showing that a class can be more than just classmates, it’s a family. It’s especially effective at building community and teaching kindness.
Added Benefits of the Book Companion
The companion supports learners in understanding both the story and its deeper themes:
Identifying the title, author, and illustrator develops print awareness.
Highlighting the classroom setting helps children connect with their own learning space.
Discussing the problem (worry about fitting in) and solution (building community and kindness) fosters inclusivity.
Teaching vocabulary words provides emotional language.
Retelling and sequencing activities reinforce memory and comprehension.
Comprehension questions encourage reflection.
This companion guides students in seeing themselves as part of a safe, supportive group, whether in a classroom or homeschool setting.
Some Ideas for Extension Activities
Make a “class family tree” or “learning family poster” with photos or drawings.
Do a group activity where students contribute to a kindness chain.
Write or dictate “I feel safe in our class when…” statements.
If you don't already own the book, here is a link to purchase on Amazon!
If you don't want to purchase the book, here are a couple of free read aloud options on youtube.
Week 4: Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
Why It’s Perfect for Back to School
In this relatable story, Llama Llama experiences the sadness of being separated from Mama on the first day of preschool. Through gentle encouragement, he learns that school can be a safe and fun place.
Why this works especially well for diverse learners:
It directly addresses separation anxiety and transitions, two big hurdles at the start of the year.
The text is rhythmic and repetitive, making it engaging for students with limited attention spans.
The emotional journey mirrors what many children feel, offering reassurance and modeling coping strategies.
Llama Llama models the feelings children often face when separating from parents and adjusting to school. It validates those emotions while gently reassuring that school can also be fun.
Added Benefits of the Book Companion
The companion offers a way to explore both the emotional journey and literacy skills:
Recognizing the title, author, and illustrator builds book familiarity.
Identifying characters (Llama Llama, Mama, the teacher) and setting (school) grounds the story.
Discussing the problem (missing Mama) and solution (finding joy at school) helps children process their own feelings.
Focusing on vocabulary words supports language expression.
Sequencing activities let children retell the story with visuals, making comprehension accessible.
Comprehension questions prompts reflection.
By pairing the book with structured activities, students not only enjoy the story but also practice emotional regulation and literacy in a supportive way.
Some Ideas for Extension Activities
Use puppets or stuffed llamas to act out the story.
Make a “comfort bag” with items (like a small photo or soft toy) children can use during the school day.
Create a feelings chart where kids can point to how they feel during drop-off or start of school time.
If you don't already own the book, here is a link to purchase from Amazon!
If you don't want to purchase, here are a couple of free read alouds on youtube!
Wrapping Up August: Why These Books Matter
Together, these four books address some of the most common back-to-school challenges: saying goodbye, making friends, feeling safe, and finding belonging. They are short enough to keep the attention of young & exceptional learners, yet deep enough to spark meaningful social-emotional conversations.
For special education teachers, these books double as tools for building routines, practicing social stories, and modeling coping strategies. For homeschool families, they provide language for discussing feelings, role-playing social situations, and setting the tone for a positive learning year.
Starting the year with these stories ensures children feel understood, supported, and ready to embrace their learning journey! Stay tuned to learn more about September books!
Disclaimer:
The books referenced in this post are copyrighted works of their respective authors and publishers. The accompanying book companions are original, supplemental teaching resources created for educational purposes only. All illustrations, text, and activities within the companions are original and not copied directly from the books. These materials are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or a replacement for the original works. Please ensure you have legally obtained copies of the books for read-aloud or instructional use.
This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources and products I truly love and think will be helpful.
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