One of my favorite parts of the school day is reading aloud to my students. It allows me to share my LOVE of reading and instill a love of books in my students. It is a time where we can connect, share experiences, and build a classroom community. I pause often throughout the reading to ask questions, share thoughts, and allow students to add their opinions and ask questions.
In the beginning of the school year books are a great way to discuss nervous feelings, expectations, how to be a good friend, behaviors, etc. I feel it is important to put these books in your library or book area for children to read at their leisure. Even though kindergartners may not be able to read all the words in a book, they can still “read” by looking at the pictures and retelling the story in their own words.
Listed below are some of my favorite read aloud books for the first weeks of school (I couldn’t list all of them as this post would be too long lol). I hope this helps you stock your library area for the hectic beginning of the year.
Categories:
- First Day Jitters/Feeling Accepted
- Books About School/Starting School
- Rules and Behavior
- Classroom Community and Friendship
First Day Jitters / Feeling Accepted
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg – This story helps students see that everyone gets nervous about new beginnings, and students love the surprise ending.
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes – Helps students understand anxiety and worries while reassuring them that they are not alone.
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn – Chester Raccoon receives a special kiss from his mother to carry with him when they are apart. A comforting story that helps children feel connected to loved ones during the school day.
Llama LLama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney – Llama Llama struggles with missing his mama at school but learns that she always comes back.
Milk Goes to School by Terry Border – Uses humorous food characters to explore first-day jitters, friendship, and self-confidence. Milk worries about fitting in at school but discovers that everyone has unique talents to share.
Kindergarten Rocks! by Katie Davis – Dexter learns what kindergarten is really like from his older sister, helping ease first-day worries.
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst – Shows children that they are always connected to the people they love, even when they are apart.
Annabelle Swift, Kindergartner by Amy Schwartz – Annabelle eagerly shares her kindergarten adventures, from making friends to learning new routines, helping students see what school is really like.
Will I Have a Friend by Miriam Cohen – Jim worries about making friends at school, making this a wonderful read-aloud for easing first-day fears.
The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing – Follows a group of children as they prepare for kindergarten, making it easy for students to connect with first-day feelings.
Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? by Audrey Vernick – A funny read-aloud that helps students learn kindergarten routines and expectations.
Books About School
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate – Miss Bindergarten and her students prepare for the first day of kindergarten, building excitement for school.
The Crayons Go Back to School by Drew Daywalt – The crayons return to school, each sharing their own funny thoughts about learning and classroom life.
CLICK HERE to see a student-created bulletin board display for this book.
Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin – Pete explores the library, lunchroom, playground, and more while rocking his school shoes all day long.
Pete the Cat Too Cool for School by Kimberly and James Dean – Pete tries on outfit after outfit before realizing the coolest thing he can be is himself.
If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff – The famous mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is back for his first day of school. Mouse’s first day of school leads to a chain of classroom adventures, from packing a lunch to putting on a school play.
A Place Called Kindergarten by Jessica Harper – The barn animals worry when Tommy disappears to kindergarten and eagerly await stories about his first day. Tommy tells them all about the fun he had on his first day and all that he learned.
The King of Kindergarten by Derrick Barnes – A young boy approaches his first day with confidence and joy, showing students that kindergarten can be an exciting adventure.
The Pigeon Has to Go to School by Mo Willems – The Pigeon worries about school and comes up with endless excuses to avoid going, leading to lots of laughs.
How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? by Jane Yolen – Humorous dinosaurs demonstrate school manners and classroom expectations in a way children easily understand
Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London – Froggy imagines all sorts of first-day disasters, making this a fun book for discussing school worries.
This School Year Will Be the Best by Kay Winters – Students share their hopes for the year ahead, building excitement for the adventures of a new school year.
Behavior / Rules
David Goes to School by David Shannon – David tests every classroom rule imaginable, leading to lots of laughs and teachable moments.
My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook – Louis blurts out his thoughts because his words feel like a volcano ready to erupt. A relatable story for children who have a hard time controlling the urge to interrupt.
What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick – A young boy learns why rules matter by imagining what would happen if everybody made the same poor choices.
That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me! by Julia Cook – Noodle thinks rules only get in the way of fun until his mom helps him imagine what life would be like without them.
But It’s Not My Fault by Julia Cook – Noodle blames everyone else for his problems until he learns the importance of owning his choices.
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein – Little Red Chicken keeps interrupting her father’s bedtime stories because she just can’t help herself. A funny book about listening, self-control, and the urge to interrupt.
Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen by Howard Binkow – Howard’s poor listening habits lead to problems at school until he learns the importance of paying attention.
Howard B. Wigglebottom and Manners Matters by Howard Binkow and Reverend Ana – Howard’s rude habits create problems until he learns how good manners help others feel respected.
A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue by Julia Cook – Josh’s tongue grows longer every time he tattles, helping him learn the difference between tattling and telling.
Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne Jones – Lacey talks nonstop until losing her voice helps her discover the importance of listening.
I Just Don’t Like the Sound of NO! by Julia Cook – RJ hears “no” at home and school and struggles to understand why adults set limits.
Personal Space Camp by Julia Cook – Louis learns about personal space after repeatedly standing too close and making others uncomfortable.
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins – Penelope Rex learns that making friends is easier when she treats others the way she wants to be treated. A funny dinosaur story that teaches friendship, empathy, and seeing things from another person’s perspective.
Classroom Community & Friendship
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud – Children learn that kind words and actions fill invisible buckets, while hurtful choices can empty them.
Click here to see Bucket Filler ideas to use in your classroom.
Our Class is a Family by Sannon Olsen – A teacher helps students see how a classroom can become a supportive community where everyone belongs.
Click here to download a free Our Class is a Family bulletin board activity.
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes – Chrysanthemum loves her unusual name until teasing from classmates makes her doubt what makes her special. A classic book about self-acceptance, kindness, and celebrating differences.
The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane DeRolf – A box of crayons learns that their different colors can create something beautiful when they work together.
Making Friends is an Art by Julia Cook – Brown learns that making friends takes practice as he uses his love of art to connect with classmates.
You Will Be My Friend! by Peter Brown – Determined to make a friend, Lucille Beatrice Bear’s enthusiastic efforts lead to one hilarious mishap after another, until an unexpected friend finds her.
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister – A beautiful fish learns that sharing his shimmering scales helps him build friendships and feel included.
Click here for a Rainbow Fish craft and bulletin board display.
Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns We Can All Get Along by Howard Binkow and Reverend Ana – Howard learns that people can have different interests and opinions while still getting along and being friends.
Hunter’s Best Friend at School by Laura Mallone Elliott – When his best friend starts making poor choices at school, Hunter must decide whether to follow along.
How to Be a Friend by Laurie Krasny Brown – Friendly dinosaurs demonstrate how to make friends, join groups, share, and solve everyday friendship problems.
Unlovable by Dan Yaccarino – Alfred worries that no one could ever like him until an unexpected friendship changes everything.
Stand Tall, Mary Lou Melon by Patty Lovell – Molly Lou Melon stays true to herself despite teasing, inspiring students to celebrate what makes them unique.
You may also like:
Back to School, Open House, Meet the Teacher Student Gift Tags
Setting Up Your Early Childhood Classroom for Success
First Week of School Activities & Classroom Decor (Dog Theme)
