Picture Books That Every Classroom Needs

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      Starting a classroom library can be an overwhelming feat. There is lots to consider- What grade will you be teaching? What will your students be interested in? How will you get your hands on all these books without spending an arm and a leg?! 

      There are lots of ways to snag books. Our favorites include yard sales, used book sales, and our favorite: getting them from a retired teacher. Books for your classroom are a great addition to any wish list and can even be purchased for graduation or Christmas. There's also Donor's Choose! An awesome website that lets people donate to your classroom. We're also able to snag discounted books using reward programs from sites like Scholastic Book Clubs (let us know if you're a new teacher and we can get you a code for free bonus points for signing up!). This is a best kept secret when you have your own classroom! 

     
No matter what grade you teach, there are some picture books that span the test of time and are great for all age levels. Picture books aren't just for the young kids! Lessons can be found in these books at ANY age! They're great for when you have ten extra minutes of class and want to teach a valuable theme OR when you want to do a mini lesson in the classroom about whatever topic you're teaching! 

Check out some of our favorites:

Andrea Beaty's Questioneer Picture Books
Iggy Peck Architect
Sophia Valdez, Future Prez
Ada Twist, Scientist
Rosie Revere, Engineer

    These books are written in a fun, rhythmic tone. Explore the different career options open to students and get them asking questions they wouldn't have asked before! 

Thank You Mr. Falker 
By Patricia Polacco 

    Perfect for the brand new teacher, this story will bring tears to your eyes. Tricia is a student who hides the fact that she can't read until 6th grade when Mr. Falker notices her. A heart-warming story about what an impact the right teacher can make. 

After The Fall
By Dan Santat

    This is our favorite book to introduce growth mindset in the classroom! Set the tone for the year with this inspiring story. This story is all about what happens after Humpty Dumpty falls off the wall. Does he stay down? Does he get back up? Read to find out! 

Be You!
By Peter Reynolds

    Tired of the typical Oh, The Places You'll Go? This book by Peter Reynolds is a great alternative. 

                                                                     Martin's Big Words
By 
This book tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr using his own quotes to guide the narrative. It is touching, compelling, and inspiring at any point during the year. 

By Julie Danneberg
This book tells the story of someone who was nervous about the first day of school. It is a popular icebreaker for the first day, and with the surprise twist, it's sure to be a crowd favorite!
By R.J. Palacio

Sometimes we all just need a reminder that we're all unique in our own way, and that's what makes the world so special! 

By Dr. Seuss

Have you read this book?! This is a classic end of the year favorite to inspire students to remember that they can do anything they set their mind to. 

By Peter Reynolds

How many times have you heard a student say they can't do something? Or they're stuck? We can all get unstuck by just starting with a dot! 

By Rita Hubbard

Want to instill a love of learning in your students? Start here with the heart-warming story of Mary Walker and how she learned to read when she was 116 years old! 

By Jacqueline Woodson

This story speaks to diversity and acceptance in a way younger kids can understand, and older kids can relate to. 

By Adir and Ganit Levy

These books are so fun! Each book has different choices the reader can make to change the ending of the story. Essentially- you are deciding how this story ends! Check them out! 

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