Not Your Average First Week Read-Alouds

So anyone who knows me knows I am a bit of a rebel in the classroom. My word walls are not sight words-they are vocabulary. Decorations are sparse as I believe what we hang on our walls should be meaningful. You get the gist. 

My first week read-alouds tend to be different as well. I want the students to hear a story they have not heard before and although No David and the Kissing Hand are cute stories-there are others out there that I think work just as well and give students a different perspective.

Here are some examples:   

A classic story but great for opening a discussion into being who you are no matter what anyone else thinks.

This penguin has a soul of an eagle and doesn't give up on his dream of flying. Great for introducing the concep of grit.

Another one that marches to the beat of their own drum. His parents are very concerned Woolbur doesn't act like the other sheep. LOVE the ending of this one!

Another classic about loving yourself for who you are.

Molly is my all-time favorite picture book character. She has the singing voice of a bullfrog and buckteeth you can stack pennies on but her grandmother teaches her to love herself for who she is.

Amazing story about a little girl dealing with some big issues and father doing the best he can to help her get through it.

Wordless book about being kind and accepting of others.