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Brought to us by the blog "Teaching Made Practicle" is a list with 7 pictures books to be read-aloud for the first days of school. These stories are perfect for upper elementary students. The list includes some more serious stories, as well as some fun ones!

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When looking for good back to school books to read aloud to your upper elementary students, you will likely come across many suggestions that just aren't that appropriate for a 4th or 5th grader.

Many back to school books focus on emotions that are more geared towards younger students. Older students just aren't as concerned about leaving their parents or being away from home for the day.

They've probably already read back to school favorites like First Day Jitters and Wemberly Worried.

Below, find some back to school book suggestions that might be more appropriate for your third, fourth, and fifth grade students. Several of them easily lend themselves to some fun back to school writing activities as well.

The book links are affiliate links, so if you choose to click the link and buy I might get a small compensation at no cost to you.

You might also like these other back to school ideas.

Read Aloud Ideas for Back to School

This is a great book to help build a positive classroom community and a positive self image from the first week of school. It has photographs and words from real children describing what they think is the best part of themselves.

The follow up activity for this book is a no-brainer and makes a great lesson for the first week of school or to display during Open House.

Have students photograph the body part that they think is the best part of themselves (making sure it is school appropriate, of course), and then write about it, using the examples from the book as models.

A Primary Kind of Life has a freebie for this activity that can be used to display student work.

This is a fun twist on the typical first day of school book. Instead of a child being nervous about going back to school, it's the school building that's nervous!

It tells about how the school building feels about lunch, recess, and how it's feelings got hurt by some students.

This is a fun, different read for students that have already read the classic back to school books like First Day Jitters and Wemberly Worried.

An added bonus is that you can begin teaching point of view / perspective the first week of school.

Yangsook Choi's The Name Jar tells the story of a girl named Unhei who moves from Korea to America. Some kids on the school bus have trouble pronouncing her name, and some other kids mock her name. She is embarrassed, and decides she wants a different name.

The kids in her classroom decide to help, creating a "name jar" so that Unhei can find a name she likes. Eventually, however, Unhei decides to keep her own name.

This book pairs well with an All About Me Activity or ice breaker, encouraging students to be proud of what makes them unique instead of try to hide it.

This book can be read aloud all year long, but makes a great back to school book because it sets a positive tone for your classroom. If your students haven't had this book read-aloud to them yet, then they should!

This is a story about a girl frustrated that she can't draw. Her teacher encourages her, and eventually she puts a dot on the page. After a little more encouragement, she begins drawing all sorts of dots - and then encourages another students in the same way.

This book also lends itself to some fun back to school art projects - having students creating their own "dot."

This is a book about a child that wakes up on the wrong side of bed, which leads to a terrible first day of school. The teacher doesn't teach, there are no bathrooms, and the cafeteria serves spiders for lunch. Terrified, the child eventually runs home.

The next morning, after waking up on the right side of the bed, school is wonderful.

This book might not be a good fit for younger students that are really nervous about the first day of school. 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students, who have experienced plenty of first days back to school, will recognize some of their own fears in this book and see them exaggerated in a funny way.

The theme of this book is perfect to help set classroom expectations that first week of school.

In Enemy Pie, a boy is "tricked" into spending time with his biggest enemy. After spending time with his enemy, the boy learns that he actually likes the kid - and an enemy turns into a friend!

If you decide to use this as a back to school read aloud, then check out these questions and activity ideas to go along with Enemy Pie.

In this book, a student tells the class about his summer vacation. His story is clearly exaggerated - and what kid can't relate to that?

It's a fairly easy read, but the content will be interesting to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.

This leads easily into a fun writing activity where students could write about their own summer vacations. Some kids could create a fantastic story like the child in the book, while others could tell more factual information about their summers.

To be honest, this book doesn't have a great story or plot. But the idea behind it - having students choose one word to help set the tone of their year - is an inspiring one.

On the first day of school, Stevie's teacher tells the class that there is one word that will help them find their best year ever. The students all eventually choose one word that they will live out during the school year.

