Favorite Picture Books About Homeschooling: 9 Sweet Books for Your Homeschool Library
9 Favorite Picture Books About Homeschooling
Looking for the best picture books about homeschooling? These sweet picture books for kids celebrate learning at home, family adventures, curiosity, and the many different ways a homeschool day can look.
Whether you’ve been a homeschool family forever, are getting started for the first time this year, or are just looking for a special first day of homeschool story, these picture books make wonderful read-alouds for preschool and early elementary kids!
First Day of Homeschool Books
Starting homeschool is SO exciting and sometimes a little bit nerve-wracking, too! If you need a first day of homeschool book to read with your kids before starting a new homeschool year, these are two especially sweet choices.
1. The Night Before Homeschool by Heather Khodadadi
The Night Before Homeschool follows a family of six as Mom prepares for their first day of a new homeschool year. She has planned a day packed with activities—and while she may have slightly overplanned, the whole family gets to join in on the fun. The story celebrates the idea that homeschool can include everyone, even younger siblings who aren’t technically school age yet.
Why do we love it? It feels so VERY relatable. Homeschool days can be messy, busy, overplanned, spontaneous, and full of unexpected learning…and that’s part of why we do it!
2. The First Day of Homeschool by Kaitlin Harris
Cinnamon rolls, bike rides, and a picnic in the park make for a very different kind of first day of school! This rhyming picture book follows an eager second-grade boy and his little sister as they experience their first day of homeschool.
Why do we love it? It’s a cheerful reminder that the first day of homeschool doesn’t have to look anything like the first day of school in a traditional way.
These first day of homeschool books are perfect for building excitement before your homeschool year begins. Read one the night before, tuck another into your morning basket, or make them part of your first-day traditions.
Our Favorite Picture Books About Homeschooling
There are so many wonderful children's books about school, but sometimes specifically finding homeschooling picture books can be a little trickier. So, after a bit of searching, these are some of the favorites we keep on our homeschool bookshelf.
1. This Is My Home, This Is My School by Jonathan Bean
This charming picture book is inspired by author Jonathan Bean’s own childhood as a homeschooler. Young Jonathan and his sisters learn with Mom as their teacher and Dad as the substitute, turning the house, yard, garage, and nearby pond into places for learning. Math, science, art, field trips, recess, chores, and everyday family life all become part of the school day.
Why do we love it? It beautifully captures one of the best things about homeschooling: learning doesn’t have to be separated from real life…and shouldn’t be! It’s all connected!
2. Mama, Why Am I Homeschooled?
This sweet story gives children a chance to think about the reasons their family has chosen homeschooling. It’s a lovely conversation starter for younger children who are beginning to notice that their school experience looks different from some of their friends’ experiences.
Why do we love it? It gives little homeschoolers a simple, child-friendly way to talk about their own homeschool journey.
3. Miss Teacher Mom by Katlynne Mirabal
Told from the perspective of a little homeschooled girl, Miss Teacher Mom celebrates a super sweet part of homeschooling: Mom gets to be Mom and teacher! The rhyming story follows a day at home and highlights the joy of learning together.
Why do we love it? It puts the relationship between parent and child right at the heart of the homeschool story.
4. Homeschool Magic: Liam's Magical Homeschool Day by Jody Rowan
This imaginative picture book looks at a homeschool day as an adventure, encouraging children to see learning as something exciting and full of possibility. The colorful illustrations and magical theme celebrate curiosity and the many ways children can learn outside a traditional classroom.
Why do we love it? It captures the wonder and flexibility that can make homeschooling feel so magical.
5. A Thank You Letter to My Homeschool by Deb Adamson
This heartwarming book is basically a love letter to homeschooling. Haha! A homeschooled child celebrates everything homeschool makes possible, noting things from robotics and community gardening to making friends, solving problems, exploring outdoors, and learning in unexpected places.
Why do we love it? It’s an especially lovely book for reminding kids that homeschool can be about freedom, curiosity, community, and learning everywhere…and NOT just completing lessons at the kitchen table.
6. Homeschool Rocks My Socks by Cyrena Shows
With catchy rhymes and fun illustrations, this book celebrates the variety of ways kids learn at home. It’s especially helpful for children who wonder why their friends go to a school building while they learn at home.
Why do we love it? Sometimes kids just need to hear that their unique school experience is pretty stinkin’ awesome!
7. The Squirrel Who Homeschooled by Kacie Washington
What would you do if a squirrel showed up at your window every day to peek inside your homeschool? The Squirrel Who Homeschooled follows this delightful little visitor as he becomes curious about the learning happening inside. It’s a playful story that gives kids a fun glimpse into what makes homeschooling different—and why learning at home is such an adventure.
Why do we love it? It’s quirky, sweet, and a fun way to introduce the idea that homeschool can look a little different from what happens inside a traditional school building.
Why Read Picture Books About Homeschooling?
One of my favorite things about homeschool picture books is that they give children the opportunity to see their own experiences reflected in a story. It also helps kids understand that they’re a part of a bigger community of homeschool families who do things similarly (or differently) to them.
Homeschool doesn't always look like sitting in a chair and completing worksheets. In fact, it honestly rarely does!
Sometimes we're learning at the kitchen table. Sometimes we're outside, on a field trip, reading on the couch, working on a project, or discovering something completely unexpected.
Books about homeschooling can help kids understand and celebrate what makes their education unique and start to appreciate the beauty and love involved in their learning.
They're also a wonderful way to answer questions like:
What is homeschooling?
Why do we homeschool?
What does a homeschool day look like?
What happens on the first day of homeschool?
How is homeschool different from public or private school?
Building a Homeschool Picture Book Library
You don't need a huge collection of books to create a wonderful home library. A handful of favorite homeschool picture books can become special ones that your children associate with your family's homeschool journey.
Keep them in your morning basket, add them to your homeschool reading list, or pull them out whenever you need a cozy read-aloud on a rainy day….on the couch….in your pajamas.
There's something really sweet about starting a new homeschool year with a story, a snuggle, and a little excitement about what’s ahead.
The best homeschool books for kids don’t have to be about curriculum or academics. Sometimes the books that stay with our kids are simply the ones that remind them that learning can happen anywhere, with people they love, and home can be a wonderful place to learn.
Need more books to add to your homeschool library?
Try searching for:
Homeschool books for preschoolers
Homeschool books for elementary students
Books about learning at home
Books about friendship and homeschooling
Books for the first day of homeschool
Children's books about school
Homeschool read-alouds
And honestly? You can’t go wrong with ANY of these options. A stack of picture books, a cozy couch, and a little time together sounds like a pretty wonderful way to start a school day to me.
Happy homeschooling! Cheering you on!
P.s. If you’re unsure where to start with homeschooling your toddler or preschooler, peek at my toddler/preschool curriculum. It might just be exactly what you need!
