First Week Read Alouds to Teach Expectations & Build Community

The first week of school is the perfect time to use read alouds to teach rules and expectations and to build a foundation of community with your students. These first week read alouds are some of my favorites and are always included in my first week of school box.

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First Week Read Alouds to Teach Inclusion

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold & Suzanne Kaufman

This is a book I read every year on the first day of school. The foundation of classroom management is creating a safe space for students so that they believe they can trust their teacher and their peers. This story shows students that they are welcome in your classroom, no matter their background. 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.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

This book teaches students that there are so many things that can make you feel different from other people around you. When you begin to share stories, however, you learn that you have much more in common than you may have thought. I love using this book in my social emotional learning lessons because it reminds students that even if we look different or come from different backgrounds, we have more similarities than differences. This read aloud teaches children acceptance. I also love doing these companion activities!

Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen

This sweet book shows students that their classroom is a place where they can be themselves and where it’s important to be a friend to others. It’s a fantastic book to build classroom community!

Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

This story is about an Indian and an American boy who are pen pals. They learn that they have more in common than they thought despite living in worlds that may appear very different.

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

I love the lesson in this story. CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town every Sunday, but CJ wonders why they don’t have a car like his friend, Colby. As he rides with his grandma, CJ notices other ways that they are different from his peers. With each question, his grandma points out the beauty in their routine and their world. This book also has illustrations from one of my favorite artists, Christian Robinson.

You are Enough by Margaret O’Hair

This book is inspired by Sofia Sanchez, an 11-year-old model and actress with Down syndrome. This story is all about embracing your differences and being proud of who you are.

Books to Teach Growth Mindset

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

This book is perfect for teaching growth mindset. Gerald is a giraffe who can’t dance, no matter how hard he tries. One night, however, Gerald finds his own special music. This story is a great way to show students to keep trying! I love doing these companion activities with this book.

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

This book teaches students that it’s okay to make a mistake. In the story, Beatrice has never made a mistake. One day, she finally makes a big one in front of everyone. Beatrice learns that it’s okay to make mistakes. It even makes life more fun!

Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak

This book explains all the things that our brain can do and encourages students to grow and stretch their brain to succeed. It also provides concrete strategies to develop a growth mindset.

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca

Dr. Temple Grandin is one of the quirkiest science heroes. This story is about Temple as a young child after her autism diagnosis. It explains how her brain works a little differently and shows students that we are all unique and special.

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty

Rosie dreams of becoming an engineer but she is afraid to fail. The workshop in her bedroom is full of her creations, but she is too scared to let anyone see them. One day her great Aunt Rose comes to visit and teaches Rosie that her first failure is something to celebrate.

First Week Read Alouds to Foster Connections

The Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague

I love using this book as a first week read aloud! This story is about the people in our community and how they make ‘circles’ around us. It is a sweet book to teach students that we all have a built-in community! It helps them make connections with one another. I love doing this simple craft to illustrate the circles around us.

Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung

This story teaches children to embrace their differences, promoting acceptance and unity. This is a great book to read during back to school season. I also use this free reading response page after we read the story!

Books to Encourage Being Yourself

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy

This book is about a girl named Lucy who is teased at school. She learns from her Papa Gino that it takes courage to be who you are and to do the right thing. Lucy is tested when her bully needs help on the playground. Will she do what’s right or teach him a lesson? This story teaches children how to confront bullying and rise above with kindness.

The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be by Joanna Gaines

This book teaches children to celebrate our unique strengths, embrace teamwork, and share our talents with one another. In the story, a group of children are each building a hot air balloon. As they work on their balloons, they learn that by using their unique talents and working together, they can achieve more than if they work on their own.

What if We Were All the Same! by C.M. Harris

This is the perfect back to school read! No two people are the same, and this book celebrates the variety and diversity in our world.

First Week of School Read Alouds to Teach Friendship

Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry

In this book, Stick rescues Stone from a situation with Pinecone and the pair become fast friends. Their new friendship is tested when Stick gets stuck and Stone must save him. These are some of my favorite book companion activities to go with this story!

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

Jeremy is the new kid on the block, but he quickly becomes an enemy number one. Dad has the perfect way to get rid of enemies: make enemy pie. Part of this secret recipe is spending all day with your enemy. It turns out that Jeremy isn’t so bad after all! These book companions are a great way to extend the discussion on friendship.

The Buddy Bench by Patty Brozo

Children who know what it’s like to be left out decide to change things by creating a buddy bench! This is a great way to introduce the concept of a buddy bench if your school has one.

Peanut Butter & Cupcake by Terry Border

Peanut Butter is feeling lonely, so he tries to find a friend. He discovers that it’s hard to find a friend. Hamburger, Egg, and Cupcake are all busy! Will Peanut Butter find his match?

The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah

Lily and Salma are the best of friends, but they discover that one thing about them is different: what they eat for lunch. This causes a disagreement between the two friends. Can they learn to put aside their differences? This book teaches tolerance and acceptance despite our differences using a relatable scenario for young children.

