The First Ten Picture Books I Read My Students

Below you will find a list of the first ten books I read aloud to my fifth graders during the 2020-2021 school year. The list includes affiliate links.
I Am Every Good Thing: amzn.to/2FpBFSD
The Book of Mistakes: amzn.to/32lQnDc
The Story of Fish & Snail: amzn.to/2ZpMuuX
What If… : amzn.to/3bMtCvr
The Day You Begin: amzn.to/3k9elHO
The Oldest Student: amzn.to/3k7DvGP
After the Fall: amzn.to/2ZvLCFj
The Rabbit Listened: amzn.to/32n2C2x
Battle Bunny: amzn.to/2DOBgIW
Your Name is a Song: amzn.to/35qdH4z

Check out my list of AWESOME 2020 books:
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Check out the list of books I have read my students during the 2020-2021 school year.
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[@amandalee4306]

Last week I read All Because You Matter by Tami Charles and we loved it!

[@saraloftus2488]

All Are Welcome, You Matter, Same Same Different, and Mrs. Spitzer's Garden. They bring me joy and remind kiddos we are all important and different and the same all at once.

[@diehlvl]

I know I'm late to this video but I have a 5th grader that I homeschool and I love books. He is much harder to get excited about reading. He misses picture books! His all time favorite picture book (since he was 3 and he still keeps it by his bed and asks me to read it) is Owen by Kevin Henkes.

[@karenjohns86]

I always read "Thank You Mr. Falker" with my students very early. It is followed by many other Patricia Polacco classics throughout the year. I want all my kids to know that we're not all in the same place with our learning and our abilities, but we all have places to grow and learn. I was so blessed this year when one of my classes applauded when I finished reading "Thank You Mr. Falker". Their appreciation of a good book brought me such joy. I'm now reading "Fish in a Tree" to them and they are loving making connections and hate when I have to stop reading. I agree that literature is THE way to build our classroom community. I'm thankful that I'm able to teach fully face to face right now, but when I wasn't sure if I would be virtual or not, I KNEW the one thing I would do to build relationships with my students was going to be through literature and shared stories. Thanks fo always sharing books with us (and of course, your students!). You are a great source of me learning about more great books!

[@ColbySharp]

I love that book. Patricia lives about 30 minutes from our school.

[@katiebecker606]

So far we've read All Are Welcome, The Name Jar, Little Spot Learns Online, and Our Class is a Family. This week we are adding Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed, Each Kindness, The Day You Begin and The Curious Garden.

[@andrearutledge6085]

It is so hard to pick just one, but my middle schoolers loved 14 Cows for America that we just read this week.

[@ColbySharp]

That is such an amazing story!

[@bambihomme]

Thank you for sharing my heart. I love books that inspire young people and give them confidence.

[@ColbySharp]

My pleasure. Nothing like a great picture book.

[@kimberlydavis8891]

I teach 5th grade in Lebanon, Ohio. We are Face to Face as well. I love to read School's First Day of School on the first day! It's become one of my favorites! Thank you for all you do for reading and teachers, Colby! I feel like you're my friend!

[@jeanettescotti3894]

I am reading and discussing Intersection Allies with my 5th grade students right now. We read All are Welcome too.

[@lisaherrington9973]

I teach pre-service teachers at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR. I met you last year at the annual Literacy Conference in Little Rock. Because I can't get close to my students either, I actually prerecord them at home and we watch them during class. We have really had a great time considering the circumstances this semester. I've noticed things like how big my hands are and such that we laugh about while watching. So far this semester, I have read My Teacher's Secret Life, The Wednesday Surprise, Enemy Pie, The Toughest Cowboy, and My Lucky Day. I also teach a child and young adult literature class and I've read 14 Cows for America, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Leo the Late Bloomer, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Harry, the Dirty Dog, Officer Buckle and Gloria, The Paper Kingdom, Saturday, and Ode the Fresh Cut. I know this was a long one, but I get excited being able to talk about books!

