The Ultimate Back-to-School Reading List for 2025 (All Ages)

July 2, 2025 Kristin 0 Comments

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Summer is here, and the upcoming school year is just around the corner! This lineup of new books will not only prepare kids for the classroom but also help them grow outside of it. Whether your readers are looking to build important life skills, fuel their passion for youth sports, or dive into new learning experiences, we’ve curated a diverse back-to-school list that will set you all up for success in fall 2025.

From kindergarten students to middle schoolers, and even those just starting college, there’s something here for everyone.

Reading with my kids and watching them read to themselves is one of my favorite things to do and see. I know reading is one of the absolute best things your kids can do to learn, and thrive in school. Check out these favorites:

Everybody Toots! by Jonny Leighton

Teaching kids not to be ashamed of their natural bodily functions, this laugh-out-loud picture book features cows, monkeys, dinosaurs, and other tooters from the animal kingdom and beyond!

Jerboa feels shocked and embarrassed when he unexpectedly lets out a stinky, squeaky toot. Luckily, the wise Elephant is there to remind the shy creature that, whether big or small, animal or human, dinosaur or monster, Everybody Toots! Featuring hilarious rhyming text and entertaining illustrations, this cheeky picture book will leave kids bursting with laughter while also teaching them that passing gas is totally normal and okay.

Sports Superstars from Black History by Sophia Murphy

Discover how 12 Black athletes overcame seemingly impossible odds and insurmountable challenges to achieve their dreams and make a name for themselves in the fields of football, baseball, basketball, tennis, track and field, and gymnastics—a perfect gift for young sports fans and young athletes!

Kids will immerse themselves in the world of sports as they follow iconic figures, from stars of the past to celebrities of today, through the highs and lows of their careers. Young readers will discover the inspirational stories of 12 people—some that they might know and love, and some that they may have never heard of before—all winners in their own right. But this book goes beyond touchdowns and home runs. Each of these figures has overcome many struggles, and kids will learn valuable life lessons from this book’s deeper themes of leadership, perseverance, tenacity, and triumphing over adversity. Featuring stories about:

Serena Williams and Althea Gibson
Aaron Judge and Jackie Robinson
Lebron James and Earl Francis Lloyd
Russell Wilson and Fritz Pollard
Simone Biles and Dominque Dawes
Allyson Felix and Alice Coachman

Perfect Balance by Julia Konner

Become a stronger, more informed gymnast with this practical guide for young athletes, filled with unique insights, advice, tips, strategies and more intended for young gymnasts who want to feel heard and understood in one of the toughest, most competitive sports.

Gymnastics is one of the fastest growing sports, particularly for young girls. Yet despite its popularity, many young athletes quit before they reach high school age due to the physical and mental demands.

In Perfect Balance, multiple award-winning former gymnast and mentor to young gymnasts Julia Konner helps young athletes navigate their relationship with gymnastics. With a mix of objective advice, personal stories from the author’s years as a gymnast, anecdotes of other gymnasts, and additional insights from a coach’s perspective, Perfect Balance will be an invaluable, real-life guide for these young athletes participating in one of the most intense sports out there. Inside this book, young athletes will find:

Practical tips for strength building
Strategies for developing mental toughness
Advice on dealing with body dysmorphia
Information on how to choose the best coach and gym for you
And so much more!

Whether you’re just starting your gymnastics journey or are a seasoned gymnast with Olympic-sized goals, Perfect Balance will guide you in becoming the best young athlete you can be.

Jurassic Girl by Michele C. Hollow

Perfect for children interested in learning about dinosaurs, fossils, and women in STEM, this historical fiction book for children explores the fascinating life of 12-year-old Mary Anning, a fossil hunter who would grow up to be a famous paleontologist.

At age 12, Mary Anning found the skeleton of the first ichthyosaurus, a fish-like creature that lived during the Jurassic Period. It was more than 17 feet long! But according to many of the men in London’s Geological Society, the fossil could not be real due to several reasons:

Mary was female.
She was 12 years old.
She had no formal education.
She was poor.

