Picture Books to Help with Back to School Emotions

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own. 

August has begun and that means people start to think about back to school. Whether it is back to school shopping or getting back on a school schedule including bedtime, August is when it all begins. Kids begin to feel various emotions around the start of school and into the school year. Almost everyone feels nervous about a new school year. And I mean everyone--teachers and students. The Sunday scaries may begin again. A child also may be excited for the new year with hopes of doing new things and perhaps doing things on his or her own. Today we are sharing two new picture books that are about some of these emotions. The first book is Sunday Scaries by Debra Kempf Shumaker and illustrated by Lavanya Naidu. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7. 

About the Book:

Do you dread Mondays? Does the thought fill you with anxiety? Then this humorous picture book on tackling anxiety about the week ahead might be just what you need to get rid of the Sunday scaries.

Josie loves the weekend. She gets to do all her favorite things with mom and dad like movie night and eating the fluffiest pancakes ever. But then it starts. At first, it’s just a tickle in her throat. A wisp of a shadow behind her back . . . MONDAY is coming. Josie has a case of the Sunday scaries, maybe her parents too.

A playful exploration of the anxiety that bubbles up on Sundays when thinking about Monday and the week ahead, with practical methods on banishing those Sunday scaries for good!

From Me: 

Now we all have gotten the Sunday scaries at some point. For Josie it is a stomachache. She also notices her parents aren't quite normal on Sundays either. Luckily for Josie her parents notice a pattern in her stomachaches and asks what is going on. As they talk they realize she is nervous about going back to school on Monday. They help her cope with her Sunday scaries and their own with different methods which are of course great suggestions for all of us.  

The beginning of something is always hard even if it is the beginning of a new week. We may have a routine and know it but there is always something that throws us off a bit. Sunday scaries are real for many people. This book helps kids identify them and deal with them with their families. The suggestions are great and work! This is the perfect book for anxious kids or anyone who may have the Sunday scaries. For another book about Sunday scaries be sure to check out this post. 

Our next book is about a child who wants to do everything by himself. The book has animals for its characters and a play one words. It is Owl By Myself by Pete Oswald. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8. 

About the Book:

Owl by Myself is a part of the An Owl By Myself Story collection.

From the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Sleepy Sheepy and The Good Egg comes an irresistible new character who insists on doing everything owl by himself today. He might not be great at it, but it’s fun to see him try!

Owl wakes up with a mission for the day: to do everything owl by himself. Like clean his room. (Don’t look in that corner. Or that corner…) Brush his teeth. (Just step over that small mountain of toothpaste on the floor.) And pack his backpack for school. (You can never bring too many stuffies to school!)

Follow a day in the life of the most adorable owl you’ve ever seen as he proves he’s a big boy ready to take care of himself—or at least tries his best. With art that pairs hilariously with spare text, often showing that Owl is not the most reliable narrator, this book is the perfect blend of humor and warmth. While it’s filled visual gags that will make readers laugh, it ends with a bedtime moment that will make them go aww.

From Me:

As a parent we all know our kids have days where they are determined to do everything all by themselves. Today is the day for Owl. He gets himself up and dressed and ready for school. At school their teacher as activities the kids can do all by themselves. Sometimes doing something all by yourself doesn't mean you are alone but are doing it surrounded by others or with peers. And of course, there are some things you cannot do by yourself like play catch. Owl realizes this throughout the day and points it out to the reader. 

This book is perfect for the child reaching the age of wanting to do things by themselves. It shares how that can work and how sometimes it is not what we think of as by ourselves. Owl has a successful day and learns different skills and practices them throughout the day. It is great for the child who is ready for some independence or may be starting school and getting more independence.