Favorite August Read Alouds for Kindergarten - FREEBIES

read aloud book ideas first day of kindergarten free printables Pout Pout Fish Miss Kindergarten gets ready for kindergarten bulletin board ideas printables freebie crafts pictures how to setup your classroom

I used to spend so much time looking for the perfect read aloud books each month to read to my students.

I have finally compiled a list on this blog post to save you so much time searching for books your students will love.

I have even created FREE book companion activities you can print right on this blog post.

free back to school read aloud book companions

Let’s get started!

To make it easy for you, I have linked all FREE book companion activities in one file at the end of this blog post.

This page contains affiliate links. Read Full Disclosure

The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen

The Pout Pout Fish is nervous about the first day of school. He isn’t sure if he will fit in or be able to draw his shapes.

Upon arriving at school, his worries start to melt away as he realizes all of the kids are learning new things. Use this book to reassure kids that it’s alright to make mistakes and we’re all in this together.

I have made the freebies below that you can do with students after reading.

If you don’t own the book, you can show this video!

I’m Your Bus by Marilyn Singer

Celebrate the amazing job of a school bus driver and other fantastic vehicles in this cute story. Follow the school bus around as he does his job morning, noon, and night.

The kids will love seeing how helpful the bus is and take a glimpse into what other busy trucks do on the streets.

There are trucks that sweep, pick up trash, and keep everyone safe.

My Teacher’s Secret Life by Stephen Krensky

Wait! You mean to tell me teachers have a life outside of the classroom?

Mrs. Quirk is seen out and about in the town and kids start to wonder if she has a secret life! Why is she lacing up skates and who is that little girl with her?

This is such a fun story to read to show students that teachers are humans, just like them. They find it hilarious to know you have a life outside of the school.

Read this book and then see if students can predict what you do before and after school hours!

The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing

Natasha Wing’s books are always so fun to read. I love that the rhyme is always the same but with new scenarios and events.

This version gets kids excited to pack up their school supplies and lunches before heading out on the bus the next day.

Read this to your little one before they start school or have it on hand as a read aloud during kindergarten orientation.

It is such a cute story!

I walk around and ask students what they did the night before kindergarten and have them watch me write their sentence.

My goal with this activity is to have them watch me put their words into writing.

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

If you have a little one that is nervous to leave home and start school, this is a fabulous book to remind them of how much you love them.

It’s also a great book to read in class because it might just reassure some anxious little ones entering your room.

This classic has calmed the nerves of many children and will be a great resource for years to come.

Children can relate to how Chester feels, so we complete these activities after reading the story.

Paint each student’s hand and they can make this adorable poem/craft to take home to their family.

The Kissing Hand is such a perfect book for back to school season. There is so much we can do with this!

I have made little cookies to have children eat halfway through the book.

How cute are these little paw/heart cookie cutters?

The kids absolutely love these!

They are thrilled to see little Chester paws.

This hand cookie cutter is also so fun because you can place a little hershey’s “kiss” in the middle.

You can use it throughout the year and it is so cute because you can bend the fingers into an “I love you” sign.

School Bus by Donald Crews

What’s bright yellow, big, and filled with students? A school bus! This fun read-aloud will take you to school and home again. It’s a great story to read with kids getting ready to ride the bus for the first time.

Add it to your collection for back-to-school or for the vehicle fanatic!

It is a simple, quick read aloud.

Pete the Cat Rocking in My School Shoes by James Dean

This book is an absolute favorite among many kids. The sing-songy words and the cute pictures make it a super fun story.

Kids everywhere love learning about everything that Pete can do in his awesome new school shoes. He sings in his school shoes, checks out the cafeteria, and meet new friends - all while wearing his brand new shoes.

Pete’s motto is, “It’s all good!” Read this story to remind students that the first week in class is all good!

I use the free song download that comes with the book. The kids beg for the song! It is so catchy and cute.

Here is the song!

I read this book on the first day of school, and then we do our school tour.

I send you these free printables in my first week of kindergarten email course below.

A week’s worth of free activities will show up in your email inbox.

The Circles Around Us by Brad Montague

This is a beautiful story about the circles of people in our lives. We have our friends, family members, and neighbors growing up.

As we enter school, it’s the perfect time to expand those circles to include classmates, teachers, and community members.

Show kids how amazing it is to meet new people and experience new things at school. While it’s ok to be anxious about the first day, there are tons of things to look forward to.

Principal Tate is Running Late by Henry Cole

Principal Tate is the perfect principal. She keeps the school running smoothly, welcomes students in each day, and makes sure they leave safely. One day, her car breaks down and she is running late.

What will happen to the school and the students? Will everyone get their day started without her?

This sweet story is full of silly situations but everything works out in the end. Read this story to remind kids that sometimes things don’t go how you predicted, but they always work out in the end.

