Back to School Read Alouds – Freebies Too!
In just a few short weeks most of us will be gearing up to head back to school. We all know how important it is to teach library rules and expectations during the first few weeks of school. One way I do this is with back to school read alouds. I try to choose read alouds that will naturally bring about a conversation about school and library behavior (including book care). I wanted to share with you a list of my favorite back to school read alouds including some tried and true favorites as well as a few newer titles.
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A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech
Summary: When a principal loves his school so much that he wants the children to attend classes every day of the year, it’s up to his students to show him free time is a good thing, too.
Amelia Bedelia’s First Library Card by Herman Parish
Summary: Read about Amelia Bedelia’s adventures visiting the library for the first time.
Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books by Diane de Groat
Summary: Gilbert is excited and worried for the first day of school.
Duncan the Story Dragon by Amanda Driscoll
Summary: Duncan the Dragon loves to read–but he keeps accidentally lighting his book on fire. He wants to get to the end of his story, so he tries to find a friend to read to him.
Frankie Stein Starts School by Lola Schafer
Summary: Frankie begins his first day at Miss Wart’s Academy for Ghouls and Goblins excited and eager to learn, but when the other students tease him for being different, he demonstrates what he already knows about being scary.
The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School by Laura Murray
Summary: A gingerbread man searches all over the school for the group of children that made him and then left him behind.
If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, Don’t! by Elise Parsley
Summary: Magnolia explains just why you should not bring a circus to the library.
If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! by Elise Parsley
Summary: Magnolia explains why it is not a good idea to bring an alligator to school for show and tell.
Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook by Michael Garland
Summary: When the new teacher, Miss Smith, reads to her class, Zack and his classmates are amazed to find that the storybook characters come to life.
Mom, It’s My First Day of Kindergarten by Hyewon Yum
Summary: A five-year-old boy, ready and eager on his first day at “the big kids’ school,” must calm his very worried mother.
My Teacher is a Monster by Peter Brown
Summary: Bobby thinks his teacher, Ms. Kirby, is horrible, but when he sees her outside of school and they spend a day in the park together, he discovers she might not be so bad after all.
Nugget and Fang Go to School by Tammi Sauer
Summary: With a lot of support and encouragement from his minnow friend, Nugget, Fang the shark makes it through his first day at Mini Minnows Elementary.
Peanut Butter and Cupcake by Terry Border
Summary: Peanut Butter sets out with his soccer ball to find a friend after moving to a new town, but everyone from Hamburger to Soup seems to be too busy to play.
School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex
Summary: It’s the first day of school at Frederick Douglass Elementary and everyone’s just a little bit nervous, especially the school itself.
Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go to School! by Christina Geist
Summary: Lady and Buddy must insist that school is only for children and teachers when their parents, grandparents, and even a dog get excited about joining them for games, stories, and experiments.
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willlems
Summary: The pigeon must go to school, but frets about math, learning the alphabet, heavy backpacks, and what the teacher and other birds will think of him.
What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
Summary: A child learns that there are consequences for thoughtless behavior, from feeding popcorn to a bear at the zoo to dropping an empty can out of a car window.
When Pencil Met Eraser by Karen Kilpatrick
Summary: Ever wonder why there’s a little pink eraser on every pencil? Find out in this funny, clever picture book that tells the story of how Pencil and Eraser became the best of friends.
Free Printables for Back to School Read Alouds
I have also created two printables to go along with two of the back to school read alouds on this list: The Gingerbread Man Loose in the Library and Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook.
What are your favorite back to school read alouds? Drop a comment let me know.
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