Help students learn about schools around the world with this selection of books. Students can use the information that they learn to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between their own school and those that they read about. It is also a great opportunity for students that have attended school in other countries to share some of their own experiences.

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Schools Around the World

Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin-Two cousins from the United States and Mexico exchange letters. Compare and contrast how their schools and daily lives are both the same and different.

Same, Same But Different– Two children from the United States and India exchange letters and drawings. Compare and contrast how their schools and daily lives are both the same and different.

School Days Around the World– This book describes schools around the world. It has simple language and colorful paper cutout pictures. The children in the book use first person language to describe what their school day is like.

Off to Class: Incredible and Unusual Schools Around the World– Show students schools around the world as they explore different locations that students learn. This book has longer text. Each description could be used as a close reading article to read with students.

Adventures to School: Real-Life Journeys of Students from Around the World– Learn about different ways that children travel to school around the world. For each country, there is a short description of the country. There is also a first-person account of a child that is traveling to school.

School Days Around the World– Childres from around the world share about their school day. There are photographs of the school and items that the child uses.

The Soda Bottle School: A True Story of Recycling, Teamwork, and One Crazy Idea– A young boy has an idea to help clean his town and help build a larger school in his Guatemalan village.

Schools in the United States

First Day in Grapes– It is Chico’s first day of school in a new town. His parents are migrant workers so he moves to different schools. He is nervous about starting over. He enjoys meeting his new teacher and is excited about his time at the new school.

I’m New Here– Immigrant children from around the world tell about starting school in the United States. They describe how they felt in their old school compared with starting over in a new country.