The Wheels on the Bus: 6 of Our Favorite Bus Books for Back to School

Pete the Cat: The Wheels on the Bus, Based on the creation of James Dean
The wildly popular song, “The Wheels on the Bus” comes to life in this Pete the Cat book. Your kids will love to sing along with every page, from words they know to new verses they will be excited to learn. The illustrations are bright and cheerful, and there’s even a dog on the bus! Get ready for fun with this one—it’s great for all ages.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, by Mo Willems
All the pigeon wants to do is drive the bus—is that so wrong? Kids will love telling him “No!” as the pigeon asks over and over to drive the bus in this award-winning Caldecott Honor book by Mo Willems. This funny hilarious story will keep kids’ attention as they wonder what the crafty pigeon will say next.

 Gus, the Dinosaur Bus, by Julia Liu
Why ride in a regular bus to school when you have Gus, the dinosaur bus? This cute will have kids daydreaming about what it would be like to ride on a real-life dinosaur to school. Unfortunately, Gus runs into some trouble with broken traffic lights and tangled telephone lines. But what can Gus do instead of being a bus?

 Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, by Barbara Park
Junie B. (don’t forget the “B”!) says the funniest things. This precocious kindergartner is hilarious, and kids (and you!) will love hearing about her adventures and her thoughts on everyday life, from school buses to the nurse’s office to the library. When Junie B. refuses to ride the bus home from her first day of kindergarten, hijinks ensue. Your kids will laugh out loud at this one.

Bus-A-Saurus Bop, by Diane Z. Shore
A silly dinosaur-turned-school-bus who picks up children for school with his mouth and burps them out when they arrive makes for a zany tale. The unique illustrations and the entertaining storyline keeps kids engaged (and giggling).

The Magic School Bus Series, by Joanna Cole
A list of favorite bus books is not complete without including The Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole. What kid doesn’t love Ms. Frizzle and her awesome field trips, from everywhere to the ocean to hurricanes to going inside the human body? With the help of her Magic School Bus, which can turn into all sorts of things, Ms. Frizzle’s lucky class can go anywhere. Parents will love these books, too, as they are packed with scientific facts wrapped up in seriously imaginative stories.
What are your favorite books about school buses?