But that didn’t stop Mary! This story follows her journey with the ichthyosaurus and offers a look into the childhood of someone who would eventually become the “Mother of Paleontology.” Featuring friendships, fossils, and found family, Mary Anning’s tale is sure to inspire young readers and scientists alike!

The Self-Regulation Workbook for 3- to 5-Year-Olds by Drs. Abbré McClain and Jacqueline Salazar

Discover play-based activities and coping strategies to help children ages 3 to 5 with social and emotional functioning, attachment patterns, handling anxiety, and more.

Children aged 3 to 5 years are experiencing a period of rapid growth, and play is the key medium in which all aspects of their development, especially social and emotional development, occur. This evidence-based workbook acts as a resource for trusted adults and caregivers, providing playful and creative activities that will help foster self-regulation skills necessary for healthy emotional development in their children.

Activities within the workbook are play based to help young kids foster a healthy self-image and develop self-regulation skills necessary to manage stress, anxiety, and other big emotions. Additionally, the activities will include reflective opportunities for adults to help strengthen their relationship with the child. The reflective process is necessary for co-regulation, an essential aspect of self-regulation. These activities can be utilized repeatedly and adapted across ages and settings, as well as assist in navigating social and emotional developmental milestones.

The Self-Regulation Workbook for Children Ages 5 to 8 by Dr. Kahlila Robinson and Sarah Gerstenzang, LCSW

Both caregivers and children can benefit from this workbook offering helpful guidance on essential emotional regulation skills such as co-regulation, frustration tolerance, expressing feelings, caregiver reflection, and child self-control, through fun and engaging activities.

Written by experienced child therapists who are parents themselves, this workbook uses the foremost knowledge and methods to help both caregivers and children build strong relationships and instill useful regulation tools in their everyday lives. Follow along with fun activities used to teach caregivers how to realistically adapt to meet children’s emotional needs. Activities and guidance include:

How to use play and connection as a baseline approach
Naming and noticing feelings
Guidance for building emotional resilience and reflection in your child
Emotion regulation strategies for the caregiver to use during tough moments
How to use parent reflection to better understand and respond to challenging child behaviors
How to set limits and repair ruptures
Guidance from enduring theory and research on child emotion regulation
And so much more!

The Self Regulation Workbook for Children Ages 5 to 8 can be used as a family activity, a child-caregiver activity, a caregiver-only intervention, and a child-only activity that fosters confidence in those striving to provide an emotionally supportive environment for children.

The Young Runner’s Guide to Nutrition by Michele Pettinger

Empower young runners to take control of their health and training with this practical guide that teaches them the basics of sports nutrition and includes over 40 balanced and healthy recipes.

Author, lifelong runner, and certified running and nutrition coach Michele Pettinger grew up running under the tutelage of her father, the high school cross country and track coach. With The Young Runner’s Guide to Nutrition, she plans to carry on the legacy of reaching youth runners and the communities that support them through nutrition education and practical, easy-to-implement protocols.

With this practical guide, young runners will learn the fundamentals of sports nutrition, explaining why they need specific nutrients and what foods contain them. These young athletes will also discover more about:

Navigating adolescence and the unique nutritional needs of the young runner, like macronutrients, micronutrients, and hydration
Nutritional challenges and health risks such as the female and male athlete triads, disordered eating, RED-S, and other areas of concern
Strategic fueling and optimizing performance and recovery through nutrition planning and nutrient timing
Empowering change by integrating nutrition education into running programs, including how to foster positive body image and daily practical tools for upholding nutrition protocols
And so much more!

Change in sports nutrition for young runners needs to start with the entire community that supports them—their coaches, trainers, and families. That’s why The Young Runner’s Guide to Nutrition also includes resources for coaches on how to integrate nutrition education into their training programs and content for parents on how to foster good nutrition at home that will support the needs of their young runner through meal planning, cooking, and conversation.

The Self-Regulation Handbook for Teens & Young Adults by Dr. Kathy P. Wu

Discover how emotional regulation and other coping skills can help you manage big emotions, big life changes, and the issues you deal with on a day-to-day basis.

