This excerpt from The Creative Curriculum for Preschool explains why books and reading are so important for children:

We read stories to children every day.  Reading introduces new ideas, helps children learn how to handle problems that come up in life, and mostly encourages them to develop a love for books. As children listen to us read, their own reading skills begin to develop. Here are some of the things we do as we read.

• We look at pictures and ask: “What do you see?”
• We encourage children to predict what will happen next: “What do you suppose will happen now?”
• We encourage children to repeat words, rhymes, and phrases they’ve memorized.

What You Can Do at Home
Research has shown us the most important role families play in helping children learn to read and write. The single most important thing you can do is to read to your child every day. When your child sits next to you as you read, he begins to connect books with good feelings. Here are a few more things you can do with your child.

• Encourage your child to talk about the stories you read.
• Ask questions like, “I wonder what will happen next?” or “I wonder why…”
• Try to relate the story to something in your child’s life (“That dog looks just like Grandpa’s”).
• Visit the library and check out books that interest your child.
• Give your child paper and pencils, pens, or markers and let him experiment with writing. Don’t worry if his writing isn’t perfect!

Here are a few books to help your child get used to the idea of going back to school –

Preschool Day, Hurray – Linda Leopold Strauss
A fun way to introduce the every day routines of school.  Great for toddlers through Preschoolers.

Maisy Goes to Preschool – Lucy Cousins
Maisy’s day shows how much fun school can be. Kids especially enjoy the pictures of Maisy in the bathroom.

David Goes to School – David Shannon
Kids love to see David doing all the things they know they aren’t supposed to do at school. A good way to teach what not to do.

If You Take a Mouse to School – Laura Numeroff
Kids love the mouse who always wants more – check out his adventures at school.

See You Later, Alligator! – Laura McGee Kvasnosky
A little alligator and his friends share fun ways to say goodbye to Mom and Dad.

The Kissing Hand – Audrey Penn
A raccoon mom helps her little boy work through separation anxiety on the first day of school.

I Am Too Absolutely Small for School – Lauren Child
Charlie and Lola work through Lola’s reasons not to go to school.

Jessica – Kevin Henkes
Ruthie is off to school, but her parents are a little worried about Ruthie’s imaginary friend Jessica. They’re all in for a big surprise