October is here! We’ve settled into our routines, we’ve managed to make it through the Back to School frenzy. Fall is upon us and here are a few of my favorite October read alouds we use in first grade!

Pumpkin Jack is a lovely story that follows the life cycle of a pumpkin seed. Students fall in love with Pumpkin Jack, mourn the passing of the pumpkin season, and then have renewed hope when it’s time to start planting again. Perfect for the fall season, grab my writing response and craft on TpT!

Who doesn’t love Stellaluna? A classic story about a baby bat who is separated from her mother, Stellaluna lands in a birds nest and tries to live like a bird. She struggles to fit in but finds a way to conform. When she finds her mother and goes to live with her again, as a bat, she doesn’t do so while forgetting her new bird friends. The book, Stellaluna, is a must read when talking about natural differences and inclusion with your students. Click here to find my Stellaluna Book Companion on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Strega Nona is a childhood favorite of mine! Have you noticed that books you read or heard as a child are just so authentic and important to read to your students? Strega Nona by Tomie DePaola is somewhere near the top of that list. This story is about Strega Nona’s helper, Anthony, not following directions to result in pasta covering his town. It’s a fun story about cause and effect and kids just love to listen to the well written storyline. Check out my writing response and craft on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Peter H. Reynolds hit the jackpot with teachers when he published his book The Dot! It’s the perfect blend of feeling frustrated, the need for perfection, and what can happen when a students sets those aside and just tries! My students just LOVE his book and thought making their own dot art was just cool. Of course, you can ask your students to paint their own artwork, but I used this paper craft as a cutting/gluing activity~ a skill we needed practice with. Click here to find my book companion for The Dot!

Every class has that firstie, or a few firsties, that are just worry warts. They are worried about what their table partners are doing, they are worried if the class will go to music on time, they are worried if their parents remembered their lunch box treat- to quote Wemberly’s parents “Worry, worry, worry.” Love this book to help students empathize with a classmate who worries, as well as give some perspective to the worrier. Wemberly is worried about EVERYTHING but especially school. After much anticipation, the school year starts and slowly she realizes the worry was unnecessary. A lovely story that engages students, your fisties will love this book! CLICK HERE to find the book response in my TPT store.

There it is! FIVE of my favorite books to read in OCTOBER! Don’t forget to subscribe to my email below to be informed of new content! Stay tuned for further blog posts to keep your read alouds timely throughout the school year!

Katelyn from Teaching Primary with Katelyn