Welcome to the first weekly recap of the picture books we are reading in my fourth grade class. I am a huge believer in reading picture books in upper elementary. I have a video where I talk more about how to start using picture books in your upper elementary classroom. If you want to check it out, you can click here.
This new weekly blog series is going to be for sharing the different books we are reading each week. Let’s jump right in because there are some great ones!
If you’re looking for a relatable story for your kids, Jabari Jumps is perfect. This is about a little boy who is trying to work up the nerve to jump into the water from the diving board. It’s a great story for talking about overcoming fears. The kids loved sharing their own fears just like Jabari.
When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree is such an engaging story about a little girl who is disappointed with a gift from her grandmother. She decides to make the best of it though and in the end, she ends up with a different outlook. This one is such a good reminder of making the most out of a situation that isn’t ideal. It’s also good for discussing character growth.
Last Stop on Market Street is one of my all time favorite stories. The illustrations are also some of my favorites. I told the kids how much I loved all the color in the drawings and then I heard them talking to each other about how pretty all the pictures were the next day 🙂 This story has the best message, friends. It also has a really good quote, which I had the kids analyze. You can see their sweet and insightful responses here. 🙂
Potato Pants is one of my all time favorites. This is the funniest story about a Potato who is SO excited for a sale on potato pants, but is too scared to go into the store because a bully is already there. This is a great story for discussing how a misunderstanding can create problems and confusion. It’s told in a really relatable way that the kids can understand on their level.
We also read I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato. Let me tell you, this story is hands down the most fun to read aloud. I LOVE reading this one because it is so great for reading with expression. And the kids LOVE this story. Who doesn’t relate to a picky eater??
I’d love to hear if y’all have read any of these in your classroom!
