Favorite October Read Aloud Books for Kindergarten - FREE ACTIVITIES

I am so excited to share my October read alouds with you!

I took your email suggestions into consideration again this month with some of these books, so I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

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

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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.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin

I just had to include another Pete the Cat book on my list this month! This cute story is a fun one to use when introducing kids to different colors. Pete keeps stepping in different things and it turns his shoes all sorts of colors.

As you read the story, point out the colors and discuss things at home or in the classroom that are also that color. You can even turn it into a fun color hunt.

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

Crankenstein by Samantha Berger

Everyone gets a little cranky sometimes! This hilarious story is a fun way to show students that even when something threatens to ruin our day, there’s always something that can turn it around.

Discuss things that might make kids cranky. In the book, Crankenstein is grumpy when his popsicle melts, it’s raining outside, and when he has to go to bed early. Brainstorm other things that might make kids feel cranky. It’s the perfect story to discuss emotions and how to manage them.

Because Brian Hugged His Mother by David Rice

Kindness is highly contagious, and this story proves it. Kindness always starts a ripple effect or a chain reaction when shown to others. This story is about a little boy who wakes up and gives his mother a hug.

That simple act of kindness ripples in other people and even animals! This humorous yet sweet book is such a great visual for students as they learn how kindness can affect others. Read this story and talk about ways you can pay it forward in your community.

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Molly Lou Melon is a sweet child with buck teeth, clumsy steps, and a silly-sounding voice. Instead of dwelling on it, she stands proud (just like her grandmother told her to do). She shows off her big smile and sings as loud as she wishes.

Until school starts and a bully starts picking on her. What will Molly Lou Melon do? Will she continue to stand tall? Read this story with your little ones and discover how unique this cute character is.

Stop Drop and Roll by Margery Cuyler

October is Fire Safety Month, so it’s the best time to read all sorts of Fire-related books. Stop Drop and Roll is a fun story about a little girl who is very nervous. When the teacher starts talking about how to stay safe if there’s a fire, she gets even more nervous!

Use this story to demonstrate that learning about something that is scary is the only way to become more comfortable with it. After reading the story, be sure to practice these skills with you students!

CLICK HERE FOR MY COMPLETE FIRE SAFETY UNIT

Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano

Not everyone is the same, and our differences are what make the world turn. Spookley the Square pumpkin proves that being unique can come in handy! The other pumpkins tease him, but one day he saves the day.

Read this fantastic story about tolerance and kindness. Students will love the adorable pictures and the unexpected ending.

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

Three baby owls worry when they wake up to find their mother gone. When will she be back? Will she return? This story goes through all of the emotions as the owls worry. Students can surely relate to this situation.

I love using this book as a reminder that grownups come back, and while it’s ok to worry, there’s no need. Use this story to comfort your classroom full of little ones during the early months in school.

The Smart Cookie by Jory John

If your kids need a confidence booster, this is the perfect read-aloud! The cute cookie in this story doesn't feel as smart as her friends in the bakery. Throughout the story, she learns that perfect scores and having all the answers aren’t the key to being smart. There are other forms of smartness.

Read this adorable story and watch as your students realize their worth. Everyone has a little something to contribute to the community, you just have to figure out what it is.

Want an adorable video to play for your kids instead of using your teacher voice, try this one!

From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer

Teaching environmental science? This is a fantastic book to have on hand this time of year. Students, young and old will enjoy looking at the images on these pages. Learn everything you need to know about pumpkins from the time they are a seed until the time they turn into Jack-O-Lanterns. I love how hands-on this story is and the visuals are exceptional.

After reading this story, complete some of the activities in my All About Pumpkins Unit.

Pumpkin Circle by George Levenson

The bouncy verse and lovely pictures of this story are super fun for little kids. The rhymes make learning about the life cycle of a pumpkin extremely engaging. The point of the story is that life cycles are a circle; they never end. Plants start as seeds and grow into adult plants, only to release more seeds and start the cycle again.

Kids will enjoy reading this poetic story and learn about how pumpkins grow and change over time. This is another great story to read in conjunction with my All About Pumpkins Unit.

Sir Simon by Cale Atkinson

Sir Simon is an expert scarer, and he’s just been assigned his first house to haunt. He’s ecstatic until he learns there is a child at the house too. You see, old ladies are much easier to scare than kids. Simon finds fun ways to trick the boy into doing his chores .. but he isn’t very good at them. Maybe they won’t be able to do one another’s chores, but they can be friends.