[@mollysloan8553]

I started my K-2 Library classes with Speak Up by Miranda Paul and Ebony Glenn. It sparked some meaningful discussions about how kids can be empowered to use their voices to make change. Miranda Paul provides some fun extension activities (on her website) too. There is also a video Q&A with Miranda and Ebony on KZbin that was enlightening. I especially found my youngest students surprised to think about using art as a way of speaking up. Ebony does important work in revealing situations where kids can use their voices to make change--and it's all revealed through the illustrations, not the text.

[@MsAmandaPotts]

I teach high school & use picture books all the time; I love hearing how you use them, too. One of my favourites to read with my students is Each Kindness. It's a great prompt for memoir writing. We also love This is the Rope which we use to think about story structure and how an object can spark narrative.

[@erindebruin5187]

I always love your recommendations. I especially love the reminder that sharing books is the most normal thing we can do. “Stories connect us”....wherever we are! I shared Remarkably You with kindergarten students.

[@queenofthesnot]

A new fave picture book is Rescuing Mrs. Birdley by Aaron Reynolds. It had my 6th grader laughing out loud which I consider a big win. (newsletter subscriber - Angie Kelly

[@3Boys2Cats1Dog]

Be You! by Peter Reynolds, The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, and The Book of Mistakes are some of my favorites to start the year.

[@DavidSmith-cv1cl]

I always read Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal and this year followed that up with Your Name is a Song

[@kimberlysmith8067]

I love "What Do You Do With a Chance" and "Everybody Needs a Rock".

[@debrajanzen6661]

Could you make more videos about the picture books you read to your class, especially books appropriate for 4th and 5th graders?

[@ColbySharp]

I make a video each month where I share 10 picture book that I read my students that month.

[@ericajohnson5590]

I appreciate how you are teaching while continuing to be amazing! I love reading “All Are Welcome” at the beginning and throughout the year!

[@ColbySharp]

I still need to read this one. So many great picture books to share with kids!

[@ericajohnson5590]

Colby Sharp, I can actually get through this book without tearing up now... lol I love it!

[@mollysloan8553]

Colby, you are a gift to this world. Thank you for going to the well of picture books to buoy us up as we endeavor to teach in these strangest of times. I am grateful for you.

[@alisonkrinke7786]

Thanks for sharing these titles and keeping picture books alive in the middle grades!! I like reading After the Fall by Dan Santat

[@sarahsstitchery]

Read-alouds definitely look different this year with my kids sitting in desks six feet apart, rather than all of us gathered on the rug, but it’s still our favorite part of the day! Thanks for sharing these amazing books! I’ve read a few, but now I have some new titles to add to my list!

[@amiehannon423]

The best thing about reading aloud to kids is to watch their facial expressions as the plot changes throughout the story. I love the energy in the room when something unexpected happens! One such book that comes with some surprises is Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh by Sally M. Walker. Several kids asked to read the book themselves in the days following our read aloud. 😍

[@terryjacobsen6480]

Great video, Colby! The kids are so lucky to have you, virtually or in person! I LOVE picture books. Alma, and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez Neal is one children continue to love each time I read it! Love the titles you've shared with your kiddos!

[@karendaniels6237]

My class loved The Oldest Student too... Mind blown on her determination to learn... and her age!! Wow!

[@juliebehnke7471]

Colby, you inspire me to be a better teacher. I love what you are doing and ashamed to say that I have only read The Day You Begin and then the mentor texts that go with the mentor sentence we are working on each week.

[@tarabaker4373]

To start the school year this year, I read All Are Welcome. Students loved that the other side of the book jacket is a beautiful poster!

[@zain__abbas]

i’m going to check these out and show them to my sister :)

[@sarahlauer1359]

I love using What Do You Do With A Chance, After the Fall, and Each Kindness at the beginning of the year. Awesome picture books for any age group.

[@rachelalvarez7091]

As a new elementary school librarian, I have loved doing picture book read-alouds to start off this year. So far, my favorite has been The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson. It's such a beautiful and validating book for students, and they really connected with it.

