PICTURE BOOKS IN GERMAN THAT HELP EASE INTO DAYCARE OR PRESCHOOL

There is a lot to be excited about when starting daycare or preschool - making new friends, readaloud and playtime... But it is a hard transition, for the little ones (and parents alike.) with a whole mix of feelings and emotions. As always, reading books to your kid can be a wonderful way to prepare them what they are to expect and get a little more conformatable.

Here are some wonderful board and picture books in German on daycare or preschool that help transition when starting daycare - or getting back into it after the summer break. They can also be great to look at and start a conversation about your kids' day there during the year.

Friderike Bostelmann

LOTTA IN DER KRIPPE

For the truly little ones going to daycare, this book is perfect to show the daily routine and what is ahead.

Illustrated with photographs rather than pictures, this series is a great success with the small ones.

1 year and up

Sandra Grimm

WAS PASSIERT IM KINDERGARTEN?

Prepare your little tot for Kindergarten (which is daycare and preschool in German) with this board book with flaps and other interactive elements.

18months and up

Constanze von Kitzing

JETZT GEH ICH IN DIE KITA

Specifically written to help with easing into Daycare, this book shows little girl Juno's first day and all that comes with it: feeling slightly overwhelmed, new faces, new routines, missing parents. But in the end she like is and wants to come back...

Added bonus: just the right amount of text, little details to explore on the pages and a diverse modern setting.

2 years and up

Constanze von Kitzing

KOMM, WIR ZEIGEN DIR UNSERE KITA

By the same author and illustrator is this large format board book - each page is dedicated to a particular part of the day - snack time, outdoor time, nap time - and is designed as a Wimmelbuch (similar to Waldo).

Also a very diverse book and wonderful illustrations.

2 years and up

Petra Kummermehr

MEIN TAG IM KINDERGARTEN

This German board book answers concrete questions regarding Preschool: when does the day start? What do your do during circle time? How is lunch time? Sophie and her little friends Cem, Emil, Felix, Aliya, Milan and Miriam learn about sharing, celebrate birthday and grow their own little herb garden.

3 years and up

Anna Taube / Meike Toepperwein

WER HOLT DICH VON DER KITA AB?

Who is picking you up? is not only the title, but topic of this little board book. It is the end of the day and 9 kids are being picked up - by a wonderfully diverse group, grandparents, mothers, fathers.. Little prompts to look for things on the page make it even more fun.

2 years and up

Danielle Graf, Katja Seide

ALEX, ABGEHOLT!

It is the end of a preschool day, Mom is coming to pick Alex up. Alex is overwhelmed by a set of feelings.. happy to see mom, but also eager to finish the tower of building blocks... Some kids (my smaller ones for instance) will unload a lot of feelings during pick up time. This board book is for them!

2 years and up

Wieso Weshalb Warum junior - MEIN KINDERGARTEN

This German non-fiction book series with flaps offers books on all topics relevant to small kids, so there is of course a book on preschool! We spend the day with Felix and all the typical activities, playing, arts and crafts, circle time, read aloud, lunch and napping...

2 years and up

Daniela Kunkel

DAS KLEINE WIR IM KINDERGARTEN

Carl has his first day at preschool, he is a little shy and doesn't want his dad to leave. But just watching what is going on makes him overcome his shyness.. playtime, arts and napping. What makes the day really found is the good spirit among all the kids.

3 years and up

Beatrice Alemagna

NIEMALS NIE NICHT!

A different take with a storyline, an unexpected twist and humor is the picture book by Beatrice Alemagna. Pasqualina, the little bat girl, does not ever want to go to preschool. no matter how her parents try to convince her. At the end she shrieks so loudly, her parents shrink to the size of peanuts! Pasqualina now suddenly bold just hides them under her coat and heads to preschool after all.

The day there turns out better than expected - having her parents there too though does not seem just a plus! Wonderful book about the opposing feelings of independence and staying close to parents.

Pasqualina strong emotions might make this book a better fit for kids that already got o daycare or are not worried already, but it is a great read.

4 years and up