The final years of high school and the first years of college can be full of new experiences, friendships, and learning opportunities. But they can also be a time of upheaval and instability. This trauma-informed handbook will help you remain empowered and centered as you navigate through a variety of difficult experiences, including:

Mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, perfectionism, boredom, burnout, and grief
Interpersonal challenges like not fitting in, being gaslit, facing discrimination, and problems with communication and relationships
External issues like collective trauma, social media pressures, political upheaval, and financial stress

Specifically designed for ages 15 to 21, this comprehensive guide provides valuable tools for utilizing self-regulation to build resilience and cultivate a strengths-oriented mindset. Dr. Kathy Wu, a licensed psychologist, has compiled helpful strategies and practical interventions from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavioral Therapy (DBT), and others, to help you understand and deal with difficult emotions and experiences. With engaging advice and real-life examples, this handbook equips you with the tools you need to thrive and face life’s challenges head on.

The I Love Trader Joe’s Cookbook: 15th Anniversary Edition by Cherie Mercer Twohy

Rediscover the countless easy and delicious meals you can create with your favorite Trader Joe’s products, including keto-friendly dishes, low-carb recipes, sweet treats, vegetarian and vegan cookbook ideas, party appetizers, snacks for entertaining, and so much more!

Don’t go into your next Trader Joe’s visit unprepared—The I Love Trader Joe’s Cookbook: 15th Anniversary Edition is fully restocked with even more fun and creative, never-before-seen recipes! Stock up on all your favorite budget-friendly ingredients to craft irresistible restaurant-style meals, crowd-pleasing appetizers, and other must-try dishes, such as:

Pelmeni, Prosciutto, and Pea Soup
Double Corn Smash Tacos
Savory-Spiced Pork with Apricot Cardamom Glaze
Champagne-Saffron Risotto
Pineapple Shrimp
Belgian Hot Fudge Shortcakes
Bool Kogi Beef on Coconut Rice with Macadamia Nuts and Basil
And more!

Fully updated with fan-favorite recipes, this Trader Joe’s cookbook is perfect for planning your next soiree, whipping up a quick-and-easy meal, or creating a memorable dish to share with friends and family

The Financial Abundance Blueprint by Amanda Henry

Discover the roadmap to attaining financial independence, growing your wealth, and climbing the corporate ladder—all while living your best life!

In a world of instant gratification where the American Dream is quickly fading and the push toward entrepreneurship as a means of stability grows ever greater, let it be known that there is still a way to live abundantly on the 9 to 5. Tailored for trailblazing Black women and women of color, The Financial Abundance Blueprint blends personal anecdotes, actionable advice, and a touch of humor.

From dispelling myths around building wealth to revealing corporate’s unwritten rules, this transformative guide will teach you the basics of:

Working systemically vs. smarter and harder
Creating your personal brand
Networking with mentors and colleagues
Maximizing corporate benefits
Starting a business or side hustle
And more!

Whether you’re a Gen-Zer taking the first steps into adulthood or a millennial working your way through life, The Financial Abundance Blueprint is the perfect roadmap on the journey to achieving financial freedom!

The Growth Mindset Coach: Second Edition by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley

Bring growth mindset strategies into the classroom with the newly updated version of this best-selling, easy-to-follow guide for teachers to empower learning through grit and resilience.

The teacher-favorite The Growth Mindset Coach returns in a fully updated second edition, featuring fresh strategies, research, and resources to help unleash students’ potential through innovative lessons, empowering messages, and cutting-edge teaching techniques. This new edition expands its focus to address the evolving needs of today’s diverse classrooms, while incorporating the latest research and trends in education.

The Growth Mindset Coach, Second Edition provides the tools and advice needed foster a growth mindset classroom, including:

A refreshed month-by-month program with adaptable lessons for middle and high school students
Updated research-based activities from the latest studies
New hands-on lesson plans incorporating social-emotional learning (SEL) concepts
Fresh real-life educator stories reflecting today’s classroom realities
Constructive feedback techniques grounded in the latest psychological research
Updated sample parent letters and communication techniques
New content on AI as a teaching tool and how to embrace new classroom technology

Studies show that growth mindsets result in higher test scores, improved grades, and more engaged students. When your students understand that their intelligence is not limited, they succeed like never before. With the tools in this book, you can motivate your students to believe in themselves and achieve anything.

All books are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold!

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