Books to Teach Perseverance

The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds

Although this is not an obvious book to teach about perseverance, it’s one I love to use in a goal setting lesson. We talk about words and how they can have such a significant impact in how we feel and how we act. Then I ask my students to choose a word that they hope will describe their school year and write about what they will to do make that a reality.

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

This story is about a little girl and her quest to make something magnificent. As she repeatedly tries and fails to achieve her goal, she becomes so frustrated that she quits. Her dog convinces her to take a break and she is able to return to try once again and succeed!

The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi

We are all accompanied by an unseen companion, Yet, throughout our lives. When we discover we can’t do something, Yet is there to help us! This book teaches students to turn a negative into a positive!

A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

This story is about a young girl who is saving coins to one day buy a new chair for her mother because she is tired from being on her feet all day working at the diner. A fire burned down their previous home, so they don’t have any comfortable furniture in their new apartment. The girl finally saves enough money to buy her mother a chair and she and her mother can go pick out the perfect chair they’ve been dreaming of.

Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats

Our beloved character Peter wants to whistle for his dog, Willie. In this story we follow Peter as he explores his neighborhood and learns a new skill.

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari is a great swimmer can’t wait to jump off the diving board. He thinks it looks easy! When the time comes to jump, Jabari finds all kinds of things he must do before his dive. This sweet book about a dad’s encouragement and a determined young boy will warm your heart.

Read Alouds to Teach Self Control in the First Week of School

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 that she keeps interrupting Papa and he can’t tell the story. She has to learn that sometimes it’s important to listen. I love doing these book companion activities to reinforce the concept of blurting.

Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne C. Jones

This story is a great way to teach students about the importance of listening. Lacey loves to talk, 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

Decibella & Her 6-Inch Voice by Julia Cook

Isabella loves to talk so loudly that she got the nickname Decibella. She doesn’t know how to use a softer voice until her teacher introduces her to voice volumes. This book gives your students strategies for using an ‘indoor voice’ in the classroom.

My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook

This book is about Louis and his struggle to stop interrupting. It describes blurting as a mouth erupting like a volcano, which is a fun visual for kids! Children learn how to keep their mouths from erupting in class.

Teaching Conflict Resolutions with Read Alouds

The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill

This story is about a girl named Mean Jean who was the queen of the playground at recess. Nobody could play until Mean Jean played until a new kid arrives at school. This fun story helps children understand how to resolve conflict. This is a great classroom read aloud to discuss appropriate recess behavior!

We Disagree by Bethanie Deeney Murguia

It seems like Mouse and Squirrel disagree on everything, so can they really be friends? This book teaches children that they don’t have to like all the same things to be friends.

A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems

Piggie is disappointed when a big guy takes her ball. Can Gerald help his best friend, Piggie? Mo Willems books are always a hit in my classroom, and this one is no exception.

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson

In this story, we see five Iroquois nations fighting with each other. Hiawatha is also angry with the other tribes, but a Peacemaker appears and asks for his help uniting the tribes. He travels with the Peacemaker to the tribes preaching the need for peace and unity. Will they succeed?

How to Apologize by David LaRochelle

This silly book is full of different ways you can apologize! This story teaches children that apologizing doesn’t have to be complicated.

Read Alouds to Teach About Showing Respect in the First Week of School

Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller

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

The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane DeRolf

This rhyming story follows the narrator and their argumentative crayons. As the narrator uses each crayon, they show how each one helps to create a bigger picture. The message in this book is to learn to appreciate each other’s differences.

Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor

This book follows Sonia as she meets new kids, all of whom have something unique and different about them. The author encourages readers to “just ask” when they notice someone different.

Respect and Take Care of Things by Cheri J. Meiners

This book teaches environmental awareness, encouraging children to clean up after themselves, put things back where they found them, and ask permission before using something that doesn’t belong to them.

That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me! by Julia Cook

Noodle is having a tough time: the rules keep getting in the way of the fun he’s having. Noodle doesn’t want to follow the rules and thinks they shouldn’t apply to him. After a talk with his mom, he visualizes what the world would be like without rules and learns that rules keep everyone safe.

Books to Teach About Kindness

The Invisible Boy by Tracy Ludwig

Brian is the boy in class that no one seems to notice or include. He buries himself in his drawings until one day, when a new kid arrives at school. Brian is the first to welcome the new student and when they work on a project together, Brian finds a way to shine. This book is about small things you can do to make others feel included.

The Jelly Donut Difference by Maria Dismondy

Leah and Dexter are siblings, but sometimes they argue. They must learn to set aside their differences and work together for good. This story gives children great examples for small acts of kindness.

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

Jeremy desperately wants a pair of shoes that everyone else at school is wearing, but his grandma says they can’t get ‘wants’ only ‘needs.’ When Jeremy’s old shoes fall apart, he is even more determined to get those shoes and finds a pair that are too small at a thrift shop. He soon learns that the things he has are worth more than the things he wants.

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

This book explores what kindness is and how any act of kindness, whether it’s big or small, can make a difference.

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud

If you use bucket filling in your PBIS, this book is perfect for your classroom. This story uses the visual of a bucket and dipper to show how acts of kindness can fill each other’s buckets.