Back-to-school gift idea
A Back-to-School Gift: A Story About a Brave First Day
New backpack, new lunch box, new shoes. For the first day of preschool or kindergarten, add a gift that helps with what's inside too: a story where your child walks into a new classroom, makes a friend and runs into your arms at pickup.
Why a story makes a great back-to-school gift
Back-to-school shopping covers the backpack and the crayons. But what most young kids need before a big first day is reassurance: knowing what will happen, that they can handle it, and that you'll be there at the end.
A personalized story walks your child through the whole day before it happens. When the hero has their name, their look and their brand-new backpack, it feels like a preview of their own first day, with a happy ending they can count on.
Who it's for
- Kids starting preschool or daycare. Saying goodbye at the door, a kind teacher, playtime, snack and pickup. See our story about starting preschool.
- Kids starting kindergarten. A bigger school, a longer day, the cafeteria and recess. See our first day of school story.
- Kids changing schools. After a move, a new classroom can feel even scarier.
- Older siblings. Even a third grader can enjoy a story about being brave on the first day.
Story ideas
- The brave backpack. A backpack with a secret pocket and a special word from home.
- The new friend. The hero says hi first, and finds someone who loves dinosaurs too.
- The classroom pet. The class hamster helps the hero feel at home.
- The map. The hero gets a treasure map of the school and finds every important place: the cubby, the bathroom, the playground.
You can choose a ready-made lesson, such as the preschool lesson or being brave, or write your own: "a brave first day of kindergarten," "making new friends at a new school."
When to give it
A week or two before school starts is ideal, so your child can hear the story several times. Read it at bedtime, and again on the morning of the first day. With narration, they can even listen in the car on the way.
Our guides on starting preschool and the first day of kindergarten cover the rest: practice runs, goodbye routines and what to ask after school.
How it works
Add your child's name and look from a photo or a description, choose a lesson or write your own, and add family members, friends or pets (up to five in a Big story). The cover, the full text and the first illustrated pages are free. If you love it, you pay once. No subscription. Every story includes narration, a video version and a PDF.
Frequently asked questions
When should I give a back-to-school story?＋
About a week or two before school starts, so your child can hear it several times before the first day.
Is there a lesson for starting school?＋
There's a ready-made preschool lesson and a bravery lesson. For kindergarten, you can also write your own, such as “a brave first day of kindergarten.”
Can grandparents give it as a gift?＋
Yes. Ask the parents for a photo or description and the school details, then create the story and send it to the family.
See also
Create a first-day story
Let your child walk into school as the hero of their own story. Creating it is free.
Create a story