The first thing I do for back to school is read aloud my favorite mentor texts! I keep referring back to these books throughout the school year and the students connect as a classroom community by incorporating these stories from the start. Even though I teach upper elementary, I learned very quickly that my students love a good picture book. They still enjoy being read aloud to and pick up on many themes within these stories.
I love to share mentor texts on my Instagram account. Many people contact me and ask for recommendations throughout the school year. They also ask about how to use these books for multiple subjects and lessons. You cannot go wrong with any of these back-to-school books! Click on the title to be taken to my affiliate link to purchase the book.
First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
Hands down, this is a MUST read on the first day of school! I get butterflies in my stomach when meeting my class for the first time, and the book has a special plot twist at the end that the students don’t see coming. It makes a lasting impact on them and they truly love it! We discuss how it is normal to feel jitters on the first day of school, even for the teacher!
After reading the book, this is a great time to introduce text-to-self connections and the students can write, draw, or record a video about how they are feeling on the first day!
Want to bring your school year full circle? Read Last Day Blues on the last day of school!
Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller
Get ready for some of the best puns in a children’s book! Do Unto Otters is one of my favorite books to read aloud during back to school! It reinforces using manners and The Golden Rule with wordplay and funny images.
I love to use this book to introduce our first mentor sentence of the school year! From the mentor sentence, I can pull in a specific language skill to practice with the students and informally do an assessment. The book is also great for developing vocabulary and discussing character traits. So many skills that can be pulled from one book!
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
Building relationships during back-to-school is crucial to a successful classroom community. I teach my students that they do not all have to be best friends, but they must be kind to everyone. Enemy Pie is a great read-aloud to share with students during the first week of school. The book has funny elements to it, but the author does a wonderful job bringing the story to a happy ending and teaching a valuable lesson about friendship.
I also love this book for a mentor sentence for back to school. Other reading skills can include, plot, theme, retelling, sequence, inference, and so much more!
Share this video with your students about friendship and make your own friendship soup!
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
Kindness is shown through actions and words. How often do we come across a book with a deeper message about what happens when it’s too late? Each Kindness is so impactful and really makes a statement about the impact kindness has on each person and the world.
Teaching the theme or a central message is definitely a must with this book!
I love to implement kindness lessons throughout the school year and have the students come up with ideas of how to be kind at school, at home, and in the community. You can start kindness challenges for the students to complete or even begin a kindness crew in the classroom!
The Best Part of Me by Wendy Ewald
Building self-esteem begins at an early age. Students need to focus on a strength or the best part of themselves. The book contains black/white photos of a person’s focal point and written reasons why it is the best part of them.
A great way to start out writing for the year is for the students in your classroom to brainstorm and write about the best part of themselves.
Take photos of the students’ best part and print them in black/white. Place the photos beside the written response to create a bulletin board display of the whole class!
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
This back-to-school read-aloud is perfect for all ages! I love this book specifically because of the powerful message shared with people. Be true to yourself and your name. The little girl in the story comes to America and wants to choose a name. Her classmates give a lot of ideas, but she settles on her given name in the end.
Another great book for a back-to-school mentor sentence lesson! The book is also wonderful for determining character traits and inferencing.
Students can research what their names mean and share them with the class!
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Do you want to build a classroom community for your students during back-to-school? This book is a MUST! Every class has those quiet students that are often overlooked. Brian, the invisible boy, is that quiet student…until a new student arrives and Brain makes him feel welcome. The friendship begins and Brian begins to shine. A beautiful story for all students to read and for teachers to refer to throughout the year.
Theme and character traits are a must teach skill from this story!
Brainstorm a list of ways that the class can make sure everyone is seen and heard. Post it on the wall and remind the students throughout the year on how to include all.
The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
WHY I LOVE IT: Teaching students about a fixed vs. growth mindset is an important back-to-school lesson. This book is a perfect way to discuss mindset and the power of yet! I love the simplicity of the text, but the powerful message hidden within this gem. Students will be shocked and amazed at the project the little girl finally creates.
READING SKILL: Teaching vocabulary through authentic texts is the best way for students to learn and remember. This story has vivid verbs that will teach students about strong vocabulary and visualization.
BONUS ACTIVITY: Students can brainstorm and create the most magnificent thing they could create during class or Makerspace time.
Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty
One of my favorite books to read for back to school! Students love to see the diaper tower that Iggy Peck builds. This is a great book for students to capture how each student brings a unique strength to the class and how we can empower each other.
Discuss character traits, theme, vocabulary, and so much more!
Give students materials to build their own creation that can solve a real-world problem.
Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg
Mistakes can be devastating, but this book helps students realize that it is OKAY to make a mistake. A smudge, tear, or smear can become a beautiful creation. The book is interactive- pop-ups, lift the flaps, tears, holes, and many more that show how a mess can be turned into a success!
Students love to predict what the mistake could be turned into. A great way to reinforce how readers predict.
Students can make a beautiful creation from an oops! This could be as simple as a drawing or a scribble.
Other Favorite Books…
After the Fall by Dan Santat
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy
The Bad Seed by Jory John
The Cool Bean by Jory John
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
The Juice Box Bully by Bob Sornson & Maria Dismondy
The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds
What if Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
