With the beginning of the new school year fast approaching, I decided to compile a list of some of my favorite books to read aloud with kids. All of these books promote important skills that contribute to the development of a classroom community and a love of learning. Many have activities that can complement the story as well. Let’s get started!

1. Have You Filled a Bucket Today? By Carol McCloud (promotes kindness & classroom community)

This book is a must have.  I start each year reading and discussing this book with my students. It uses the analogy of a bucket to show young children that what they say and do effects others. “Bucket Fillers” are people who make others feel good, but “Bucket Dippers” are people who hurt others. After reading this book, my students brainstorm ways to be “bucket fillers” and “bucket dippers.” Check out this awesome anchor chart from Crafting Connections that I’ve used in the past to chart their responses!

I’ve also created a classroom bucket that I add to when I see students being kind or thoughtful to one another. (I’ve also seen this done where each student has their own bucket at their seats for their classmates to place notes describing how they filled their bucket.)

2. The Sneetches By Dr. Seuss (promotes kindness, equity & acceptance)

The Dr. happens to be my favorite children’s book author. I love that many of his books offer up lessons about being kind and not judging others on their differences. The Sneetches is another great book to teach children about the importance of being kind. The story is about the inequality experienced on the beaches between the Star-Bellied Sneetches and the Sneetches without. Having students discuss whether they think the Sneetches will learn a lesson (and what that lesson is), is a great beginning of the year activity that teaches kindness but also encourages students to think about the author’s message. (Bonus:  I use this book to help teach students how to have effective conversations with one another…think taking turns, asking questions, agreeing and disagreeing.)

3. The Kissing Hand By Audrey Penn & Ruth Harper (helps kids make the transition to school)

This book came recommended by a colleague of mine, and I love that it deals with coping with Think Character, ink family being away from parents while at school. (This is another book where an activity can follow—I’ve seen teachers have students trace their own hands and “kiss it” for their parents to have. Pinterest has a ton of activity ideas.)

4. Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! By Dr. Seuss (promotes creativity)

(I told you he was my favorite!) This book is a fun way to encourage student creativity during writing or other content areas. Bonus:  this book works great as a mentor text for the –ink word family! Check it out here.)

5. The Dot By Peter H. Reynolds (promotes creativity & having a growth mindset)

I’ve been trying to find more ways to encourage my students to have a growth mindset, and through little Vashti, students see that persistence pays off, and although we may not be good at something right away, with practice comes growth.

Honorable Mentions:

Stone Soup:  This classic tale is a fun read and can be found in many different versions. In the past, I’ve had my students work on sequencing using the ingredients. After they’ve “taught” me how to make it, we make stone soup together as a class in a crock pot. Most of my students were excited to try this vegetable version of the soup…however, most did not like it!

The Three Little Pigs vs The True Story of the Three Little Pigs:  I love reading these stories during our Opinion writing unit. It’s a fun way to engage and encourage students to share their opinion (Who do you believe? OR Which version is the real story?) and then back it up with supporting reasons.

What do you think about my list? What books can’t you live without in your classroom?

(These books are all texts I have used in my own classroom and not advertisements!)