Back-to-School

Welcome to a New School Year!

Capstone hopes to help set you—and your students—up for success this school year. Check out our free activities for students, fun freebies for your library or classroom, curated booklists, and more. Get into the back-to-school frame of mind with Capstone!

 

What's New for Fall 2024?

Take a look at highlights from our new releases this Fall! This season is all about book love, celebrating that special connection readers can have with the right book, starting with Author vs. Illustrator, a hilarious picture book about the not-so-simple process of creating a picture book, Overdue, a story about a forgotten library book told from his point of view, and The Pass, a tender story of sports, reading, and friendship, celebrating the empowerment and connection a good book can give. Also new this season is Tana Cooks, an early chapter book series about a Choctaw second-grader who loves to cook and bake with her family, and Cyber Sleuths, a middle grade mystery series created in collaboration with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Check out these books plus many more!

Collage image of book covers publishing in fall 2024

Decodable Phonics Resources

Stairway Decodables, a supplemental phonics resource perfect for small group instruction and independent reading practice.

Combines multiple components of the Science of Reading to help young readers build vocabulary knowledge, improve verbal reasoning and language structures while decoding phonetically regular words.

Decodables

Featured Downloadables

Thumbnail image of Book Care Tips poster from Overdue: The Midsadventure of Bob the Book by Gloria Koster and illustrated by Pawel GierlinskiThumbnail image of Book Care Tips poster from Overdue: The Midsadventure of Bob the Book by Gloria Koster and illustrated by Pawel Gierlinski
Overdue: The Misadventure of Bob the Book
Poster
Thumbnail image of bookmarks featuring art from the Tana Cooks! series by Stacy Wells and illustrated by Maria Gabriela GamaThumbnail image of bookmarks featuring art from the Tana Cooks! series by Stacy Wells and illustrated by Maria Gabriela Gama
Tana Cooks!
Bookmarks
Thumbnail image of Educator's Guide for the Cyber Sleuths chapter book seriesThumbnail image of Educator's Guide for the Cyber Sleuths chapter book series
Cyber Sleuths
Educator's Guide
The Power of the School Librarian

The Power of the School Librarian

15 Perfect Back-to-School Books

Back-to-school can be an exciting time, but also one filled with uncertainty and big feelings. Books can be a perfect way to start conversations about all of the changes and the emotions that children may be feeling. From common school worries like being away from home or fitting in, to reinforcing important social skills and personal hygiene, here are some of our favorite books to ease kids back to school. If you’re looking for the perfect read for back-to-school, we have you covered!  

Illustrated image of little boy with Down syndrome about to hug his dog before boarding the school bus, from the book Best Buddies by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by Arthur Lin

10 Back-to-School Tips for the Library

From fun ways to collaborate within your school community to ideas on how you can promote your library services, District Teacher Librarian Shannon McClintock Miller shares her 10 favorite back-to-school tips to help make this your best school year yet.

Headshot photo of author Shannon McClintock Miller along with illustrations and the book cover image of Sonia's Digital World, illustrated by Clara Reschke

Educator Resources & Downloadables

2025-2026 Wall Calendar 2025-2026 Wall Calendar
2024-2025
Holiday Calendar
Back to School BINGOBack to School BINGO
Back To School
BINGO
Thumbnail image of PebbleGo September 2024 Holiday CalendarThumbnail image of PebbleGo September 2024 Holiday Calendar
PebbleGo
Holiday Calendar
Thumbnail image of doorknob hanger with text "Quiet Please! I'm Busy Reading!" and featuring artwork from Books Aren't For Bears by Mark Barry, illustrated by Katy HalfordThumbnail image of doorknob hanger with text "Quiet Please! I'm Busy Reading!" and featuring artwork from Books Aren't For Bears by Mark Barry, illustrated by Katy Halford
Quiet Please! I'm Busy Reading!
Door Hanger 
Thumbnail image of downloadable poster featuring illustrated artwork from the picture book Books Aren't For Bears by Mark Barry and illustrated by Katy Halford with the text "Read With Friends!"Thumbnail image of downloadable poster featuring illustrated artwork from the picture book Books Aren't For Bears by Mark Barry and illustrated by Katy Halford with the text "Read With Friends!"
Read With Friends!
Poster 
Caught Reading thumbnailCaught Reading thumbnail
Caught Reading!
Poster 
Thumbnail image of All About Me activity templateThumbnail image of All About Me activity template
All About Me! 
Activity 
Scavenger Hunt thumbnailLIScavenger Hunt thumbnailLI
Library Scavenger Hunt
Activity
Thumbnail image of Find It At Your Library Downloadable PosterThumbnail image of Find It At Your Library Downloadable Poster
Find It At Your Library!
Poster
School Stories

A selection of our favorite books, perfect for back to school time! Lessons learned in these stories include becoming a classroom citizen,  confronting first day of school worries, making friends and finishing projects. School can be the best part of the day!

School Stories