Hey there, teacher friends! Welcome back to The Read Aloud Classroom where we’re making picture books work for you even with that packed schedule of yours. I’m so excited you’re joining me for this bonus episode of the summer!
So last week, we talked about those brand new back-to-school books that just hit the shelves. But today? We’re going to chat about those tried-and-true favorites that have been around a little longer but are absolute gold for those first few weeks of school.
You know those crazy first weeks, right? You’re trying to build community, establish routines, and basically create this magical classroom family all while keeping twenty-something little humans from climbing the walls! It’s… a lot. Trust me, I’ve been there.
That’s why I handpicked these ten books that specifically focus on those SEL skills we’re all desperately trying to build at the beginning of the year—things like respecting others, being a good classroom citizen, handling big feelings, and just generally creating that safe space where kids can thrive.
I know you don’t have time to be searching all over the place for the perfect books, so consider this episode your one-stop shop! For each book, I’ll share a quick overview, why it’s perfect for back-to-school, and then some ready-to-use discussion questions and activities. Basically, I’m doing the planning for you because, well, those first weeks are exhausting enough!
Don’t worry about frantically taking notes while driving or making dinner—all of these books, plus links to purchase them and images of the covers will be on my website. Ready to dive in? Let’s go!
First up is “Say My Name” by Valerie Reynolds and Khalilah Abdul-Kareem, with illustrations by Natalia DuVare.
This book follows a little girl named Kamilah who feels pretty uncomfortable when her classmates and teachers keep mispronouncing her name. Throughout the story, she finds her voice and the courage to speak up, teaching others how to say her name the right way. It’s such a beautiful story about how our names connect to our identity and heritage.
I don’t know about you, but those first days of school always involve me practicing names over and over, trying to get them right. That’s exactly why this book is perfect for back-to-school. We all have those students with names that might be unfamiliar to us, and this book opens up such an important conversation about pronouncing names correctly as a simple but powerful form of respect.
One year I had a student, Xiomara, and I practiced saying her name all weekend before school started! This book would have been perfect to share with the class to discuss why getting names right matters so much.
Some questions you could ask your students: “How did Kamilah feel when people said her name wrong? Has that ever happened to you?” Or “Why do you think names are so important to people?” This usually leads to some really touching conversations.
For a quick activity, you could have students create name tents where they write their names and draw symbols that represent things they love or that make them special. I’ve also done “name interviews” where kids pair up and learn the stories behind each other’s names, which is so sweet! You could even create a classroom anchor chart about respectful ways to ask about pronunciation if you’re not sure.
Next book, and I absolutely adore this one, is “The Kid with the Big Big Ideas” by Dan Santat.
This one follows this incredibly enthusiastic child whose imagination and creativity lead to these enormous (and sometimes messy) ideas. While the adults in the story sometimes just see the chaos, the book really celebrates innovation, problem-solving, and the persistence that comes with being a big thinker.
This is such a good one for the beginning of the school year when you’re establishing those classroom norms around participation and taking risks. Remember how quiet kids are those first days? This book shows students that their ideas—even their wildest ones—matter! It encourages them to share their thoughts and opens up conversations about balancing creativity with classroom expectations.
I once had a student, Marcus, who had the BIGGEST ideas but was so afraid to share them at first. Books like this help kids like him see that our classroom is a safe place for all kinds of thinking.
Some questions you might ask: “What makes someone’s ideas ‘big’? Why are big ideas sometimes scary to share?” Or “How can we make our classroom a place where everyone feels safe sharing their ideas?”
A fun activity is creating a “Big Ideas Board” where students can post questions or ideas they’re curious about throughout the year. I’ve also started the year by working together to solve a classroom problem (like how to organize our library or create an efficient pencil sharpening system) using a simple “big ideas” process. Kids LOVE this and it sets the tone that their thinking is valuable.
Our third book is “The Together Tree” by Maryann Cocca-Leffler.
This sweet story is about a special tree on the playground where children gather, play, and build friendships. When conflict arises, they need to work together to save their beloved tree, which teaches them important lessons about cooperation, compromise, and community.
Building classroom community is everything during those first weeks, right? This book gives us this beautiful metaphor for creating a space where everyone belongs. I love how it addresses handling disagreements respectfully and shows that a community becomes stronger when everyone contributes something.
One of my favorite questions to ask after reading this book is: “What made the Together Tree special for the children?” and then connecting it to our classroom with “What makes our classroom a community like the Together Tree?”
For an activity, you could create a classroom “Together Tree” bulletin board where students add leaves with ways they can contribute to the classroom community. I did this one year where each leaf had a different way that student brought something special to our class. By the end of the first week, we had this gorgeous, full tree that represented all of us together! You could also use this book to help establish your classroom meeting procedures.
Book number four is “I Can Be All 3” by Kayden Bateman, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis.
This uplifting story follows a child who realizes they don’t have to choose between being smart, kind, or brave – they can be all three! Through everyday situations, the main character learns to embrace all aspects of their personality and strengths.
The start of a new school year can bring so much anxiety for our little ones who worry about fitting in or measuring up, you know? This book reassures children that they have multiple strengths and don’t need to label themselves in just one way. It’s perfect for beginning those growth mindset conversations we all want to have.
I love asking, “What does it mean to be smart? Kind? Brave? Can you give examples?” This always leads to this beautiful discussion about how these traits look different for different people.
A quick activity you could do is have students create personal shields with sections for “When I’m Smart,” “When I’m Kind,” and “When I’m Brave.” You could also start a classroom recognition system that celebrates all three qualities throughout the year. I had one teacher friend who created three different colored tokens that students could earn for demonstrating these qualities, and it was amazing to see how much kids loved collecting all three types!
Let’s talk about “Mr. S” by David Shannon next.
If you’ve been teaching for a minute, you probably already know and love David Shannon’s work. This particular story features Mr. Stoddard (Mr. S), this unconventional substitute teacher who arrives and basically throws the classroom into chaos with his unique methods. But ultimately, his approach ends up inspiring the students and showing them new ways of learning and engaging with school.
Establishing classroom routines while keeping learning exciting is such a classic back-to-school challenge, isn’t it? This book helps open conversations about balancing structure with creativity, which is perfect when you’re trying to set up those classroom procedures without making school feel rigid or boring.
Some great questions to ask: “How did the students feel about Mr. S at first? How did their feelings change?” or “Why are classroom routines important? When might we need to be flexible?”
A fun activity is to create a class T-chart comparing “organized but boring” versus “exciting but chaotic” classrooms, and then work together to find that sweet spot in the middle. You could also develop a classroom constitution that incorporates both structure and creativity, which gives students ownership over the classroom environment.
Book number six is “The Glow Show” by Christina Soontornvat with illustrations by Teresa Martinez.
This magical story follows a shy student who discovers their unique talent during the school talent show preparation. Despite feeling uncertain and comparing themselves to others, they ultimately find that their special “glow” is different but equally valuable – and when combined with others’ talents, creates something extraordinary.
The beginning of the year is when students are getting to know each other and can feel so much pressure to fit in. This book celebrates individual differences while emphasizing how combining diverse talents makes something even more beautiful.
I like to ask, “What was the main character’s ‘glow’? How did they feel about it compared to others?” and then the more personal question, “What makes your ‘glow’ special and unique?”
For an activity, you could create a classroom “constellation” where each student designs a star representing their unique strength. I’ve also done a simple classroom talent share early in the year where students can showcase something they’re good at—and not just typical “talents” but things like being a good listener or remembering details or being able to explain things clearly. It helps kids see that we all bring different strengths to our class family.
Halfway through our list! Number seven is “How to Make a Memory” by Lori Richmond.
This touching story explores how families and friends create, capture, and treasure memories together. Through everyday moments and special occasions, the characters learn that memories aren’t just about big events but also the small, meaningful interactions that connect us.
The beginning of the school year is when you’re establishing your classroom “family” and starting to build those shared experiences that will carry you through the year. This book helps students understand that their time together will create important memories and encourages them to be mindful about how they interact with each other.
I love asking, “What makes a moment become a special memory?” and “How can we create positive memories together in our classroom this year?” It gets kids thinking about how they contribute to the classroom vibe.
