Reading aloud children’s books to your elementary students is a great way to introduce and teach inclusion. Below is a list of our favorite picture books to teach this social emotional learning topic. They all lend themselves well to facilitating rich classroom discussions around inclusion. Can I Play Too?, Strictly No Elephants, The Big Umbrella and The Invisible Boy are part of our inclusion SEL Unit, which includes interactive read aloud lesson plans among tons of other resources for teaching inclusion. Learn all about these inclusion books below and how you can use them to teach inclusion!
6 Children’s Books about Inclusion
Below are 6 quality inclusion children’s books for elementary teachers. Your kids will love these read alouds! They are great for teaching inclusion, as well as many other concepts and skills.
1. Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems
Gerald and Piggie meet Sake, who wants to play catch with them. But don’t you need arms to play catch? The three friends think of a way to make the game fun for each of them. This story lends itself to teaching about inclusion because students will be reminded to be flexible and welcoming when playing with others. My Inclusion SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!
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2. Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev
This story is about a boy with a tiny pet elephant. He is very excited for Pet Club Day, and is shocked when he sees a sign on the club door that says strictly no elephants. The boy runs into a girl who was also turned away from the club because of her pet skunk. The boy and girl decide to form their own club, and state that all are welcome. This story reminds readers of the power and importance of inclusivity. My Inclusion SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!
3. The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates
The third book on this list of children’s books about inclusion is The Big Umbrella. The story begins with an umbrella sitting next to a door. A child takes the umbrella for a walk on a rainy day and welcomes anyone who may need shelter. It did not matter if they are big, hairy, or had 4 legs. All are welcome under the big umbrella. After the town shares this safeguard, the sun comes out and everyone goes to play. This story lends itself to teaching about inclusion because the child did not discriminate when it came to her shelter. My Inclusion SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!
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4. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Brian feels invisible because the other boys and girls do not include him. He doesn’t get invited to birthday parties that everyone else is invited to, and they don’t include him during games at recess. They even ignore Brian at lunch time. When a new student comes to town, Brian is reminded that with kindness and inclusivity, anyone can feel welcome. Because of this, he does not feel invisible anymore! This story reminds readers of the importance of kindness and compassion for all people. My Inclusion SEL bundle includes an SEL lesson based on this picture book!
5. One Green Apple by Eve Bunting
Farrah is new to the United States and is not speaking English yet. Her class goes on a field trip to the apple orchard, and even though she is wearing jeans and a t-shirt, her dupatta makes her feel different. The beautiful setting of the apple orchard helps Farrah make connections with others, from dogs crunching to laughter. By the end of this field trip, she speaks for the first time and begins to have a sense of belonging. This story lends itself to teaching about inclusion because although people may look and sound different, there are many ways we can connect and include others. Check out these One Green Apple activities!
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6. All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
The last book on this list of children’s books about inclusion is All Are Welcome. This story is all about a community of people where everyone feels welcome. The children in the classroom feel safe to be themselves and celebrate their differences as they learn. The story takes us through a school day in this community and we get to see how they make everyone feel at home. This is a great story to launch discussions about your own community and inclusion! Check out these All Are Welcome activities!
Integrated SEL and Literacy Activities
Below are some integrated SEL and literacy resources for elementary teachers.
SEL Unit
Our Inclusion Unit, which is available individually or as part of a year-long SEL bundle, includes lessons for the first four books on this list. This unit is packed with lesson plans, teaching resources, games, and activities. Click an image below to either get this individual inclusion unit or get ALL 30 SEL units!
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SEL Book Companions
As I mentioned earlier, I love teaching SEL skills using picture books. That’s why I created the Starts With a Story Collection. High quality children’s literature supports elementary teachers in delivering meaningful and accessible SEL lessons. Many of the read alouds on this list are part of this book companion collection. Check out the book companions below!
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In closing, we hope you found this list of children’s books about inclusion helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:
