November’s Cozy Classroom Reads: Celebrating Gratitude and Stories

November invites a season of gratitude, community, and reflection—making it a wonderful time to bring picture books to life in your classroom. From stories of kindness and thankfulness to moments of humor and adventure, these books offer opportunities to connect with students while celebrating the season. This month’s selections are full of charm and inspiration, sparking meaningful discussions and unforgettable classroom moments.

• The Verts by Elizabeth Pulford
  An engaging story of a family who experiences the world in shades of green, sparking a celebration of nature and unique perspectives.
• Leo’s First Vote by Thea Feldman
  A timely introduction to civic engagement as Leo learns about the importance of voting through a relatable first-time experience.
• If I Were President by Catherine Stier
  A thoughtful exploration of the responsibilities and joys of being president, perfect for fostering civic curiosity and big dreams.
• Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees by Nancy Shapiro
  This fascinating journey explores famous trees and their historical significance, connecting students with nature and the world around them.
• Nerdycorn by Andrew Root
  Fern the unicorn loves science and solving problems, but she learns the importance of balancing her passion for STEM with friendship and self-expression.

• America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven
  This moving story introduces the tradition of the white table set to honor fallen soldiers, perfect for teaching gratitude and remembrance.
• Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
  Polacco’s heartfelt story of overcoming struggles with reading and the life-changing influence of a caring teacher inspires students to value perseverance and kindness.
• Where’s My Butt? by Donald Budge
  A silly, laugh-out-loud adventure as a curious character embarks on a quest to find their missing butt, sparking imagination and fun.
• Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin
  A cozy tale of unexpected friendship, where a secret cranberry bread recipe becomes the centerpiece of Thanksgiving lessons on generosity and kindness.
• Pocket Full of Colors by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville
  The inspiring story of Mary Blair, a Disney artist who used her creativity to brighten the world, encourages young readers to follow their passions.

• The Great Thanksgiving Escape by Mark Fearing
  Gavin and his cousin Rhonda turn Thanksgiving into an epic adventure as they escape the dreaded kids’ table. With humor and relatable family dynamics, it’s a hit for giggles and connection.
• I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson
  This playful Thanksgiving twist on the classic cumulative rhyme will have students laughing as the old lady’s appetite spirals out of control.
• My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
  This heartwarming story celebrates family, culture, and community as a young girl takes a ride with her papi, discovering the beauty of her hometown.
• Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
  A timeless tale of parallel adventures, where a little girl and a bear cub unknowingly swap places with their mothers during a blueberry-picking trip.
• Turkey Bowl by Phil Bildner
  Ethan dreams of the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl, but when a snowstorm threatens the tradition, he learns the true meaning of togetherness and fun.

These November reads warm the heart and ignite curiosity, encouraging students to think deeply about gratitude, community, and creativity. Whether it’s a laugh-out-loud moment or a lesson in empathy, these stories bring a special magic to the classroom. Which of these books will you share first to inspire your young readers this season?

Ramona Recommends partners with affiliate platforms where commission may be earned based on clicks and or purchases, and I would love it if you decided to use the links above! Affiliate links help bloggers like me to fund the free content that we provide on our blogs.

The post What We Read in November appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

Unpopular Opinion- I actually do not like pie!

…and neither does Peyton, the main character of “Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie”!

In Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie, join Peyton on a deliciously fun adventure as she bravely searches for a pie she can finally enjoy—even though she’s the pickiest eater around! With colorful illustrations and mouth-watering pie options, this story celebrates trying new things and reminds us that sometimes the “perfect” choice is the one you never expected!

How relatable is this book?! Kids are the PICKIEST of eaters and, just like in “Just Try It!,” reading this to your class may just encourage at least one of your students to go ahead and try something new all while you’re covering key reading comprehension skills in an engaging way! Win- Win! (parents will thank you, truly!)

