Whether you homeschool or your children attend traditional school, the beginning of a new year brings a fresh start, new things to learn, and so many little moments worth remembering.
One of my favorite ways to make our first day feel special is with books. We have a few that we pull out year after year, and reading them together has slowly become one of our little first-day traditions.
When choosing books for our home, I try to keep our shelves filled with clean, wholesome, faith-based books, along with a select few Russian books that help keep another part of our family’s language and culture present in our home.
We have children of different ages, so our collection includes books that work especially well for younger children through the elementary years. Some are sweet stories about starting school, some encourage children in their learning, and others point our hearts back to Jesus.
I love that books can help children feel excited about what’s ahead, remind them that learning is an adventure, and give us a quiet moment to slow down and enjoy the beginning of a new year together.
And you certainly don’t need a huge stack of books! Even choosing one or two special stories can become a meaningful tradition your children look forward to each year!
Here are some of our favorite first-day-of-school books, with options for younger children and elementary-aged kids.
A New Favorite for Our First Day
This year, we added a new book to our first-day collection: If Jesus Came to My School.
I love finding books that give us an opportunity to talk about Jesus naturally throughout our school day, and this one felt like such a fitting addition this year!
English books
Russian Books
Since we speak Russian in our home, I also like to include a small selection of Russian books in our homeschool. One of my favorite places to find them is Karusel Books. They have a wonderful selection of Russian, Ukrainian, and French children’s & adult books , including many familiar favorites as well as work books.
If you’re looking to add more Russian books to your home library, you can use my link/code to receive $10 off your first order.
Making the First Day Special
I’ve learned that it’s often the little things our children remember most.
It doesn’t have to be an elaborate first day, a perfectly decorated school space, or a full day of special activities. Sometimes it’s simply gathering together with a good book, making something delicious for breakfast, taking a picture, or talking about all the things we’re excited to learn this year.
These little traditions give our children something to look forward to and hopefully, memories they’ll carry with them long after they’ve outgrown these books.
And if your school year has already started, it’s not too late to begin your own tradition. Pick a book, gather your children, and make an ordinary school day feel a little extra special with a book that teaches faith, how to be hands and feet of Jesus, and good school habits.
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Other Posts to Check Out
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