The tips this book gives to help students find the "one word" aren't that helpful, but this makes a great bookand back to school activity because the idea behind it is so powerful.

Never Stress Over Sub Plans Again!

Make copies, find a fiction book, and you'll be ready for any emergency that comes your way!

book recommendations

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7 Back-to-School Read Alouds for Upper Elementary

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When looking for good back to school books to read aloud to your upper elementary students, you will likely come across many suggestions that just aren't that appropriate for a 4th or 5th grader. Many back to school books focus on emotions that are more geared towards younger students.

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Our Class is a Family is a super sweet story. I read this to my class on the first day of school this past year and it will contine to be on my list for back to school reads for years to come! The book is geared toward younger students, but works just fine for 3rd graders!

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I am in love with this book! Super awesome lessons and choices being taught to children. this books brings a heartfelt message on how to strengthen your community and classroom. No matter who you are, where you are from, or where you want to go- you are important. I love the color palette and illustrations, very whimsical. I want this book in my future classroom.

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I am in love with this book! Super awesome lessons and choices being taught to children. this books brings a heartfelt message on how to strengthen your community and classroom. No matter who you are, where you are from, or where you want to go- you are important.

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This book is NEW! It came out in May of 2021. Written by Shannon Olsen, author of Our Class is a Family, the book is about a letter to a classroom from a teacher on the first day of school. I am super excited to incorporate this into my classroom this year!

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A Letter From Your Teacher: On the First Day of School

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Read 63 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. From the author and illustrator of Our Class is a Family , this heartwarming picture book h...

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The purpose of this article is to share who Jillian Heise is and what her hashtag #classroombookaday is all about.

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The Nerdy Book Club was formed by Donalyn Miller. The Nerdy Book Club has both a blog and a facebook page and regularly posts about new books teacher's can use in their classroom.

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This is the website for Jillian Heise who started #classroombookaday

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Back in January, I decided I needed some joy & cheerfulness, so I decided on a big redesign and branding of Heise Reads & #ClassroomBookADay. It is mostly done, though I still have some sub-pages organizing to do after the transfer, but it's getting there. Thanks to Becca @ Jumping Jax Designs for the new branding, logos & website design... Read More

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Back in January, I decided I needed some joy & cheerfulness, so I decided on a big redesign and branding of Heise Reads & #ClassroomBookADay. It is mostly done, though I still have some sub-pages organizing to do after the transfer, but it's getting there.

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The Book With No Pictures is one of my all-time favorite funny books. My students request it constantly. It is so much fun!

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B.J. Novak sees his children's book as a "gateway drug to literature." The book, quite literally, is what it says it's going to be: The Book With No Pictures, and, no, it does not cheat on that promise. And while there are no pictures in Novak's book, there is colorful text, ... Read More

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B.J. Novak sees his children's book as a "gateway drug to literature." The book, quite literally, is what it says it's going to be: The Book With No Pictures, and, no, it does not cheat on that promise. And while there are no pictures in Novak's book, there is colorful text, ...

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Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle.
This book is one that I would really like to incorporate into my classroom. Nubs goes from being a leader of a wild dog pack, to being part of the Marines!

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Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle

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Nubs was the leader of a pack of wild dogs in Iraq but became part of a human pack when he met Marine Major Brian Dennis. The story of this amazing friendship is all the more remarkable as it happened in a war zone.

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The Undefeated is another book that I will be adding to my classroom collection this coming year! This book is a Caldecott winner, a Newberry Honor book, and a Coretta Scott King Award winner.

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The Undefeated, a book based on a poem originally published on The Undefeated website, won three awards from the American Library Association Monday, including the Caldecott Medal as the top picture book for children.

The book, written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, was also named a Newbery Honor Book for outstanding contributions to children's literature. Nelson won the Coretta Scott King Award, which recognizes African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults.

