The Best Graduation Books for Students of All Ages, As Chosen by Teachers

Celebrate those important milestones with a great book.

Best Graduation Books

It’s hard to believe, but we’re almost to the end of the 2021-2022 school year, and that means graduation is on the horizon! What’s a better way to celebrate than with books? Below, our favorite graduation books for students of all ages.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

The Best Preschool and Kindergarten Graduation Books

Graduation Groove by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook

Graduation Groove

In this joyful read aloud, a fun and diverse group of kindergartners gets ready for first grade.

What Would You Do in a Book About You? by Jean Reidy

Cover of What Would You Do in a Book About You - Graduation Books

This sweet rhyming read aloud asks kids to imagine themselves as the heroes of their own stories.

The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin

The Wonderful Things You Will Be

Nostalgic illustrations combined with whimsical text about the possibilities that lie ahead make this a perfect graduation book for the younger set.

Kindergarten, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg

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Kindergarten, Here I Come

A series of short poems celebrates everything that is great about kindergarten. (Don’t miss First Grade, Here I Come!, either!)

The Night Before Kindergarten Graduation by Natasha Wing

The Night Before Kindergarten

Part of Wing’s charming “The Night Before” series, students will relate to this story about all the emotions and tasks involved in graduation prep!

Celebrate You! by Sherry Duskey Rinker

Celebrate You!

We love the way this rhyming read aloud recognizes first milestones as important, while also recognizing the many more to come.

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The Best 5th Grade Graduation Books

Be You! by Peter H. Reynolds

Be You!

As kids head off into middle school, it’s important for them to hear the message to stay true to themselves, and that’s exactly what this graduation book celebrates.

What the Road Said by Cleo Wade

What the Road Said

This exchange between a traveler and the road they’re traveling will inspire fifth graders to keep going, no matter the obstacles they face.

Dear Girl, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Paris Rosenthal

Dear Girl

A lovely reminder for girls of all ages that they are smart, strong, and capable. (There’s also a Dear Boy version.)

Surviving Middle School by Luke Reynolds

Surviving Middle School

This funny field guide to middle school covers topics like bullying, peer pressure, parent relationships, and grades.

The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Middle School by David Borgenicht, Ben H. Winters, and Robin Epstein

Worst Case Scenario SUrvival Handbook

Graduating fifth graders will learn how to survive homework overload, bullies and cliques, and more in this installment of the “Worst Case Scenario” series.

The Best 8th Grade Graduation Books

The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman

Cover of The Hill We Climb

The book edition of the inaugural poem can also serve as encouragement for newly minted high schoolers.

97 Things to Do Before You Finish High School by Steven Jenkins

97 Things to Do Before You Finish High School

This fun bucket list has categories for personal development, family, community, and more.

You Are Awesome by Matthew Syed

You Are Awesome

A growth mindset guide for middle graders that will encourage them to learn from setbacks.

How to Be a Person by Catherine Newman

How to Be a Person

Newman covers many of life’s basics (such as thank you notes and calculating tips) in a fun, graphic-novel style format.

The Best High School Graduation Books

Carpe Every Diem by Robin Rogge

Carpe Every Diem

This compilation of best-ever graduation speeches is a great gift for a student tasked with writing one of their own.

Do Your Laundry or Die Alone by Becky Blades

Do Your Laundry or Die Alone

If you’re looking for a cheeky but still inspirational choice, check out this book of mom-inspired advice for high school graduates.

All These Wonders edited by Catherine Burns

All These Wonders

Send high school graduates off with these inspiring real-world stories about facing the unknown.

You Will Leave a Trail of Stars by Lisa Congdon

You Will Leave a Trail of Stars

We love the brightly colored graphics and smart pieces of advice in this collection.

How to College by Andrea Malkin Brenner and Lara Hope Schwartz

How to College

College-bound graduates will appreciate this practical guide to life on campus, which covers both general and academic topics.

Assume the Worst by Carl Hiassen

Assume the Worst

This irreverent guide takes on cliché graduation advice such as “live each day as if it’s your last,” offering a funny but realistic view of what it really means to follow your dreams.

We’re curious. Are your favorite graduation books on our list? Let us know in the comments.

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The Best Graduation Books for Students of All Ages