Families who loved The First Day of School by Tony Johnston 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 anxious about starting school and realizes they will be in a different classroom than their closest friend or sibling. It validates the scary feeling of separation while offering a gentle, hopeful path forward. The story follows two best friends who are nervous about the big first day. Even though they are placed in separate rooms, they find that they can survive and even enjoy the day, knowing their friend is nearby and they will reunite soon. It is a calming choice for children ages 3 to 6 who need to see that independence is a brave and rewarding step. This book is particularly helpful for normalizing the 'first day jitters' and providing a sense of security through its soft, supportive tone.