Families who loved How to Get Your Octopus to School by Becky Scharnhorst 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 showing signs of back to school nerves but is too shy or resistant to talk about them directly. By framing the transition to school as a humorous challenge involving a pet octopus, this story allows children to project their own fears onto a silly character while they take on the role of the confident problem solver. It is a perfect tool for normalizing anxiety through play and imagination. The story follows a young girl who must coax her eight-legged friend into getting dressed, eating breakfast, and finally entering the classroom. It expertly blends high-energy humor with gentle empathy, making it ideal for children ages 3 to 7. Parents will appreciate how it turns a high-stress morning routine into a game of hide-and-seek, ultimately showing that even the most reluctant students can find joy and friendship at school.
