Every August we dramatically switch into school mode. For almost three months we've abandoned schedules for breakfast and bedtimes and everything in between. Even our nightly reading sessions become hit or miss. In August fall books begin to arrive and we slip back into reading, preparing our children for a return to school and scheduling. Here are some recent titles and ideas to help ease transitions back into school.

Helping the First Timer

Young children who've never been to school face a vast unknown that can be scary. Two recent releases can help with starting school with fewer fears.

* Laura Kvasnosky's See You Later, Alligator (HBJ, $9.00; ages 3-6) begins "We go to River Bottom School/We say our good-bye's near the door" and then the reptilian students and their parents say goodbyes with good humor. "In a blizzard, little lizard" fades away and the young students have a wonderful romp until the school's day ends with goodbyes from teacher like, "Time to scoot, warty newt". This is a great way for young children to practice school goodbyes which might give parents just the levity they need to raise a smile at parting.

*James Howe takes a non-fiction approach to school starting in When You Go to Kindergarten (Mulberry, $5.95). With bright colorful photographs Betsy Imershein pictures Howe's straight-forward text. Together they cover everything from the excitement of learning new things, difficulties of parting, understanding the different learning levels of others, and basics like line up and hand raising. A great introduction to familiarize and dispel the fear of unknown situations.

Books To Stimulate Thoughtful Discussion

Even books for very young children can frame family discussion and return booktalk to a place of prominence. Reading aloud books which provoke family talk may provide relaxing time for hectic schedules.

*Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens (HBJ, $15.00; ages 4-8). Drawing on European and slave folk traditions, Stevens retells the tale of rich, lazy Bear, a landowner who's willing to barter work for crops with poor, enterprising Hare. Hare gets Bear to agree to split crops from top, bottom, or middle and once Bear makes his choice, Hare plants accordingly. He harvests the bottoms of carrots, radishes and beets and then the tops of lettuce broccoli and celery. Young listeners will be captured by Steven's sense of drama and the cleverness Hare. The book could lead to discussion of how Hare will outsmart Bear next, or a more general discussion of how food grows.

*Eric Carle completes the fourth in an interactive quartet of books with The Lonely Firefly (Putnam, $19.95; ages 3-7). Carle focuses his tale on the gift of sight. It's the tale of a lonely firefly, searches for others like him. Along the way, he mistakes everything from lanterns to fireworks sees for other fireflies, whether a lantern or fireworks. The last page reveals blinking fireflies completing the firefly's dream while giving young children visual satisfaction. Once again Carle proves himself masterful at uniting emotion, science, and the interactive medium.

Books to Entice Reluctant Readers

Maybe you haven't been able to entice your children into the reading habit this summer, but now that school's in full swing, parents are helped by teachers who support independent reading through assignment. You can start your children out on the right foot, by finding them books that will hook them in.

* Kathleen Leverich has three beginning level, fast paced novels great for either reading aloud or independently. In September Best Enemies Forever (Greenwillow, $14.00)will join the two previous books Best Enemies and Best Enemies Again(both Greenwillow, $14.00; Bullseye Books, $4.99). All books star Priscilla Robin, a young heroine who has to face the crazy-making manipulations of classmate, Felicity Doll. The books show her struggles, triumphs, and give a realistic picture of the powers of a conniving peer. What a great way to comfort children who are having a rough school start. The novels will let them know that some enemies aren't easy to deal with and resolutions aren't always two-sided.

*Dreamier children will be pleased by the continuing re-release of Virginia Haviland's Favorite Fairy Tales books. Favorite Fairy Tales told in Scotland and Favorite Fairy Tales told in Czechoslovakia (Beech Tree, $4.95; ages 7 and up) joins sixteen other simply told stories from around the world. The print is large, illustrations interspersed and tales well-chosen. All important elements to burgeoning novel readers.

*Paul Jennings is a short story writer who knows how to twist an ending just the way young adults appreciate. His newest collection Unbearable! (Viking, $14.99; ages 11 and up) has eight fast paced, quirky stories. There's a boy who outwits his controlling father by licking a flyswatter at a dinner meant to impress, or a boy on a deserted island who comes down with an odd and incurable illness. Jennings knows what moves young adults and how to use touches of the bizarre as well as vulgarity and humor to produce a series of books that will keep reluctant readers involved. Best of all his books are beginning to be released paperback. Unreal!, Uncanny!, and Unmentionable! have all been released in paperback. (all from Puffin, $3.99)

Non-Fiction With a Sense of Play

Very often kids who flip pages of magazines and are hard to engage in novels turn out to be non-fiction lovers. Here are a few new titles that are fun and accessible.

*1996 World Almanac for Kids (St. Martin's Press, $7.95) has thousands of facts, illustrations, and quotable amazement for children of all interests. Editor Jean Craven polled fourth and fifth graders all over the United States to discover "what today's kids are interested in, whom the admire and what their hopes are for the future." Accordingly they've crammed the pages of this book with basic information in areas like countries, sports, people and places in the news, and inventions. These topics and many others will be provide a great resource for reports. The organization makes it easy for kids to use for their research projects. There are lots of diagrams, maps, and charts that make information easy to understand and hidden throughout the book are the kind of fantastic facts kids will enjoy learning.

*Sometimes a title can mean everything to a successful book introduction. David West has written Brain Surgery for Beginners and Other Major Operations for Minors: A Scalpel-free Guide to Your Insides (Millbrook, $6.95; ages 9 and up) Not only will the title hook children, but the information inside is clearly written and comprehensive. It explains everything from ancient brain surgery to brain functioning with a thoroughness that will satisfy the need for information, while the trivia, layout, and playful illustrations by Steve Parker will make children equally engaged. They just may want to go on and explore West and Parker's other title, 53 1/2 Things That Changed The World and Some That Didn't (Millbrook, $6.95; 9 and up)