For the parent, aunt, or teacher buying a first-day-of-school present, or filling a start-of-year gift bag with something better than a new pencil case. These are the classic books about first-day nerves and the courage to try — the friendly ones you hand a child the night before school starts. Choose by your child's age and by whether they're more nervous or more excited, and any single one makes a lovely start-of-year gift.
Pick the one that fits the child in front of you. They sort roughly by what a child is feeling. For plain separation nerves — I don't want to leave you — 'The Kissing Hand' is the gentlest, most literal comfort. 'School's First Day of School' and 'First Day Jitters' turn the fear funny, good for a slightly older child who'd roll their eyes at something too sweet. 'The Day You Begin' is for the child walking in as the new or the different one, and it carries the most feeling. 'The Dot' is the courage-to-try pick for a child afraid to be bad at something new. 'Oh, the Places You'll Go!' is the big-hearted send-off you write a note inside. Match the book to the worry, or to the excitement, and you can't go wrong.