Alexander originally wrote and performed the poem, a wide-ranging love letter to black life in America, in a video for The Undefeated, a division of ESPN devoted to the intersection of sports, race and culture. It was redone as a book for 6- to 9-year-olds and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in April 2019 on its Versify imprint.

"THE UNDEFEATED is a gorgeously crafted, necessary tribute to the struggles and triumphs of black Americans past and present, and we are so proud to have it on our inaugural Versify list," Cat Onder, senior vice president and publisher, HMH Books for Young Readers, said in a statement. "It's thrilling to see Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson's exceptional work recognized by the Caldecott, Newbery, and Coretta Scott King Book Award committees."

The American Library Association awards are presented annually and are a respected guide for parents, teachers and librarians in selecting material for young readers.

The Undefeated is the first of two children's books based on material that originally appeared on The Undefeated website. The second book, The Fierce 44, also from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, was published in December.

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Children's book 'The Undefeated' wins Caldecott and two other awards

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The Undefeated, a book based on a poem originally published on The Undefeated website, won three awards from the American Library Association Monday, including ...

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I can't wait to get my hands on this book!! It took everything in me not to click "order now." This story is full of fantastical adventure and hits on sibling rivalry.

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Minh Lê, illus. by Dan Santat. Little, Brown, $17.99 (56p) ISBN 978-136803692-4

More By and About This Author

Collaborators Lê and Santat ( Drawn Together) mix a tale about sibling rivalry with a classic fantasy quest. Spare text by Lê along with Santat's panel artwork tell the story of Iris, whose small, special pleasure is pushing the button in her building's elevator. One awful day, her task is appropriated, without warning, by her baby brother. Her parents and sibling beam with pride; Iris scowls. After an elevator repairman's visit tackles the out-of-service elevator next door, Iris retrieves the discarded button panel. "I wish I could be anywhere but here," she fumes. She tapes it to the wall next to her closet, and presses: "Ding!" Light breaks across her face as the closet door opens; her amazement presages wonders that readers can't yet see. Iris's first foray into a new world ends quickly, but she soon gets another chance, and a dazzling adventure unfolds-until an unexpected but very familiar voice brings her back. Santat's comedic versatility and theatrical use of light give the story cinematic momentum, while Lê's insight into Iris's conflicting emotions adds depth and warmth to the tale. Journeys to other worlds, Iris discovers, mean little without the warmth of her own. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Stephen Barbara, Inkwell Management. Illustrator's agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (May)

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Children's Book Review: Lift by Minh Lê, illus. by Dan Santat. Little, Brown, $17.99 (56p) ISBN 978-136803692-4

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Minh Lê, illus. by Dan Santat. Little, Brown, $17.99 (56p) ISBN 978-136803692-4 More By and About This Author Collaborators Lê and Santat ( Drawn Together) mix a tale about sibling rivalry with a classic fantasy quest. Spare text by Lê along with Santat's panel artwork tell the story of Iris, whose small, special pleasure is pushing the button in her building's elevator.

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This is a great read-aloud for upper elementary. The store seems like it would be rather deep which would allow for lots of great class discussions and activities.

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This story looks so charming and wonderful! It is a story of a little mouse and the sea. I can't wait to add this to my classroom library!

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These books all center around building a classroom community. Some that spark interest for me are: Mixed - a colorful story, The Big Umbrella, and Explorers of the Wild

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I don't want to think about it quite yet, but some start back-to-school sooner than we do in WI, and want time to find and preview books to see if they'll work for your communities, so...
These are some favorite picture book read aloud recommendations to kick off#classroombookaday at the start of the school year to build community in your classroom.

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Community Building Picture Books to Start the School Year

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I don't want to think about it quite yet, but some start back-to-school sooner than we do in WI, and want time to find and preview books to see if they'll work for your communities, so... These are some favorite picture book read aloud recommendations to kick off#classroombookaday at the start of the school year to build community in your classroom.

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This is a book that I have been meaning to add to my class library! It focuses on having courage even in the midst of fear.

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Read 1,711 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson and two-time Pura Belpre Illustrator Award...

