16 Classroom Management Read Alouds

Are you looking for some books to teach your students expected classroom behaviors? A great way to start the discuss appropriate behaviors is by using classroom management read alouds. Check out these great books below to help you with classroom management! Click the book titles or image to find each book on Amazon (affiliate links) or you can find them all (and more) in my storefront.

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold & Suzanne Kaufman

This story is, in my opinion, a classroom must-have! The foundation of classroom management is creating a safe space for students so that they learn to trust their teacher and their peers. This book shows students that they are welcome in your classroom, no matter their background or baggage. I like to make banners with my students names and faces after we read this book, so that they know that this classroom is a safe place for them. I display them by our classroom door in the beginning of the year and then move them into the classroom as the year progresses. This is one of my favorites in my rotation of classroom management read alouds!

Ants in my Pants by Julia Cook

This book follows Louis (also from My Mouth is a Volcano) and his troubles sitting still. He is told that he has ants in his pants. In this book, Louis learns about strategies to help control his wiggles and be the boss of his ants! This story is a great classroom management tool in the primary classroom. As you read it aloud, talk about the strategies that your students can use when they feel like they have ants in their pants.

The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill

The Recess Queen is a story about a girl named Mean Jean who was the queen of the playground at recess. Nobody could play until Mean Jean played. That is, until a new kid arrives at school. This fun story helps children resolve conflict. This heavy topic is told in a lighthearted manner. This is a great classroom read aloud to discuss appropriate recess behavior!

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

This book teaches children about the importance of listening. Little Red Chicken is getting ready for bed by hearing a story from her Papa. Little Red is so excited, so keeps interrupting Papa and he can’t tell the story. She has to learn that sometimes it’s important to listen. 

Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne Jones

Similar to “Interrupting Chicken,” this story is a great book for teachers and counselors to teach students about the importance of listening. Lacey loves to talk! She talks all day and all night, but when she loses her voice, she learns that it’s important to listen. This is a great tool to teach children that although it’s fun to talk, it’s also important to practice listening.

What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick

This book is about what the world would be like if no one followed the rules. Often children ask why we have certain rules. Sometimes it’s hard to explain why we have some rules. This book is a great way to explain them! In this story, a boy sees the consequences when he feeds bears popcorn at the zoo, tosses and empty soda can out the window, and interrupts the librarian. This one is new in my collection of classroom management read alouds, but it’s a good one!

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

This Reading Rainbow book is one of my favorite preventative classroom management techniques. It’s a great way to introduce a discussion about judging others before you know them. This can lead to a lot of misunderstandings or miscommunications with little ones. Referencing this book when discussing misunderstandings will remind students that sometimes we can make wrong assumptions. In this book, Jeremy Ross is the new kid on the block. He becomes the main character’s enemy. Luckily, Dad knows just the way to solve this problem. This is always one of my favorite classroom management read alouds!

Decibella and Her 6-Inch Voice by Julia Cook

Isabella loves to talk so loudly that she got the nickname Decibella! Isabella doesn’t know how to use a softer voice until her teacher introduces her to the five volumes of voice. This is a great book to give your students strategies for using an ‘indoor voice’ in the classroom. It’s a good social skills book!

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

This sweet book is about not giving up. In my class, we often talk about perseverance and not giving up when things get hard. This story teaches children just that! Managing motivation is a big part of classroom management.

Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller

This story about animals getting along teaches children the Golden Rule. This adorable book is perfect for a primary classroom. It introduces the topic in a fun and funny way that will be memorable for children!

What Should Danny Do: School Day by Ganit & Adir Levy

This series is so fun! The main character Danny has choices to make throughout the story. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure book! The ending can change based on the choices that Danny (a.k.a. your students) make while you read. There are other books in the WSDD series as well, including the original book in the series. If you’re looking for a series of books to add to your classroom management read alouds, I would definitely recommend this one!

What Should Darla Do? by Ganit & Adir Levy

There is also a book in the WSDD series with a female character! This is another choose-your-own-adventure book, but I love that they have books for both boys and girls.

The Jelly Donut Difference by Maria Dismondy

This book teaches a great lesson about being kind! It gives children concrete examples of kindness. Read it aloud and then discuss ways that your students can choose to be kind at school.

B is for Breathe by Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd

This amazing read provides strategies from A to Z for coping with emotions. This is a must-have book for teaching coping skills! Note: The letter P strategy is pray, so this may not be suitable for all schools.

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

This award-winning book is a great addition to any classroom library! It is a winner of the Coretta Scott King Honor and the Jane Addams Peace Award. It is a great story for teaching children empathy.

The Invisible Boy by Tracy Ludwig

This adorable book is about small things you can do to make others feel included. Read this to your class and discuss ways that your students can be more self-aware of their actions.

I hope you enjoy these books! Remember, classroom management read alouds aren’t just for the beginning of the year – they can be used any time that your class needs a reminder! Looking for more management ideas? Check out this blog post!

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