Booksource polled teachers on Facebook and Twitter about what books to read at the start of the school year. Here’s what they had to say:

“Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco (Grades 1-4, Level P, Lexile AD650) addresses differences in students, bullying and how we can all learn.” –Recommended by Lorrie Mayfield

How to be Cool in Third Grade by Betsy Duffey (Grades 2-5, Level N, Lexile 470) –Recommended by Renee Dunn Anderson

Sideways Stories from Wayside School (Grades 3-6, Level P, Lexile 460)– Recommended by Amy Henry

“This year I’m going to read The Dot (Grades K-4, Level L, Lexile AD500) to promote mind growth thinking.” –Recommended by Maria Jackson

“I read Middle School Worst Years of My Life (Grades 4-7, Level V, Lexile 700) by James Patterson to my 6th graders.” –Recommended by Diane Warfield Sittig

“Indian in the Cupboard (Grades 4-7, Level R, Lexile 780) is always my first book.” –Recommended by Darlene Andre

And here are a few recommendations from the book experts at Booksource too:

Chu’s First Day of School (Grades P-1), a follow-up to the humorous standout Chu’s Day (Grades P-K, Lexile AD210), is an equally fantastic picture book about the little panda with the big sneeze. –Recommended by Emma Williams, Collection Development

“My favorite back to school book is Chrysanthemum (Grades K-2, Level M, Lexile 460) by Kevin Henkes. This lovely little picture book captures the excitement, worry, disappointment and rekindling love for school that those first experiences bring.” –Recommended by Brandi Ivester, Collection Development

First Day Jitters (K-3, Level L, Lexile AD210) by Julie Danneberg. Sarah is anxious and nervous about her first day at a new school-so much so that she refuses to get out of bed! Whether your students are preschoolers or kindergartners off on their first school adventure, or older kids apprehensive about joining a new class, this book reminds us that it’s normal to get a little nervous for the first day of school. –Recommended by Michelle Abeln, Collection Development

A Bad Case of the Stripes (Grades K-3, Level P, Lexile AD540) by David Shannon shows there’s no time like the new school year to be exactly who you want to be and there’s nothing better than being yourself! –Recommended by Diona Graves, Collection Development