First Day of School Stories for Kids
A new classroom brings a lot of unknowns: a new teacher, kids they haven't met, a different room, and saying goodbye at the door. Even kids who are excited can feel a knot in their stomach the night before.
A story lets your child walk through the day before it happens. They watch a character feel nervous, find a friend or a kind teacher, and come home proud. DandyTale makes a brand-new illustrated story for the exact grade your child is starting, written at the right reading level, ready to read together tonight.
First day stories for every grade
First Day of Preschool
Doesn't want to say goodbye to a grown-up.
The lesson: goodbyes get easier, and grown-ups always come back.
First Day of Kindergarten
Doesn't know anyone in class.
The lesson: everyone is new once, and new friends are easy to find.
First Day of 1st Grade
Worried the work will be too hard.
The lesson: everyone learns at their own pace.
First Day of 2nd Grade
Misses last year's teacher.
The lesson: it's okay to miss the old while enjoying the new.
First Day of 3rd Grade
Worried about a new, stricter-seeming teacher.
The lesson: first impressions aren't always accurate.
📖 See an example of a finished DandyTale book
A different worry for every grade
What kids worry about changes as they get older, so each grade has its own story idea:
- Preschool: saying goodbye to a grown-up, and learning that grown-ups always come back.
- Kindergarten: not knowing anyone yet, and finding out everyone is new once.
- 1st grade: worrying the work will be too hard, and learning that everyone learns at their own pace.
- 2nd grade: missing last year's teacher while getting to know a new one.
- 3rd grade: a new teacher who seems strict at first, and finding out first impressions aren't always right.
How to use the story before the big day
A first day story works best as practice, a few days ahead, rather than a surprise the night before.
- Read it two or three times in the week before school starts, so the day already feels familiar.
- Stop at the nervous part and ask what the character could do. Kids often come up with the brave idea themselves.
- Talk through the real plan: who drops them off, where they'll hang their backpack, what's in their lunch.
- Read it again after the first day, and ask what was the same as the story and what was different.
Not just the first day
The Story Studio also has stories for the rest of the school year: a substitute teacher day, a field trip, show and tell and the last day of school. Each idea above opens the Story Studio with that story already picked. You just choose the reading age and a character.
Questions parents ask
What grades are the first day of school stories for?
Preschool through 3rd grade, roughly ages 2 to 9. Each grade has its own story idea, and you choose a reading level to match your child: Little Listener (2-4), Early Reader (5-7) or Confident Reader (8-9).
Can the story use my child's name or school?
No. DandyTale doesn't use children's names, photos or school details. The hero is a character you pick from our cast, or, on a monthly plan, one you design yourself from preset options.
How long does it take to make a story?
A few minutes. You answer a few quick questions, and DandyTale writes the story and illustrates every page. It's saved to your bookshelf to read again as many times as you like.
How much does it cost?
A single book is $4.99, with no subscription. Monthly plans start at $12.99 for 4 books.
Make a first day of school story
Pick the grade your child is starting. Books are $4.99 each.