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This is another list that is compiled of 13 different books. The story that really stands out to me is Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still.

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We live in a multicultural and multilingual world. Today's schools have students from all different backgrounds coming together for a common purpose.

More than ever, teachers and educators must bridge the gaps between students, providing them with the strong foundation they need for life-long learning.

Social & emotional learning gives children the tools they need to understand and manage their emotions. It shows them a constructive way to display empathy, set goals, and establish rewarding relationships. According to a 2014 meta-analysis, students that learn SEL score 11 percentile points higher on achievement tests.
Some of the benefits of SEL include:
SEL helps students now and in the future. Students can apply their insights about perspectives and self-management to their schoolwork and daily lives. These skills make it easier for them to make consistently sound decisions. One of the best ways to teach SEL is with social-emotional learning books.

Further reading: Discover Positive Action's Curriculum for SEL

Must-Read SEL Books

Books transport us to worlds outside our own. They provide a glimpse into other people's experiences, whether we explore them through fiction or non-fiction narratives. Books are the literary version of walking a mile in someone else's shoes.

There are plenty of fantastic books available if you want to talk to your students or kids about emotions and social-emotional topics. We've narrowed down our list to 13 must-read social-emotional learning books. These include:

1. The Dark by Lemony Snicket - The author of A Series of Unfortunate Events tells the story of Laszlo, a boy afraid of the dark, and how he overcomes his fear.

2. The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken - We all make mistakes. Corinna Luyken uses them to show readers that life's unexpected accidents can be a source of inspiration and delight.

3. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead - This debut book follows Amos McGee, who goes to the zoo every day. When Amos is too sick to go, his animal friends decide to come to him instead.

4. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig - Being the new kid in school is tough. Brian feels unnoticed and unappreciated until he makes a new friend named Justin.

5. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña - This award-winning book explores our differences through stunning illustrations and colorful prose.

6. My Very Own Space by Pippa Goodhart - A charming read with vibrant illustrations, My Very Own Space teaches us that it's okay to want some personal room.

7. Argyle Fox by Marie Letourneau - Argyle Fox wants to play outside, but the wind keeps ruining his fun. The setback forces him to think creatively en route to newfound playtime.

8. Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson - Emmanuel grew up in Ghana with a deformed leg. It didn't stop him from playing soccer, riding bikes, or other acts of perseverance.

9. Nadia: The Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still by Karlin Gray - Follow the true story of Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci and her quest to earn an Olympic gold medal and a place in the record books.

10. Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson - Ordinary Mary's one good deed causes a chain reaction of positivity worldwide, showing us the importance of daily kindness.

11. Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein - Amelia's smile is a small act of kindness that eventually finds its way back to her and then some.

12. Pass It On by Sophy Henn - Discover the joy that comes from sharing as our protagonists pass on delight and happiness to the people around them.

13. The Invisible String by Patrice Karst - This best-selling book explores the invisible strings that connect us to the most important people in our lives.

Learn, Grow, Repeat

Reading is only the first step in a child's social-emotional development. Positive Action provides engaging and informative literature for students K through 12 to continue their SEL journey. That includes manuals, posters, and kits that make the process fun and educational.

These resources don't just help kids. They provide teachers and educators the materials and guidance they need to maintain a protective classroom. One of our most popular kits is about conflict resolution, a topic that applies whether you're in elementary school or work at a Fortune 500 company.

According to a CPP Inc) study, 60% of employees do not receive conflict management training. It leaves these individuals ill-equipped to handle complex and contested problems at home and work. In comparison, 95% of people who do receive training say that it helps them navigate interpersonal conflicts.

At Positive Action, our Conflict Resolution Kit helps students of all ages recognize, address, and resolve conflicts. The kit provides various lesson plans that children can use to work through different scenarios. It also has a Positive Action calendar, a teacher's guide, a problem-solving checklist, and more.

