Elementary Grade Books Including Positive Aspects of School

October 26, 2017 3:16 PM

Please give me your recommendations of books for the elementary grades (picture or chapter) that include positive depictions of the conventional school environment, centrally or incidentally. I'd like to find books that show kids (in any part of the world) enjoying good things that can happen at school: discovering new things, learning about their own strengths, helping others, working together, gaining independence or competence, solving intellectual problems, observing role models, making friends, engaging in creativity.

There are kids in my life I send books to on a regular basis who are homeschooled. I notice that many of the books I browse looking for selections for them exaggerate conventional school's negative aspects.

I realize that books that focus on the problems kids encounter at school serve a purpose in that they help kids in that environment negotiate their own challenges. And I realize that kids not in that environment have to resolve those issues in other settings. But for kids that don't have experience of conventional schooling, I'd like to avoid sending a lot of negative depictions of it.

Many thanks, hivemind!

posted by jocelmeow to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

Interesting question! The first thing that comes to mind is the Magic Schoolbus books - in elementary school, my classmates and I (who loved school because we were in advanced all-nerd classes) really identified with them.
posted by showbiz_liz at 3:33 PM on October 26, 2017 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Try the lunch lady graphic novels?
posted by bq at 3:36 PM on October 26, 2017

School's First Day of School is about a personified school talking about its apprehension about having children in it. As it observes the children in their activities it begins to like the children and enjoy their presence.
posted by eisforcool at 4:25 PM on October 26, 2017

The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong. (But the school in the book is pretty different from a modern American school.)

Beverly Cleary's books generally present school positively, but they're also set in what, to today's kids, may feel like the distant past.

The Magic School Bus books are a great suggestion. (My own homeschooled kids really liked them.) Be sure to get the originals by Joanna Cole and not the ones based on the TV show.
posted by Redstart at 4:28 PM on October 26, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Rain School
Nasreen's Secret School
Malala/Iqbal

Caveat: maybe these are not "conventional" school. But inspiring around the concept of school in general.
posted by raspberrE at 7:12 PM on October 26, 2017

The Owl Diaries are accessible chapter books aimed at primary grade children. Very supportive teachers and adults whom the protagonist and her friends have positive relationships with.

For younger kids, Spot Goes tot School is a very positive take on a preschool/kindergarten-like scenario. Let's Go to School is a lift-the-flap book that addresses a preschool/daycare like situation in a friendly and positive way as well.
posted by dearadeline at 9:28 PM on October 26, 2017

The Miss Bindergargen series is pretty relentlessly positive about school.
posted by Xalf at 7:12 PM on October 27, 2017

Response by poster: Thanks, all! It took me a while to request the many recommendations from the library and read them. Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute and Rain School were my favorites; Lunch Lady seemed like it would have the most appeal and re-readability for the children I'm shopping for, plus be likely to pique their interest in other books in the series, so I've chosen that as their next book of the month. I greatly appreciate everyone's thoughtful suggestions.
posted by jocelmeow at 2:36 PM on November 26, 2017 [1 favorite]