Families who loved Back to Dog-Gone School by Amy Schmidt often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is facing the 'first day jitters' or feeling overwhelmed by the new routines of a school day. By replacing human students with hilarious, expressive dogs, this collection of poems makes the classroom feel like a place of play rather than a place of pressure. It is a gentle tool for parents to use to bridge the gap between home and school through shared laughter. The book follows a group of dogs as they navigate everything from the school bus to the cafeteria. The poems use a Step 2 vocabulary level, meaning it is perfect for children who are beginning to recognize words but still enjoy being read to. Parents will appreciate how the lighthearted photography and rhythmic verse de-escalate school-based anxiety by focusing on the silly possibilities of the school day, making it an ideal choice for the transition back to the classroom after summer or a long break.