My original plan was to create a list of 10 Books Perfect for Back to School! As I began to compile this list, it started to grow and grow! Before I knew it, I was at 16 books! What can I say? I'm OBSESSED with books and reading. So here it goes (in no particular order)...16 Books Perfect for Back to School!
* Please note: This post contains affiliate links for the books. Using them will not cost you anything but may earn me a small fee for recommending them to you!
1. First Day Jitters
I know that this book is on a lot of Back to School lists! Luckily, no one reads this one in K-2 in my district. I ALWAYS read this book the first day of school.
Watching my students as I read this book, especially the last page (there's a HUGE plot twist that only certain students will understand), lets me have a really informal way of assessing my students' comprehension skills. It's surprisingly accurate as too which students are going to need extra help during the school year!
2. Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind
I have a bunch of Miss Malarkey books in my classroom library! I feel like Ms. Malarkey is a kindred spirit.
I LOVE how this teacher makes sure to find a book that encourages all of her students to get interested in reading. I let my students know that I am like Miss Malarkey. I love reading so much and want my students to develop that same love. We will find a book that they will love! This makes for a great introduction to your classroom library and the different authors, genres, series, etc.
3. If You Take a Mouse to School
This is a simplistic book but works well as an easy introduction for problem/solution or cause/effect. This book is full of both skills! For every solution that is created, a new problem occurs. Likewise, for every new cause, there is an effect. Using literature to teach skills makes understanding those skills easier for students.
4. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Books!
This is another simplistic book to use in your classroom. This time, focus on sequencing. The old lady swallows items in a particular order. There is a lot of repetition in this story to reinforce the sequence of events.
If your students enjoy this book, they have a lot more of them to love! There is one written for every holiday, season, and just because reason you can think of! This books are great to use for comparing and contrasting.
5. Too Much Glue
Have you noticed that your students struggle with gluing? I think this skill has gotten worse over the years since fine motor skills are no longer stressed. I use this book as a humorous way to introduce how I want them to glue. I actually take the time to practice this skill with my students after reading this book.
6. The Juice Box Bully
I love how this book is not a traditional book about bullies. Instead, the students in this book stand up to the bully and show students how they can too. It teaches students that there is a zero tolerance policy on bullying when everyone gets involved!
I appreciate that students are taught how to stand up for themselves and each other.
7. Mouth is a Volcano!
During the beginning of the school year, students tend to forget that they shouldn't shout out whenever they feel like it. This book gives a great visual on how students may feel like shouting out but need help with self-control. Some students may need to read this book multiple times!
8. The Recess Queen
The Recess Queen is another book involving a bully. This one has a different approach to deal with the bully. In this book, a new kid stands up to the bully by becoming a friend.
I appreciate books that inspire students to stand up to bullies in a friendly, straight-forward manner.
9. Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
I tend to read a lot of books in this series. I love the concept of filling a bucket by using kind words. I have a little bucket that I keep by our Morning Meeting area as a reminder during the year. This book helps my students develop a common language to use when talking about how words make us feel.
10. Do Unto Otters
This a cute book to help your students review manners. The focus is on the Golden Rule. Love the cuteness of this one! The ply on words is a fun feature too!
11. What if Everybody Did That?
I normally read this one in April for Earth Day, but it's a great one at the beginning of the school year too! It's a book full of questions for the students to ponder. Just because everyone else does something, doesn't mean they should do it too!
12. The Book With No Pictures
This book works well as a model to teach students how to read fluently. Normally students are focused on the pictures. Since there are no pictures, students can really focus on the words. It also helps that this is a hilarious one! My students always crack up when reading it!
13. Third Grade Angels
I try to read a chapter book within the first couple of weeks of school. Since I teach third grade, this is a perfect one. I just like this story. It's a nice one of encouraging students to be kind to each other.
Please note, there is a sequel to this book called Fourth Grade Rats. I must say that I do NOT like this one at all. I was disappointed in it. I would suggest you take the time to read it first before reading it to your students.
14. Fish in a Tree
I cannot express how much I LOVE this book! This story is about a sixth grade girl that really struggles with reading. During the story, she learns she has dyslexia. I feel like it has such a positive message about working hard and accepting yourself.
The only warning I have with this book is that it is a longer one. Depending on your group of students, you may want to wait until the attention span is a bit longer.
15. Wonder
This is another book that raises a LOT of great conversations with students. If you are unfamiliar with this story, it focuses on a little boy born with facial abnormalities. After being home schooled his whole life, he finally begins school. This brings so many issues for him and his family.
This is another longer book, so if your students do not have a strong attention span, I would wait for this one!
16. Any Magic Treehouse Book
I love the Magic Treehouse series! When I read one of these books at the start of the school year, it's actually the fourth book in the series, Pirates Past Noon. I have a pirate themed classroom, so this book is perfect. Magic Treehouse books are fun ones for early chapter book readers. Any book in this series would help encourage even your most reluctant readers!
What do you like to read with your students for Back to School?
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