Monday, September 9, 2013

Top 30 Books to Teach Elementary Social Skills

“The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children... It is a practice that should continue throughout the grades.” -Becoming a Nation of Readers Commission on Reading Report, funded by the US Department of Education

Social skills are likewise important to teach, so why not combine the two? I've combined a list of social skills books that my students and I have enjoyed throughout our year(s) together.

1. Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids
Carol McCloud
This book helps teach kids about empathy using buckets as a metaphor for confidence.
2. Confessions of a Former Bully
Trudy Ludwig, Beth Adams
This book is written from the perspective of a bully and clearly indicates that this bullying is NOT okay-- but it does so in a gentle way that will bring students to self realization without damaging self-esteem.
3. Chrysanthemum
Kevin Henkes
A touching book about kindness and empathy, centering around a child named Chrysanthemum. There are hundreds of resources online for teaching this book.
4. The 7 Habits of Happy Kids
Sean Covey, Stacy Curtis
Written by the son of the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, this is a great book with awesome activities for building self-esteem and goals with children.
5. Just the Way I Am: Habit 1 (The 7 Habits of Happy Kids)
Sean Covey, Stacy Curtis
A great picture book that teaches "habit 1" of The 7 Habits of Happy Kids 
6. When I Grow Up: Habit 2 (The 7 Habits of Happy Kids)
Sean Covey, Stacy Curtis
A great picture book that teaches "habit 2" of The 7 Habits of Happy Kids  
7. A Place for Everything: Habit 3 (7 Habits of Happy Kids)
Sean Covey, Stacy Curtis
A great picture book that teaches "habit 3" of The 7 Habits of Happy Kids  
8. Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker (Little Boost)
Jones, Christianne C.
A great book for your chatterboxes that teaches the importance of listening.
9. What If Everybody Did That?
Javernick, Ellen
Have any students who think it's no big deal if they break a rule once in a while? Read this book! The title says it all.
10. The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
Gary Rubinstein, Mark Pett
Great for curbing perfectionism and encouraging positive risk-taking.
11. Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal: A Tale of Tattletales
Jeanie Franz Ransom, Jackie Urbanovic
Excellent book for teaching the difference between tattling and reporting.
12. Enemy Pie (Reading Rainbow book)
Derek Munson, Tara Calahan King
This book addresses issues faced by friends and how to turn something negative into a positive.
13. The Crayon Box that Talked
Shane Derolf, Michael Letzig
A wonderful book for accepting and embracing differences in a community.
14. I Just Don't Like the Sound of No! My Story About Accepting No for an Answer and Disagreeing the Right Way! (Best Me I Can Be)
Julia Cook, Kelsey De Weerd
The title explains exactly what this awesome book teaches!
15. It's Hard To Be a Verb!
Julia Cook, Carrie Hartman
A fun book about coping with ADHD.
16. Sorry, I Forgot to Ask!: My Story About Asking Permission and Making an Apology (Best Me I Can Be)
Julia Cook, Kelsey De Weerd
The title explains exactly what this fantastic book teaches! 
Julia Cook, Carrie Hartman 
This book provides a great visual for maintaining personal space.
18. Soda Pop Head
Julia Cook, Allison Valentine
A nice book for teaching anger management.
19. My Mouth Is a Volcano!
Julia Cook, Carrie Hartman
A great book for impulsivity control.
20. The Worst Day of My Life Ever! (Best Me I Can Be)
Julia Cook, Kelsey De Weerd
A book that puts a positive spin on common problems.
21. Words Are Not for Hurting (Ages 4-7) (Best Behavior Series)
Elizabeth Verdick, Marieka Heinlen
A book that teaches how to (and not to) use language.
22. Hands Are Not for Hitting (Board Book) (Best Behavior Series)  
Martine Agassi Ph.D., Marieka Heinlen
A book that teaches how to (and not to) use hands.
23. Feet Are Not for Kicking (Board Book) (Best Behavior Series)
Elizabeth Verdick, Marieka Heinlen
A book that teaches how to (and not to) use feet. 
24. When I Feel Angry (Way I Feel Books)
Cornelia Maude Spelman, Nancy Cote
An awesome book for coping with anger!
25. Cool Down and Work Through Anger (Learning to Get Along)
Cheri J. Meiners M.Ed.
Another awesome book for coping with anger! 
26. How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them (Dino Life Guides for Families)
Krasny Brown, Laurie
A nice book for teaching social skills of how to be a friend. This is a good book to read in a couple sittings.
27. The Giving Tree
Shel Silverstein
This is a classic tale of selflessness.
28. What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (What to Do Guides for Kids)
Dawn Huebner & Bonnie Mathhews
Awesome for our kiddos with clinical diagnoses of Anxiety! (This helped me as a worrysome adult, too!)
29. What to Do When Your Temper Flares: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Problems With Anger (What to Do Guides for Kids)
Dawn Huebner & Bonnie Mathhews 
Awesome for our kiddos with clinical diagnoses of emotional/behavioral disorders!  
30. What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming OCD (What-to-Do Guides for Kids)  
Dawn Huebner
Awesome for our kiddos with clinical diagnoses of OCD!  

What are your must-have books for teaching social skills? Share in the comments below! 

Happy reading!
 







A Peach for the Teach

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