Top 10 Tuesday – New for Back to School 2026

It’s Top Ten Tuesday and this week I’m sharing some wonderful NEW books for back to school!

Now before anyone starts shouting, “IT’S STILL SUMMER!“…I know! And I am definitely NOT suggesting we pack away the beach towels and start sharpening pencils just yet! There are still plenty of summer days left to enjoy.

BUT… I also know there’s something exciting about discovering a great new book and immediately thinking, “Oh, I’m reading THIS one to my class!” So, whether you’re already starting to think a little about September or you’re simply collecting titles for later, I’ve gathered some fantastic new releases that would be perfect for those first days and weeks of school.

New class. New community. New beginnings. And, of course, some great new books to help get it all started!

Here are my favourite new books for back to school! (Please note that some have not yet been released)

Backpack – Katie Arthur

A young girl shares all the reasons she loves her backpack: the things she carries inside it, the memories it holds, and the places it goes with her. I love the idea of a backpack as a little reflection of who we are and what matters to us. This would be a great back-to-school read aloud for primary students, followed by inviting kids to share their own backpacks and talk about what they like to pack inside. (‎Owlkids, August, 2026)

Story Rug – Sophie Blackall

There is lots of buzz about this new book, and I can see why! The students in Class 203 are learning to braid, eventually using scraps of fabric brought from home to create something special for their teacher. But what I love most is that each scrap comes with a story, and as the children braid, they share those stories with one another. Such a wonderful celebration of storytelling AND a great invitation for students to learn how to braid and then bring in a piece of fabric and share the story behind it. I can see this being used in both primary and intermediate classes and could begin a great class community project to start the year. (‎Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, July 2026)

Kindergarten Gets Ready – Naomi Danis

This is such a clever twist on the usual kindergarten book. Instead of focusing on children getting ready for their first day, we follow Mr. Bee, the teacher, as he gets ready, organizing the books, art supplies, cubbies, and all the other little things that will welcome his new students. I love that shift in perspective! A fun way to show new kindergarten students that while they’ve been getting ready for school, their teacher has been getting ready for them. (‎Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, May 2026)

Even Steven: A Book About Sharing – Carrie Finison

If you loved Don’t Hug Doug (I did!), you’ll be happy to see another hilarious book from the same author-illustrator team. Steven believes sharing means everything should be perfectly EVEN, but he soon discovers that some things just can’t be split in half and that “even” and “fair” aren’t always the same thing. The giggle meter will definitely rise with this read aloud, but underneath all the fun is a great reminder about sharing, taking turns, and fairness. A perfect back-to-school conversation starter! (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, April 2026)

Our Favorite Day of the Week – Ashley Franklin

I’ve used Our Favorite Day of the Year many times and LOVE it, so I was excited to see this new follow-up! This time, Musa and his classmates share their favourite days of the week and what makes each one special, from family traditions to time with grandparents and friends. Such a simple idea, but SO many possibilities for a primary classroom! Read it aloud and then invite students to talk, draw, or write about their favourite day of the week and why.(Salaam Reads / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, September 2026)

Penelope Rex vs. the New Kid – Ryan T. Higgins

I LOVED We Don’t Eat Our Classmates and have read it aloud many times, so I was excited to see Penelope Rex back again! This time, Penelope is used to being the only dinosaur at school, until another dinosaur joins her class and suddenly she’s not quite sure how she feels about sharing the spotlight. Funny and VERY “connectable” with some great back-to-school themes around fitting in, welcoming someone new, and figuring out what makes each of us special. (Disney Hyperion, August 2026)

All the Ways We Learn – Chloe Ito Ward

This is SUCH an important new book for starting the school year. It celebrates all the different ways children learn, reminding us that not everyone learns best by sitting still and listening. Some kids need to move, build, draw, talk, or create. What a powerful message to share with students right from the start: you matter, and the way you learn matters, too. I can see this being a wonderful book for helping build an inclusive classroom community where every child feels seen and valued. (‎Rise x Penguin Workshop, July 2026)

A Day Off School – Oliver Jeffers

Another classic by the great Oliver Jeffers! I LOVE the idea behind this book because I don’t think I’ve ever read a story about a child missing school because they’re sick! It brought back memories of how much I loved those first few hours at home watching TV, but once the novelty wore off, I always started wondering (and worrying!) about what I was missing at school. Herbie experiences that same FOMO as his imagination runs wild about all the VERY exciting things that might be happening without him. Such a clever idea, and I think kids are going to LOVE this one (‎HarperCollins Children’s Books – July 2026)

A Not So Perfect Start – Trudy Ludwig

The Invisible Boy is one of my FAVOURITE picture books, so I’m always excited to see something new from Trudy Ludwig! This is the first in a new series about building caring classrooms and introduces Thea, who is determined to have a PERFECT first week of school… until things don’t quite go according to plan. I love that the focus is on mistakes, disappointment, and learning how to manage when things don’t turn out the way we hoped. Such an important message to share at the beginning of a new school year!(‎Knopf Books for Young Readers, June 2026)

We All Belong – Gianna Marino

What a BEAUTIFUL book! As Mule meets Rabbit, Beaver, Duck, and Bear, the animals begin noticing the ways they are alike and the ways they are different. Such a simple and accessible way to introduce younger students to the idea that we all have unique features and differences, while also sharing things in common. A wonderful theme for building classroom community at the beginning of the year, and the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous! (‎Philomel Books, March 2026)

Owl By Myself – Pete Oswald

This one is SOOOO cute! We follow an adorable little owl through his morning as he tries to do everything “owl” by himself, from cleaning his room and brushing his teeth to packing his backpack for school (with perhaps a few too many stuffies!). Definitely geared to Pre-K and Kindergarten, but what a fun way to encourage young children to start doing more things independently. The illustrations are hilarious, especially when what Owl says he’s doing and what we see don’t quite match! (Random House Studio, August, 2026)

Welcome to Our Classroom – Alexander Penfold

I’ve shared All Are Welcome with SO many students over the years, so I was excited to see this new book from the same team! This time, the focus is on the teacher welcoming a new group of students and reassuring them that they are there to help, encourage, and support them as they learn, try new things, and work together. It’s a PERFECT message for the first day of school and a lovely way to begin building teacher-student connections. (Publisher
Knopf Books for Young Readers, June 2026)

Now You Know Your ABC (Or Do You?) – Casper Salmon

Okay, this one isn’t technically a back-to-school book, but I’m including it because it would be SO much fun to share with a primary class during those first few weeks! What starts as a simple ABC book quickly goes off the rails when the “dog” for D turns out to be a wolf in disguise and starts chasing you through the alphabet. Clever, interactive, and VERY funny, this is the kind of read aloud that will have kids completely engaged and laughing together. Sometimes that’s exactly the kind of book you need in September! (‎Nosy Crow, April 2026)

Some Days – Daniela Sosa

Another one that isn’t technically a back-to-school book, but I think it would be lovely to share during those first few weeks. Some children LOVE the first day of school and some… not so much! This gentle story reminds us that no two days are the same and there are always good days ahead. I especially love the classroom possibilities: invite younger students to share, talk, draw, or write about their favourite kind of day. Such a simple way to get to know your new students! (Beach Lane Books, May 2026)

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you found one or two new titles that you’re already excited to share with your new class! Here’s to a great start to the school year in a few weeks. Happy reading, everyone!