Kick off the year with stories that make kids lean in, laugh out loud, and say: “One more!” This hand-picked list blends giggles, big feelings, and easy discussion prompts—perfect for the first month of school in Pre-K through 2nd grade.
The Crowd-Pleasers (with easy teacher/librarian prompts)
1) We Don’t Eat Our Classmates (Higgins)
Why kids beg for it: Huge laughs + surprise empathy for a T-rex learning self-control.
Use it for: Routines, impulse control, “do-overs.”
Try this: Pause on the first “chomp!” Spread and ask, “What could Penelope do instead?” Finish with a class “Kind Choices” chart.
2) The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! (Willems)
Why kids beg for it: Interactive call-and-response; perfect for silly voices.
Use it for: Naming first-day worries out loud.
Try this: Before reading, ask kids to whisper one worry into their elbow. After, do a “Good-News/True-News” circle: one fun thing about school + one true thing that still feels new.
3) All Are Welcome (Penfold/Kaufman)
Why kids beg for it: Rhythmic refrain they can chant together.
Use it for: Building belonging and celebrating differences.
Try this: Make a class “Welcome Quilt” (paper squares with drawings of family, foods, or celebrations) and tape them together for a door display.
4) The Day You Begin (Woodson/López)
Why kids beg for it: Quiet, powerful truth about courage and first steps.
Use it for: Identity, voice, sharing “firsts.”
Try this: “Brave Begins” mini-write: draw + label one brave thing you’ll try this week.
5) School’s First Day of School (Rex/Robinson)
Why kids beg for it: The school has feelings! Fresh, funny perspective.
Use it for: Naming emotions, caretaking our space.
Try this: Give your classroom a name. Ask: “How can we help Maple Room feel proud today?”
6) The Kissing Hand (Penn)
Why kids beg for it: Comfort ritual they can take home.
Use it for: Separation anxiety, family connection.
Try this: Draw a tiny heart on each child’s palm at pack-up; send a note home explaining the “kissing hand” signal.
7) Chrysanthemum (Henkes)
Why kids beg for it: Name pride + classic Henkes humor.
Use it for: Kind language, teasing prevention.
Try this: “Name Stories”—every child decorates a name card with a fact (who chose it, what it means, or why they like it).
8) The Cool Bean (John/Oswald)
Why kids beg for it: Big laughs + practical kindness.
Use it for: Growth mindset beyond grades.
Try this: “Cool Moves” tally: class adds a bean sticker anytime someone offers help unasked.
9) The Rabbit Listened (Doerrfeld)
Why kids beg for it: Simple, profound model of empathy.
Use it for: Feelings vocabulary, listening skills.
Try this: Role-play: when a friend is sad, what are 3 helpful choices? (sit near, quiet hug ask, “want to build?”)
10) What If Everybody Did That? (Javernick/Madden)
Why kids beg for it: Funny cause-and-effect pictures; clear expectations.
Use it for: Community norms and consequences.
Try this: Create “Our If/Then Rules” poster (If we… Then our room…).
11) Our Class Is a Family (Olsen)
Why kids beg for it: Rhyming, reassuring, and inclusive.
Use it for: Class values, anchor chart language you’ll reuse all year.
Try this: Vote on 3 “Family Words” for your room (e.g., Try, Help, Celebrate) and add gestures for each.
12) Oh, the Wonderful Things That You Can Do! (Dean & Brenda Giles)
Why kids beg for it: Energetic, “I-can-try” momentum that sparks action.
Use it for: Agency, goal-setting, choice time ideas.
Try this: Wonder Wall—students draw one thing they want to learn this month; revisit on Fridays to celebrate attempts, not just success.
10-Minute Mini-Lessons (plug-and-play)
Belonging Circle (K–2): After All Are Welcome, pass a plush “welcome” item. Each child says “I feel welcome when…”
Think-Pair-Share Upgrade: After any funny spread, ask “What surprised you? What would you do?” Give 20 seconds to draw a thought bubble before sharing.
Stop-and-Sketch: Pause mid-book to sketch an emotion face (nervous, proud, relieved). Tape sketches to a “Feelings Barometer.”
Turn & Teach: After What If Everybody Did That?, partners invent a new “If…Then…” for recess. Share top three to become class norms.
Reading Voices & Engagement Tricks
- Call-and-Response Lines: Teach a whisper-back phrase (“We can do hard things”) for nervous moments.
- Two-Finger Turn & Talk: Two fingers on your shoulder = quick share with neighbor; keeps it snappy.
- Prediction Post-its: Hand each child one sticky at the title page; collect predictions on a chart for a “Did it happen?” check at the end.
- “Director’s Cut” Rereads: Second reading = let kids point to evidence (tiny details, facial expressions) that prove their ideas.
Extend the Learning (centers & take-homes)
- Name Art Station: Letter collages after Chrysanthemum; hang as alphabet line.
- Feelings Library: A small basket labeled “Books for Big Feelings” with The Rabbit Listened, The Day You Begin, The Invisible String, etc.
- Kindness Counter: After The Cool Bean, tally peer-spotted kindness; trade 10 tallies for a class dance break.
- Home Connection Note: After The Kissing Hand, send a half-sheet explaining the ritual; invite families to share their own “goodbye signal.”
Book Talk Starters (print or project)
- “What does the character want right now?”
- “How does the picture help you know?”
- “When were you brave like that?”
- “What could we try tomorrow because of this story?”