[@audreycolwell007]

Thanks for sharing!! One book I like for the beginning of the year is Alma and How She Got Her Name. It’s a great way to open up conversation amongst the new classroom family members that encourages students to share about themselves. Great for community building and getting students to invest in the class. 👍🏼

[@kellyrardin2120]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! Elementary school librarian here. I always love One and Only You. Each fish has his own personality, own challenges, own character, etc!

[@galiahmorgenstern3229]

Thanks for sharing your PB read aloud a so far! Most of them are on my list to share. Will add the others too!

[@amyanderson886]

So, I haven't seen all your videos. However, I want to share a few books I just found in my new library. What Do You Do With A Problem?, What do you do with a Chance?, and What do you do with an Idea?. All written by Kobi Yamada. I recommend these.

[@yolandabivins1531]

Thanks for being such an inspiration!!

[@ColbySharp]

Thank YOU!!

[@teamratt4]

I read The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi. I have my students go home and find out how they were given their names. Many of them are having these conversations for the first time. Then they share their stories with the class.

[@tammyrobertsonwalters8562]

I used to use picture books to introduce concepts to my middle schoolers. I have been teaching visual art, and now gifted education, for the past four year, and I haven’t really used picture books effectively in these two roles. Thank you for reminding me of how important it is. We start back F2F on 9/21, so I need to get some books together before then!

[@ColbySharp]

You need to read them Not a Box. It is such a classic!

[@tammyrobertsonwalters8562]

@@ColbySharp Thanks! I'll add it to my list!

[@debwithmatt5526]

I love the What You Do Matters set by Kobi Yamada....What Do You Do With A Problem? What Do you Do With An Idea? and What Do You Do With A Chance....even the back cover is inspiring. I also love The Lion and the Little Red Bird which is a beautiful story of coming upon someone different from yourself and not only being intrigued by the difference but being full of admiration for the other. I stumbled upon After the Fall at Target and was awestruck! Especially once I realized how in the end not only did he over come his fear but it gave him wings....he became what he had admired.

[@chantemartindale2444]

Love the suggestions 😍

[@jeanmyles332]

I read two of those this week too! My issue with my read alouds this year is visibility. I can't really get close to the kids to show the pictures so I'm turning on my Zoom and using my document camera, which is mounted so kids at home can see the kids at school, so I have to reach up and hold the book up to the camera. It's definitely not ideal, and doesn't have the same feel, we used to all find comfy spots on pillows. However, as you said, it feels so good to at least have the kids there and be reading aloud again! Thanks for the recommendations, sorry for the rant. 😉

[@ColbySharp]

So many challenges this year. Thanks for doing everything you can to give them a little bit of normal.

[@mollysloan8553]

I have found that recording myself reading the book in a document camera ahead of time works well for me. Then I can pause the video along the way to ask questions or discuss aspects of the book, much like I would if we were reading the story in person.

[@denisegolden9964]

I have read to my classroom The Best Part of Me. They loved it. Then my intern read The Days the Crayons Quit, and then we've read The Man in the Red Bandana.

[@sarabarber7049]

After the Fall was one of mine. A new favorite is Swashby and the Sea.

[@everynewdayisablessing8509]

Both are great!

[@michelleboquist715]

This week I am sharing the new picture book Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon. Love this story! He is the oldest marathon runner- never too late to learn and try new things.

[@michellecanto8224]

I have a two-fer to share. I love reading The Dot and The Word Collector both by Peter H. Reynolds. Thank you Colby for sharing your favorite picture books. I have some updating to do now.

[@jessicaschlater6934]

I also love reading After the Fall and the Book of Mistakes. Other favorites of mine include The Remember Balloons, Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse, the Hat Series by Jon Klassen, and 14 Cows for America. Plus many more!

[@elliequintero2114]

The Day you Begin (Jacqueline Woodson) and Hair Love (Kevin Henkes) were 2 of my favorites that I started the year with in my 5th grade classroom (in person). We had great discussions with both books. Thanks for sharing your favs!

[@karengrogan8789]

I love reading Chrysanthemum, Alma, and I Am Enough to honor the things that make us unique individuals, and The OK Book to help kids be willing to try new things. I would love to add I Am Every Good Thing to the collection! ❤️

[@bridgetwelsh5424]

Some of my favorites for the first week are The Day You Begin, We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, and the Legend if Rock, Paper, Scissors.