Some Ideas:

• Connect to your kids with the morning meeting questions. Spark an interest in the topic and get kids talking! Class discussions warm my heart and you can learn so much about each other this way. 
• Character Development- Peyton is a dynamic character to follow through the plot because she has great interactions with family members along the way and displays a change by the end of the story. Students can typically really make a text to self connection with Peyton and really be descriptive in their responses to show understanding.
• Listening and Speaking- Do you struggle to track this or be sure to engage students in these tasks? Your students can verbally answer pre-planned questions to each other out loud to practice these crucial skills!
• Build Vocabulary- Encourage students to learn something new and boost their word bank. Pulling words from a text is so meaningful and applicable!
• Overall, boost comprehension of a literary text. Include multiple ways to show understanding of the story with questioning and writing.

Grab your Print-and-Go Picture Book Companion Here!

BONUS: Do you have involved families that would support a pie treat?! Have students bring in a pie to share as a little classroom “Friendsgiving” and encourage them to try something new!

[I got this AMAZING pie from an allergy-friendly baker, Julie’s Table – SO YUM!]

Need more Ideas for Thanksgiving Books?

• “Our Table” follows a girl who brings her family closer by helping them rediscover the joy of sharing meals together.
• “Who Will Bring the Turkey?” The turkeys are all hiding…how will these friends find one? Can you spot it on each page?
• “A Plump and Perky Turkey“ is a funny tale about a clever turkey who outsmarts a town determined to make him their Thanksgiving dinner.

Find More Here!

Ramona Recommends partners with affiliate platforms where commission may be earned based on clicks and or purchases, and I would love it if you decided to use the links above! Affiliate links help bloggers like me to fund the free content that we provide on our blogs.

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November is HERE! I can’t believe it. This weekend I spent some time planning how to incorporate November national days into my teaching. Today, I want to share what picture books I will use to celebrate.

This month we are going to focus on the new word PHILANTHROPY in my classroom. I think it is important for students to understand different ways they can help their classroom, friends, family, and community. I am sure I will be sharing some highlights on my instagram over the next few weeks. Come stop by and say HI!.

There were so many favorite national days for November that this month I will have to divide and conquer sharing picture books about national days and completing our monthly picture book read Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie. If you have not read this book, I highly encourage you to read it. It is a sweet story about a little girl who doesn’t like pie (ps, me either), and how she works up the courage to be more flexible. Like I shared in my blog post about our October book, I love a good theme. This book helps celebrate Thanksgiving and family and is the perfect book to keep the thanksgiving-y vibes alive. If you take a look below you will see there is a heavy selection of food days this month. What can I say I LOVE FOOD. 

Here is a list of my fav NATIONAL DAYS for November!

November 1st: National Authors’ Day : Sticks and Stones
November 3rd: National Sandwich Day : Hannah’s Tall Order : An A to Z Sandwich
November 5th: National Donut Day : Arnie The Doughnut
November 6th: National Nacho Day : Nacho’s Nachos The Story Behind the World’s Favorite Snack
November 8th: National STEM/STEAM Day : Nerdycorn
November 11th: Veterans Day : America’s White Table
November 14th: National Pickle Day : Stop That Pickle
November 15th: National Philanthropy Day : A Bike Like Sergio’s
November 17th: National Take a Hike Day : Hike
November 20th: National Child’s Day : Where’s My Butt
November 21st: National Adoption Day : We Belong Together
November 23rd: National Eat a Cranberry Day : Cranberry Thanksgiving

Here is a list of all the books I use to celebrate November National Days. If you want more lists, you can visit my amazon store and search November National Days and the book list will pop up! (or whichever month you are looking for!)

Want to send home a pdf of the recommended National Day books for November? Grab it HERE or click on the picture above.

Ramona Recommends partners with affiliate platforms where commission may be earned based on clicks and or purchases, and I would love it if you decided to use the links above! Affiliate links help bloggers like me to fund the free content that we provide on our blogs.

The post November National Days appeared first on Ramona Recommends.