A Letter From Your Teacher by Shannon Olsen

The new school year is scary for everyone. Teachers, parents, and students included!

Use this sweet story to tell kids that your job as their teacher is to make them feel welcome, safe, and loved.

You might enjoy writing a little note to each student that they can take home after meet the teacher. The note will let them get to know you and tell them how excited you are to start the year.

Then, on the first day, read this story to tie it all together.

Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro

I absolutely love this story because it takes a common figure of speech and transforms it into a beautiful book!

Rosie is excited to start her first day of school, but when she wakes up that morning her tummy hurts. When her mother reassures her it’s just butterflies she starts to worry. As she begins talking to new peers, butterflies come flying out of her mouth.

Rosie even helps someone else release their butterflies before the school day is out!

The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi

The word YET is such a powerful tool. Sure, you can’t tie your shoes, YET, but you will be able to someday. Maybe you can’t climb to the top of the play structure, YET, but just wait.

This powerful book reminds kids that if they set their minds to it, they can accomplish anything. Encourage students to keep trying and one day, they will succeed!

Students love to use bingo daubers to practice spelling the word yet.

They simply dab each dot, and this is perfect for the beginning of the school year!

Then they can complete the cut and paste activity to complete each sentence with the word yet.

I use this book all year and come back to it at least once a month.

My Wild First Day of School by Dennis Mathew

What if animals went to school? How wild would that be?

Invite students to dream and imagine as you read this story aloud. Go on a crazy adventure with wild animals in the classroom.

This book is full of rhyme and silly scenarios. Kids will love it and it’s a great way to get rid of those first day jitters with a laugh.

If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen

What would your kids do if they built a school?

What might be included in their plans?

Read this story to get their creative juices flowing and then let them brainstorm their own school setup. They might include some super creative things!

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

Some kids have names that are difficult to pronounce and it can be frustrating. I can relate to this story because my name is Michala (My-kuh-luh). Growing up, I used to be so embarrassed to say my name outloud. I always ended up having to repeat myself three or four times for people to understand.

My sister has the easiest name… Katie… and I used to be so jealous!

This story is about a girl going through just that. Her mother reminds her of the origins of her name. She teachers her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names as they walk home through the city.

The girl is given a new outlook on names and the story is a fantastic tool to use in your classroom. Open your students' eyes to the diversity of names and how beautiful each one is.

This book is a great read aloud before making rainbow names!

I use these to decorate our hallway and the kids love seeing their name displayed.

This also practices using glue, fine motor skills, letter recognition and so much more.

I wrote their names our before hand on white paper and students glue little dots of paper to each letter.

We make rainbow names on the third day of school.

ADDITIONAL NAME PRACTICE

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is another favorite read aloud (not on this list today).

However, if you need more name activities, I just created this editable name activities kit HERE

This link will take you to a different blog post.

Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen

Read the reviews… this is a must have book for your classroom!

Your classroom truly is a family. From the first day of school, students should feel welcome and loved by their teachers and peers.

This story highlights all the amazing things students will experience in their new classroom and make them feel right at home.

The whimsical illustrations and beautiful words are a treasure for your bookshelf!

Give your voice a break, and show this video book to your class!

I Got the School Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison

This sing-songy story is a fun way to get kids excited for the new year.

When summer is over, there are new things to look forward to and this read aloud shows them all! Grab this book to read on the first day or throughout the first week of class.

Kids of all ages will enjoy the amazing illustrations and the relatable words on each page.

Sorry Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go To School by Christina Geist

This hilarious story will have your kids giggling uncontrollably.

In this book, everything is going normally until Mom, Dad, Grandma, and even the dog want to go to school. They BEG the kids to let them come. They are able to tie their shoes and have a backpack ready, so why can’t they join?!

The silly pictures and words are sure to be a back to school favorite in your classroom.

The Pigeon Has to go to School by Mo Willems

This silly pigeon is a children’s favorite! He can’t drive the bus and now he’s being told he has to go to school. Pigeon worries he won’t like school and that the teacher won’t like him. He already knows so much, why does he have to learn more?

I love pausing on each page to ask the kids what their thoughts are on the pigeon’s comments. It’s such a fun and interactive read aloud for home or school.

The Cool Bean by Jory John and Pete Oswald

Even as friends grow apart and find new interests, they always have each other's back.

This story is a lovely way to remind kids to show kindness no matter what. The main character of this sweet read aloud is a chickpea who doesn’t quite fit in with the beans in the class. That doesn’t mean that his friends from his childhood won’t be there to lift him back up though.

This is a wonderful story to read to your little ones to teach them about friendship and kindness in all areas of life.

Did you know that you can set up an Amazon Class Wish List? Parents and donors can help you purchase supplies!

Hover over Accounts & Lists at the top right of your browser on Amazon. Click create a wish list and get started!