[@elizabethseibel6554]

I like to read First Day Jitters, The Invisible Boy, and I added in Your Name is a Song this year.

[@monicawetzig6157]

As a librarian, I love reading The Library Dragon with my new 5th graders at the school. I am at an intermediate with 5-6 grades.

[@beckynelson7085]

Thank you for this great list! I love to read Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break if You Want to Survive the School Bus by John Grandits and Illustrated by Michael Allen Austin. The text lends itself to intermediate grades and the illustrations pop off the page. It is hilarious and lends itself to voices. I model the bus driver's voice off of our gym teacher lol. My 5th graders clapped when I finished!

[@MoviesPlease]

My daughter received a copy of The Rabbit Listened through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. One of the best illustrated children's books I've read in a long time.

[@CharlesWarrenOnline]

Thank you for exposing your students to positive black characters.

[@jonathanroux6562]

"Dad's First Day" by Mike Wohnoutka and "Each Kindness" by Jacqueline Woodson are two of my picture book read alouds on the first day of school with my students.

[@jillbless6189]

I love the books you've read so far. My favorite read aloud so far has been Lovely by Jess Hong. So simple but the message is powerful!

[@ColbySharp]

I don't know that one. I'll have to check it out. Thank you!

[@lucindarich544]

I read picture books all year! One of my books this week is One by Kathryn Otoshi. Check out the Classroom Book a day inspired by Donalyn Miller's Bookaday Challenge. www.heisereads.com/2018/05/getting-started-with-classroombookaday.html#.X1-R0WhKiUk

[@heatherpacker4691]

This year I started with The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore and Each Kindness.

[@Erin_C1010]

Great video, Colby. My picture book read aloud is also the most normal part of my day and what I look forward to the most. I hope your school year goes well. Are you still circulating books from your classroom library?

[@kerry-annreeves4602]

Colby you captured my exact thoughts about the magic of picture books. I’ll be reading them all through this year because it’s what makes us feel the closest in class. I love to share The Day you begin during the first few weeks of school. This year I started with I Promise by Lebron James.

[@ColbySharp]

I'm planning on reading I Promise tomorrow.

[@meredithmitchell8460]

I love All are Welcome and this year my first book with all students K-5 was Just Ask.

[@ianfoutz7029]

Thanks for sharing! One book that we enjoyed together so far is "The Day You Begin" by Jacqueline Woodson.

[@lisaduncan564]

Some of my favorite picture books to read is After the Fall and What Do You Do With a Problem? I'm reading both of these to my 5th and 6th grade classes right now and they lead to such great discussion especially with everything that is going on right now.

[@lorisilveira8491]

First day with students(remote) this Wednesday--plan to read Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice and later All Because You Matter when released.

[@belindarusnock5389]

Only 1? 😊The Stranger by Chris Van Allsburg , and I must mention 2! How to Read a Book by Kwame Alexander

[@c3sulliv]

I noticed you still have your classroom library books on display. Do you have a system for students to browse books without touching them? How are you checking out books to kids this year?

[@ColbySharp]

If a kid reads a book we quarantine it for 48 hours. We do not currently quarantine books that they flip through while browsing.

[@kellyburnett4205]

Hey Colby! Thanks for all of the great book recommendations. One of my favorite titles that I read aloud to my students this year was, "We Don't Eat Our Classmates" by Ryan T. Higgins. A book with great illustrations, humor, and a heartfelt story to build empathy in the classroom. I gave you a shout-out on my blog this week. I hope you'll check it out! mrskburnett.edublogs.org/2020/09/15/rethinking-the-classroom-library-5-steps-for-teachers/

[@odilemeister8133]

Just wondering, are you also reading the Rowley Jefferson book you chose as your read aloud? or do you wait to start the longer book?

[@ColbySharp]

I read a chapter book in the morning and a picture book at the end of the day.

[@odilemeister8133]

@@ColbySharp Thank you! That is helpful to know.