Nurturing a classroom community at the beginning of the school year promotes a safe and inclusive learning environment in which all students feel they belong. This sense of belonging allows for academic and social growth to occur throughout the school year. Here are 5 of our favorite picture books that contribute to building a positive classroom community.
We recommend pairing these books with the video lessons from our Classroom Expectations series as you begin your school year.
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcomed with open arms. A school where kids in patkas, hijabs, and yamulkes play side-by-side with friends in baseball caps. A school where students grow and learn from each other’s traditions and the whole community gathers to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
All Are Welcome lets young children know that no matter what, they have a place, they have a space, they are welcome in their school.
Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen
With its heartfelt message and colorfully whimsical illustrations, Our Class is a Family is a book that will help build and strengthen that class community. Kids learn that their classroom is a place where it’s safe to be themselves, it’s okay to make mistakes, and it’s important to be a friend to others. When hearing this story being read aloud by their teacher, students are sure to feel like they are part of a special family.
Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of Sofia, the grandmother who loved books and flowers; Esperanza, the great-grandmother who longed to travel; José, the grandfather who was an artist; and other namesakes, too. As she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all—and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell.
Alma and How She Got Her Name is a great read-aloud for opening a conversation about the names of classmates at the beginning of the school year.
The Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague
In the circles all around us, everywhere that we all go, there’s a difference we can make and a love we can all show.
This is the story of a circle. When we’re first born, our circle is very small, but as we grow and build relationships, our circle keeps getting bigger and bigger to include family, friends, neighbors, community, and beyond. Brad Montague originally created Circles as an Instagram video adorably narrated by his kids, and now this picture book adaptation is the perfect way to start a conversation about how to expand our worlds with kindness and inclusivity—even if it seems scary or uncomfortable.
In Our Classroom by Diana Schuda
In Our Classroom helps empower students by teaching them to think about what is just right for them, celebrate their differences, and embrace one another to build an inclusive classroom community.
This book is the perfect tool for educators to use during back to school season to introduce the foundational concepts of a classroom community including:
- How to be a kind classmate
- How to show we care
- How to include each other
- How to celebrate differences
- How to help each other as we learn
Students will learn that a classroom community is full of diverse learners with unique needs and special gifts.
