School Counseling Books For September
Picture books are such an easy and effective addition to your counseling lessons. These school counseling books for September will help your students learn more about positive behavior and friendship.
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After the first week or so of school, some of the back-to-school anxiety is gone. It is replaced by learning to readjust to the behavioral expectations of school and making new friends. Use these picture books to remind your elementary students of what positive behavior looks like, and how they can show friendship to the people around them.
Books To Encourage Positive Behavior
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
Recommended Grades: K-2
The dinosaur Penelope Rex is excited for her first day of school. That is, until she finds out that her classmates are children - she loves to eat children. She quickly learns that if she wants to make friends, she will have to control her impulses to eat them. This hilarious book lends itself to great conversations about self control, friendship, and expected vs. unexpected behavior.
Clark The Shark by Bruce Hale
Recommended Grades: K-3
Clark The Shark loves his life. The only problem is that he can sometimes get TOO excited about the things he is doing. He shouts out during lessons, eats his friends’ lunches, and plays too rough with his friends. Because of this, no one wants to play with Clark. Thankfully, his teacher comes along to help him use self-control to contain his excitement.
What If Everybody Did That?
Recommended Grades: K-3
One “misbehavior” doesn’t seem so bad, but what if EVERYBODY did it? This is a great story to help students realize the impact of their choices and the importance of being respectful and responsible.
Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne Jones
Recommended Grades: K-3
Lacey Walker LOVES to talk. She talks at school, she talks at home, she’s always talking. She talks so much that eventually she loses her voice. When Lacey Walker can’t talk anymore, she realizes that being quiet has benefits too. She can get her homework finished, hear what her friends are saying, and have more time to do things she enjoys.
My Mouth Is A Volcano by Julia Cook
Recommended Grades: 1-4
Louis’s mouth is a volcano. He can’t stop interrupting. At home, at school, and at day care, his thoughts just come right out of his head. With help from his mom, he learns to stop interrupting and wait until it’s his turn to speak. This book is great for reminding students of the expectation at school to not blurt out.
Books About Friendship And Community
Hello Hello by Brendan Wenzel
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to 2
We all have things in common, and we all have things that make us unique. This simple book is a great way to show the connections that we have with one another and a reminder that it all starts with saying hello!
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Recommended Grades: K-2
In this book, young students will get to take a look at a school where everyone is welcome. No matter what they wear, where they come from, or what they eat, all are welcome. This is a great way to show students what the beauty of diversity and inclusion could look like in their school.
Our Class Is A Family by Shannon Olsen
Recommended Grades: K-2
This sweet story reminds students that a class can be like a family. It can be full of people who respect, care for and encourage one another. This is a great way to establish community expectations from the beginning of the year!
Pink Tiara Cookies For Three by Maria Dismondy
Recommended Grades: K-2
Sami gets jealous when her best friend gets another friend. Sami has to learn that it is okay to have more than one friend. By the end of the book, all three girls decide to have fun together! This is a great book to read as the school year begins to help students understand that you can make new friends and still keep your old friends too!
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Recommended Grades: 1-4
It can be hard to be brave when we feel alone, left out, or uncertain. When we decide to step out and share ourselves with boldness is when we finally begin. This is a great story about being proud of who you are and appreciative of the things that make others who they are.
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
Recommended Grades 1-4
The main character only has one enemy – and his dad says he will lose his enemy if he makes enemy pie and spends the whole day with him. The boy isn’t sure what’s in enemy pie, but he’s willing to give it a shot. After spending the whole day with his enemy, he realizes that he isn’t an enemy after all… he’s his friend! This is a great story about giving others a chance!
These school counseling books for September are an easy way to help your students re-adjust to life at school. If you are looking for more books to use in your counseling lessons, sign up below to get your free list of 120 social emotional picture books!