A sweet activity is starting a classroom memory jar where students can add notes about special moments throughout the year. I know one teacher who reads these aloud during the last week of school, and there’s never a dry eye in the room! You could also begin class traditions that will become cherished memories—like a special greeting each morning or a Friday afternoon reflection time.
Number eight is “The Brilliant Miss Bangle” by Katie Frawley with illustrations by Sarah McMenemy.
This inspiring story features an innovative, enthusiastic teacher named Miss Bangle who creates magical learning experiences for her students. When she faces a challenge that dampens her characteristic sparkle, her students come together to support her the way she’s always supported them.
The start of the year is when you and your students are forming your relationship and establishing that mutual respect. This book shows that teachers are human too, with good days and challenging days. It opens up conversations about empathy and how everyone (including the teacher!) contributes to a positive classroom environment.
Questions I like to ask include: “How did Miss Bangle make learning special for her students?” and “How did the students know something was wrong? How did they help?”
An activity that connects beautifully to this book is creating a classroom “appreciation station” where students can leave kind notes for each other (and yes, for you too!). You could also establish classroom signals for when someone—student or teacher—needs a little extra patience or help that day. This builds such beautiful awareness and empathy.
Book nine is “Yenebis, Yenebis Drive to School” by Joshunda Sanders, illustrated by Sawyer Cloud.
This heartwarming story follows Yenebis, who experiences anxiety about the first day of school. During the drive with her father, she imagines various scenarios, both exciting and worrying. Through her father’s gentle reassurance and storytelling about his own school experiences, Yenebis finds courage to face the day.
Back-to-school anxiety is real for so many of our students, especially in those first weeks. This book validates those feelings while offering strategies for managing them. It normalizes school worries in such a safe way.
Some thoughtful questions to ask: “What worried Yenebis about school? Have you ever felt similar worries?” and “What are you looking forward to at school this year, even if you feel a little nervous?”
A helpful activity could be creating worry stones or fidgets that students can use when feeling anxious. I’ve also used this book to establish a “feelings check-in” during morning meeting, where kids can share if they’re feeling anxious about anything that day. It builds such a supportive classroom culture right from the start.
And finally, book ten is “Hidden Gem” by Lori Snyder with illustrations by Monique Dong.
This touching story follows a quiet student who feels overlooked until a perceptive teacher recognizes their unique talents. Through gentle encouragement, the teacher helps the student share their special “gem” with classmates, revealing that sometimes the quietest students have the most to offer.
We all know that the beginning of the year is when we’re trying to get to know all our students, including those quieter ones who might not immediately stand out. This book reminds us to look for the hidden strengths in every child and helps create a classroom where all types of contributions are valued.
I like to ask: “How did the main character feel at the beginning of the story? Why?” and “What ‘gems’ might be hidden in our classroom that we haven’t discovered yet?”
An activity that works well with this book is creating a “talent inventory” where students can share interests and abilities they might not otherwise mention. I also try to establish multiple ways for students to participate beyond speaking up in whole-group discussions, which this book can help introduce. One year I had a “Quiet Contributions” recognition board alongside our more visible achievements, and it was amazing to see how it helped my quieter students feel valued.
[TAKES A BREATH]
Whew! So those are my ten tried-and-true back-to-school books that focus on those critical SEL skills for the beginning of the year. I hope these give you some fresh ideas for those first few weeks when you’re working so hard to establish your classroom community!
Remember, all of these books, along with links to purchase them and downloadable discussion guides, are available on my website.
If this episode was helpful to you, it might be for other teachers too! Take a screenshot, add it to your IG stories, and tag me @thecolorfulapple so I can reshare it. I love seeing which books you’re excited about!
Hit that follow or subscribe button so you never miss an episode! Next week, we’ll be diving into strategies for making the most of your limited read-aloud time throughout the school year. Because let’s be real—time is precious and I want to help you maximize every minute.
Thanks for joining me in The Read Aloud Classroom. Have an amazing start to your school year, and remember—one picture book at a time, you’re creating magic in that classroom of yours.
