12 Back to School Read Alouds (Perfect for Diverse & International Classrooms)
If there’s one thing I look forward to every single year, it’s building my back to school read aloud stack. There’s something so special about those first few days – the nervous energy, the new backpacks, the kids who aren’t quite sure where to put their eyes yet. A great picture book does so much of the heavy lifting in those early days. It builds community, opens up conversations, and signals to your students that this is a classroom where stories matter and everyone belongs.
I teach Kindergarten and Grade 1 at an international school in Vietnam, which means my class is a beautiful mix of kids from all over the world – different home languages, different countries, different experiences of what “school” even looks like. The read alouds I reach for at the start of the year need to reflect that. So if you’re teaching in an international school, or you simply have a wonderfully diverse class (which, honestly, most of us do), this list is for you.
These are the books I come back to every single year – and a few new ones I can’t wait to share with my little learners!
1. First Day by Andrew Daddo & Jonathan Bentley
If you’re an Australian teacher, this one needs to be on your shelf. First Day is a gentle, funny, and incredibly relatable story about the first day of school – told from both a child’s and a parent’s perspective. It’s an absolute classic and always gets a laugh out of the grown-ups too. Perfect for easing first-day nerves and sparking a conversation about feelings.
2. Wombat Goes to School by Jackie French & Bruce Whatley
I love saving this one for the end of the first day – it’s the perfect wind-down read. After we finish, we compare what Wombat did at school to what we did. Did we do the same things? What was different? And my favourite question to ask: “Would you like Wombat to come and visit our class?” You would not believe the conversations that follow. A wonderful one for Australian classrooms!
3. Feathers for Phoebe by Rob Clements
This is my absolute favourite transition read aloud and one I come back to every single year in the first week. It’s a story about being yourself – about not having to change who you are to fit in. In a classroom full of kids who are all figuring out where they belong, this one always lands beautifully. Expect some very big feelings and very honest conversations.
4. On the Way to School by Vikki Conley & Lucia Masciullo
This gorgeous book shows children from different countries and cultures making their way to school in all kinds of ways – by boat, by foot, by elephant. It’s perfect for international school classrooms where your students genuinely have travelled all kinds of paths to get where they are. A wonderful conversation starter about where we’ve come from and what we have in common.
5. That’s Not My Name! by Anoosha Syed
This one is close to my heart. When you teach in an international school, your class roll is full of names from all over the world – and getting those names right matters. That’s Not My Name! is a joyful, confident story about a girl whose name keeps getting mispronounced, and her determination to help people say it correctly. I read this in the first week, and it sets a powerful tone: in our classroom, we learn each other’s names properly. Every name is worth the effort.
6. All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold & Suzanne Kaufman
A wonderful, warm story about a school where every child – no matter where they come from, what they look like, or what they believe – is welcome. The illustrations are stunning, and the message is one I want echoing around my classroom all year long. A must-read for any diverse or international classroom.
7. Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen & Sandie Sonke
I love reading this one before we work on our essential agreement as a class. It sets up the idea that a classroom is more than just a group of kids in the same room – it’s a community, a team, a little family. After reading it together, students are so much more invested in creating our shared agreements because they already feel that sense of belonging.
8. Old Friends New Friends by Andrew Daddo & Jonathan Bentley
Starting a new school year without a familiar face is something so many of our students experience – especially in international schools where families come and go. This book speaks directly to that feeling and is such a gentle, honest way to open up a conversation about it. I always notice a few quiet nods around the room when I read this one.
9. All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell & Allison Colpoys
An Australian gem! This beautiful book is all about how intelligence looks different in every child – from making boats out of boxes to mixing up potions! I love that students can see themselves in the examples of being smart. It’s a brilliant way to start a conversation about strengths and to set the tone that in our classroom, everyone is capable.
10. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson & Rafael López
Another book I reach for when we talk about our home countries and the languages we speak. The Day You Begin is about finding connection even when you feel different – when your summer looks nothing like everyone else’s, when you speak another language at home, when you feel like the odd one out. It’s quietly powerful and always sparks the most beautiful discussions about what makes us who we are.
11. My First Day by Nic Naitanui & Fátima Anaya
The excitement and the nerves of the first day of school, wrapped up in one relatable, joyful story. Nic Naitanui is an AFL legend, which makes this one extra special for Australian classrooms – but the feeling of those first-day butterflies is universal. A fun and uplifting read that reminds kids (and us!) that first days are the beginning of something great.
12. The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad & S. K. Ali Hatem Aly
Fatima is starting school for the first time, wearing her hijab – blue as the ocean, blue as the sky. When others say unkind things, her older sister’s words carry her through. This is a story about pride, identity, cultural respect, and the strength that comes from family. In an international school setting, it’s a deeply important read – and a beautiful one.
A Few Tips for Using Read Alouds in the First Week
These books aren’t just for reading and moving on – they’re conversation starters, community builders, and the foundation of a classroom culture. Here’s how I get the most out of them:
Read with intention. Pick books that connect to what you’re building that week — whether that’s classroom agreements, getting to know each other, or easing first-day nerves. Every book on this list has a purpose.
Slow down and linger. Don’t rush through to get to the next thing. Pause on the illustrations. Ask questions. Let students share. The conversation is the learning.
Come back to them. Some of these books I read more than once in the first few weeks, and students love it! (Seriously, by the end of the second week, my students know I LOVE to reread a good story!) They notice new things each time.
What Else Are You Planning for the First Week?
If you’re looking for more first week ideas, I’ve got you covered! Check out Back to School with Bluey for a fun Bluey-themed way to kick off the year — it’s a favourite with my students every time. And if you need some practical, ready-to-go activities, grab my First Week of School Printables — low-prep, high-impact, and ready for Monday.
What’s your favourite back to school read aloud? Drop it in the comments – I’m always looking to add to the stack!
Happy reading and teaching!
Tess
