Back to School Books

This year I am incorporating several more books to read for the first couple of weeks. Last year I mostly read the same ones to each grade just to get the ball rolling. Now I don't want them to have to sit through all the same books for the second year in a row. I did some searching online to see what other librarians/teachers recommended and then decided on these: 

This is a fun rhyming book about the "don'ts" for the beginning of school. I am reading it to third graders on their first visit to the library. I will also be going over library expectations. I made a neat slideshow on Canva and will be using my phone to advance the slides and to add in the "magic shortcuts." If you haven't tried using your phone with Canva slides yet, look into it. It's easy, and the shortcuts are so engaging for the kids.

This book is a sequel to The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I have always liked the Christmas book (and the original movie with Loretta Swit). Since a new version of the movie came out last year, I thought the fifth graders might enjoy this book. It's a short chapter book and will take me at least two class periods to read it. I'm going to work on building their listening comprehension and endurance right out of the gate!

This book was already in the library, but I have not previously read it. It is the sweetest story. Kindness is something we really try to emphasize at my school, and this book will give the fourth graders something to think about.

This is another book we already had in our library, but I have not read it before. It's told from the perspective of the school, and we will talk about how several people (or buildings) can experience the same thing and tell the story differently. I am going to read it to the second grade classes.

I will be reading both of the above books to first grade. I'm even doing a cute bulletin board to go with You're Finally Here! I know the first graders will get a kick out of both books, And I'll be wearing my new Pigeon earrings when I read The Pigeon Has to Go to School.

I absolutely love this book and am surprised that I didn't think of reading it last year. When I taught kindergarten eons ago, it was my favorite book to read at the beginning of the year. Now I get to read it to kindergartners again! It's probably my favorite book on this page. In fact I quote from this book to myself several times during each school year, "NEVER STAND ON A ROLLING CHAIR!"

Last year I started with the following books and am reading them again this year in some grades. 

I will read this on the second library visit for third and fourth grades. I chose this because it's one of my favorites and is a book that seems to be about me. I will tell them that before I read it. Although the fourth graders will have heard it last year, I still want them to hear it. There's nothing wrong with rereads!

Curious George is always a favorite! I will read it to TK and kindergarten, and George himself (in stuffed animal form) will join each class. Curious George never disappoints. 

This is another fun book to start the library year with. I will be reading it to second graders on their second visit to the library. I even found a great library scavenger hunt to go with The Library Dragon. It was only $3 on TPT!

It has been so much fun starting this year with the feeling that I kind of know what I'm doing. I feel good about the physical setup of the library. I have my expectations already set from last year. I had time to really delve into some new reads and am loving the sense of adventure it has given me!