This is a fun story of unexpected friendship with a silly twist! Your students will love listening to the goofy ghost story full of fun words. This is an excellent text to study new words and their meanings!

Autumnblings by Douglas Florian

This fun book is a collection of fall poems and paintings that will enchant the reader. I like to read a few of these poems daily and discuss some of the fall things we have seen in our town. The kids always come up with unique ideas, creating excellent conversation.

Hearing poetry is a great way to broaden students' vocabulary and open their eyes to new text types. You might also enjoy my Poetry Unit.

The Very Last Leaf by Stef Wade and Jennifer Davidson

The Very Last Leaf is about an amazingly bright leaf who is top of his class. While he may be one of the best, he has his worries like anyone else. He’s afraid of falling off the tree and lets his worries take over.

This story is a perfect example of the social and emotional struggles that everyone goes through. It’s a beautiful story to read at the beginning of the school year or throughout to encourage students to talk about their emotions and worries. It’s also a fantastic story when students are going through transitions in life.

Everybody Bakes Bread by Norah Dooley

When Carrie is tasked with finding a three-handled rolling pin for her mother, she searches the neighborhood for one. She knocks on doors and discovers that while everyone is from different countries and backgrounds, everyone loves the smell of freshly baked bread.

I love this story because students learn about the differences in people that live right around the corner. It goes along with the theme “We are the same, but different”. Our uniqueness is what makes us special, but deep down, we are all the same.

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beauty

Most kids like to sculpt sand castles and make mud pies, but not Iggy Peck. He loves to build life-size replicas of his favorite buildings and sculptures. He once made a giant Egyptian Sphinx on his front lawn. Unfortunately, not everyone sees how amazing his skills are. Not even his teacher.

One day on a field trip, his true talents shine through, and everyone sees how amazing they are. This story is a fantastic way to remind students to be themselves and to do what they love to do. No matter what anyone else says.

My Teacher is a Monster by Peter Brown

I know you aren’t a teacher like the one in this story. She’s loud, screams, and doesn’t let you enjoy recess. She is a monster, and Bobby isn’t a fan! At the park one day, he bumps into his teacher and is shocked to see that she isn’t who he thought she was.

This hilarious story show how “monstrous” the teacher can be but also reveals to students that it’s all about perspective. Read this story to your students to show them how to take other perspectives and put yourself in someone else's shoes.

Lawrence in the Fall by Matthew Farina

I love the pictures in this book. The story is of a young fox who has nothing to share for show and tell the next day. His papa takes him into the forest to help him find something. The forest is scary at first, but eventually, Lawrence sees its full beauty. He recognizes the magic of the nature around him and gathers his own little collection to share with his friends.

Create a discussion with your students about what they might add to their collection. Everyone has different interests; what would they collect?

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this story, but I was delighted! The little girl in this story begins knitting a sweater for herself and her dog. When she still has more yarn, she continues to knit for other people, animals, and inanimate objects. When a rich Archduke tries to take her yarn, he learns that things aren’t always as they seem.

Use this fun story to make predictions with your students. Ask them what they think was happening with the magical box of yarn. It’s a fun activity to get inside their heads and think outside the box!

Rain Makes Applesauce by Julian Scheer

While most of the words in this read-aloud are silly, one thing is consistent: Rain Makes Applesauce. If students pay close attention to the pictures in the background, they will see the apple seedlings on the trees slowly turning into applesauce page after page.

This is another excellent story that can be used to talk about the life cycle of plants and other things on Earth. This book was published in 1964 and won the Caldecott Medal. It has inspired artists, writers, and young children to create their own nonsensical stories for years.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves by Lucille Colandro

This book is one in a series of hilarious stories about a woman who swallows everything. The fun part is that as she swallows each item, she’s creating something in her stomach. The kids love guessing what she might be making!

When she swallows some leaves, a pair of pants, and a piece of rope, what might she be creating? Use this story to practice making predictions with your little learners.

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

This adorable story is about a witch and her cat flying around on her broom. When the wind blows her hat, her bow, and her wand off the broom, they have to go find them. Some kind animals found her items, but want a ride on her broom in return. Is there room on the broom for all of the animals?

Join the witch and her cat as they meet some new animals and try to get away from a hungry dragon!! Kids always love this read aloud so much.