Back-to-School Is Here! PBS KIDS Friends Help Make the Transition Into a New School Year Easier

Sharpen those pencils, pack those backpacks and get ready to head back into the classroom, because back-to-school season is officially here!

Starting a new school year can bring a lot of emotions for kids. There is the excitement of seeing friends again, meeting a new teacher and discovering all the adventures waiting inside the classroom. But there can also be plenty of nervousness about all those changes.

Thankfully, some familiar friends from PBS KIDS are ready to help make that transition a little easier.

PBS KIDS on Prime Video has put together a collection of back-to-school favorites featuring characters like Arthur, Daniel Tiger, Pinkalicious and the Super Readers. From making new friends and facing those first-day jitters to discovering just how much fun learning can be, these adventures are perfect for getting younger viewers into the swing of a brand-new school year.

Arthur knows those first-day feelings particularly well in “Arthur’s First Day.” Arthur is excited to finally begin fourth grade, only to discover that his best friend Buster is in another class. Meanwhile, D.W. has an even bigger milestone ahead of her: her very first day of kindergarten.

Over in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Daniel Tiger is also getting ready for the classroom. Both “Daniel Goes to School” and “Welcome to School” help younger viewers explore what going to school is like, from learning and using their imaginations to meeting new friends.

The Super Readers are putting their literacy powers to work with “Super Why: Super School Stories,” bringing spelling, vocabulary, music, math and art together for several school-themed adventures. Pinkalicious gets into the classroom spirit with “Pinkalicious & Peterrific: School Rules!,” while the heroes of “Hero Elementary” go all the way back to their first day together as they discover the Superpowers of Science and head out on their first mission.

There is also “The Day You Begin,” which follows four imaginative kids who initially feel as though they do not belong on their first day of school. Their journey becomes one about courage, accepting what makes each of them unique and discovering connections with others.

And the learning adventures do not stop when the final school bell rings.

New episodes are arriving throughout August with “Donkey Hodie” Volume 17 and “Weather Hunters” Volume 5 already available. “Carl the Collector” Volume 7 joins the lineup August 31 with more adventures surrounding friendship, trying new things, family traditions and figuring out what you enjoy.

For parents who grew up with PBS themselves, there is even a little back-to-school nostalgia waiting.

PBS Retro will host an all-day Back to School marathon this Saturday and Sunday featuring classic favorites including “The Berenstain Bears,” “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” “Kratts’ Creatures” and “Reading Rainbow.” The free PBS Retro channel is available across several streaming platforms.

Because whether it is your very first day of kindergarten, the beginning of another elementary school adventure or simply getting accustomed to a new routine, heading back to school is a pretty big deal.

But everything feels a little easier when you have some familiar friends along for the ride.

So grab that backpack and get ready to learn — Arthur, Daniel Tiger and the rest of the PBS KIDS crew are ready for a brand-new school year, too.