The California Department of Education website can assist parents and students in selecting books written at a level of difficulty that corresponds with a child‘s ability to read. Drawn from California‘s recommended literature lists for students in kindergarten through grade twelve, the reading lists on this site have been specifically tailored to match the achievement level of each student who participated in the statewide assessment program during the previous spring.

This site will is updated and refreshed periodically in order to include new titles written for children and young adults, or to delete other titles that may no longer be available or appropriate.

To search through the Recommended Literature database for K-12 Studesnt, click here.

For the children who are just starting school or for ones who have some scares and concerns about returning back to school pediatricians are recommending this book list : 

Entering School: Resource List

Books for Children Ages 3 to 8

• Pooh‘s First Day of School; by Kathleen W. Zoehfeld, Robbin Cuddy (illustrator); Disney Press, 1997
• My Mom Made Me Go to School; by Judy Delton; Delacorte, 1991
• School Bus; by Donald Crews; Econo-Clad Books, 1999
• Timothy Goes to School; by Rosemary Wells; Puffin Press, 2000
• Will I Have a Friend?; by Miriam Cohen; Econo-Clad Books, 1999
• First Grade Elves; by Joanne Ryder; Troll Associates, 1994
• When You Go to Kindergarten; by James Howe; Demco, 1995
• Amanda Pig, Schoolgirl; by Jean Van Leeuwen, Ann Schweninger (illustrator); Dial Books for Young Readers, 1997
• Back to School for Rotten Ralph; by Jack Gantos, Nicole Rubel (illustrator); HarperCollins, 1998
• Billy and the Big New School; by Laurence Anholt, Catherine Anholt (illustrator); Albert Whitman & Co, 1999
• A Dragon in My Backpack; by Elvira Woodruff, Denise Brunkus (illustrator); Trool Assoc., 1996
• Franklin Goes to School; by Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark (illustrator); Scholastic Trade, 1995
• Franklin va a la escuela (Franklin Goes to School); by Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark (illustrator), Alejandra Lopez Varela (translator); Lectorum (Spanish Publication), 1998
• Froggy Goes to School; by Jonathan London, Frank Remkiewicz (illustrator); Puffin, 1998
• I‘ll Go to School If; by Bo Flood, Ronnie Walter Shipman (illustrator); Fairview Press, 1997
• Little Bear Goes to Kindergarten; by Jutta Langreuter, Vera Sobat (illustrator); Millbrook Press, 1997
• Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!; by Nancy L. Carlson; Viking Childrens Books, 1999
• Russell Rides Again; by Johanna Hurwitz; Beach Tree, 1999
• When You Go to Kindergarten; by James Howe; Mulberry Books, 1995

Books for Adults

• Is Your Child Ready for First Grade?: A Self-Help Book for Parents Assessing Their Children‘s Pre-School Readiness Skills; by Eleanor Hickman-Tilghman; Test, INC., 1998
• Ready for Reading: A Handbook for Parents of Preschoolers; by Ashley Bishop; Allyn and Bacon, 2000
• Ten Steps to Help Your Child Read; by Jenni Taverner; 1999
• Ten Steps to Help Your Child Write; by Jenni Taverner; 1999
•  Adjusting to School: Resource List

Books for Children Ages 5 to 9

• Arthur‘s Teacher Trouble; by Marc Brown; Econo-Clad Books, 1999
• Flunking of Joshua T. Bates; by Susan Shreve; Random House Childrens, 1999
• Miss Nelson Is Back; by Harry Allard and James Marshall; Econo-Clad Books, 1999
• Miss Nelson Is Missing; by Harry Allard and James Marshall; Econo-Clad Books, 1999
• The Beast In Ms. Rooney‘s Room; by Patricia Reilly Giff; Econo-Clad Books, 1999
• Today Was a Terrible Day; by Patricia Reilly Giff; Econo-Clad Books, 1999

Books for Children Ages 8 to 12

• The Fourth Grade Wizards; by Barthe DeClements; Econo-Clad Books, 1999
• Nothing‘s Fair In Fifth Grade; by Barthe DeClements; Econo-Clad Books, 1999

Books for Adults

• From Your Child‘s Teacher: Helping a Child Learn to Read, Write, and Speak; by Robin Bright; FP Hendriks Pub., 1998
• How to Develop Your Child‘s Gifts & Talents During the Elementary Years (2nd ed); by RaeLynne Rain; Contemporary; Verulam, 2000
• The Educated Child: A Parent‘s Guide from Preschool Through Eighth Grade; by William Bennett; Free Press, 1999