Join Positive Action

Join the countless success stories across the country of organizations and schools benefiting from our kits. In Pennsylvania, we have already seen improvements in the climate at the Boys & Girls Club, while Pineview Elementary School in Tallahassee, TN, transformed its comprehensive assessments tests from an F to an A.

Positive Action makes it easier for students, teachers, and families to achieve educational and personal goals. We provide instructions and kits that help us feel good about ourselves and pass that goodness on to others. These simple lessons instill the values and attitudes necessary to be a contributing member of society.

Positive Action offers students of all ages the tools they need for healthy, positive, and rewarding lives. Feel free to reach out to us via our contact us page if you have any questions or comments.

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Top 13 Award-Winning Books for Teaching Social-Emotional Skills

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We live in a multicultural and multilingual world. Today's schools have students from all different backgrounds coming together for a common purpose. More than ever, teachers and educators must bridge the gaps between students, providing them with the strong foundation they need for life-long learning.

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This list contains some favorites of mine such as Fish Out of Water and We Are All Wonders. It also contains several stories I am interested in checking out. I have never heard of Mustaches for Maddie or the Memory String, but hope to check them out soon.

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What fun when traditional storybook characters become multi-dimensional!

In this lovely story, we catch up with Humpty Dumpty after his famous mishap. What happens next? Well, getting up from a fall, whether literal or metaphorical, can be tricky. Humpty recovers outwardly but still has trauma on the inside.

A great book for addressing emotional resiliency.

This picture book follows Auggie and his dog Daisy on an original adventure. Wonder has been a national bestseller since its debut. Now the message is being communicated via picture book for younger readers.

Every child's hope to belong is recognized in this book, which is the perfect vehicle for discussing empathy and kindness with young children.

This book is a great story to use when introducing your classroom cool-down spot or calming strategies.

Considering that most of us are inundated with media and technology, many children never have the opportunity to be alone with their thoughts.

Andreasen extolls the virtues of solitude and peace through this simple, beautifully-illustrated book. Whether it's the shore, the snow, or simply within yourself, we all need a quiet place.

In this picture book, the main character, Lymon, is being raised by his loving grandparents. He doesn't remember much about his mother, and his father is incarcerated. He and his grandfather spend their summer nights playing the guitar together.

So many students will identify with the ambivalent feelings of Lymon, who loves his grandparents but definitely has questions about his situation.

Henkes is a prolific author whose writing speaks to children for a variety of reasons.

In this book, the main character, Chrysanthemum, adores her name. Why wouldn't she? Her parents chose the name especially for her. When she finally gets to go to school, though, the experience isn't all that she'd hoped for. Her peers are teasing her because of her beautiful and unique name. How will she handle this unexpected problem?

Great for the beginning of the year and building classroom community.

Another great book about being flexible and how to respond when things don't go your way, No Fits, Nilson! is the story of a girl and her gorilla.

When things don't go quite right, Nilson's temper takes over and he throws a HUGE fit. While this book might not be needed for all students, it is definitely a great opportunity to talk about big vs. small problems with those students who need it.

Remember the old Choose Your Own Adventure series? This book applies that format to help students see how their choices impact outcomes.

Throughout his school day, Danny is faced with a number of decisions on how he'll react to certain situations.

This book has eight different endings, depending on the choices your students make as you read. Perfect for lessons on making positive choices.

While this chapter book is better suited for upper elementary students, I wanted to include it because it focuses on resilience and kindness in the face of challenges.

Maddie is a unique 12-year old who loves to make people laugh with her fake mustaches. However, Maddie's life is turned upside-down by an unexpected medical issue on top of having to deal with the class mean girl. Will Maddie be able to tackle both?

This book is based on a true story about the author's daughter.

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books for teaching social-emotional learning

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25 Can't Miss Books for Teaching Social-Emotional Learning

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Looking for great books to incorporate into your classroom's social emotional learning lessons? Here's a list of my favorite chapter books and picture books for the SEL classroom. While you're sure to find old favorites, there are quite a few new SEL books to love!