Free SEL Books for 1st Graders
We believe every child deserves free access to quality reading materials that nurture a lifelong love of learning. Discover free SEL books for 1st graders ages 5-6. Our free children’s books feature emotions, empathy, and self-awareness perfect for beginning readers. Download free story books PDF or read childrens books online free.
The Butterfly Garden
Diya is shy and loves butterflies, but she’s nervous about talking in class. When her school visits the park, something magical happens—her passion for butterflies gives her the courage to speak up! Will Diya discover that sharing what she loves can help her make new friends and find her voice?
The Best Tube
Lila is an artist who loves painting with her watercolours. In her workshop, she creates magical scenes with swaying trees, cloud people floating in the sky, tiny sprites living in flowers, and all sorts of wonderful animals. But there’s one tube of paint that hasn’t been used yet - the yellow tube. It’s worried about getting squashed and squeezed like all the others. Will yellow find the courage to become part of Lila’s art?
A Mess!
When mum and dad ask them to clean the house after school, the kids discover an enormous mess waiting for them! Dirty dishes pile up in the kitchen, dust bunnies hide under the couch, and their rooms look like a tornado hit them. Can they work together to tackle all their chores and restore order to their home?
Allie's Haircut
Allie finds a picture of her mum with short hair and decides to give herself a haircut to look pretty too. But oh no—the scissors don’t cooperate, and Allie’s new look is a disaster! Will Allie find a way to fix her hair? Find out what wild things she tries and how her mum helps her see herself in a whole new way.
Best Pals
What makes a best pal so special? Discover the magic of true friendship! Best pals share everything, cheer each other on, and stand by you through tough times. They make life feel amazing, even when things get hard. But what happens when best pals have a disagreement? Join this heartwarming story to learn what real friendship means.
First?
Rabbit is starting school and really wants to be first at something! He tries to be first to class, but Bee beats him there. He trains hard for sports, but Turtle crosses the finish line first. He rushes through art, writing, and maths, but there’s always someone faster. Poor Rabbit just can’t seem to win! Will he ever find something special to be first at? What hidden talent might Rabbit discover about himself?
I Love My Mom
Follow a child as they discover all the amazing things their mom teaches them—from cooking and gardening to riding a bike. What special skills will you learn from the people you love? Find out how a child’s mom shows love through teaching in this heartwarming story.
Mel Can Help
When a terrible flood hits Mel’s town, she gets separated from her parents and ends up at a school turned into an emergency shelter. Feeling scared and alone, Mel meets a kind doctor named Jen who is busy helping injured people. But Mel doesn’t want to just sit and wait—she wants to help too! Can one young girl really make a difference during such a big disaster?
My Hair
Meet a girl who absolutely loves her long, flowing hair! From keeping cool in summer to staying warm in winter, her hair is always part of the adventure. She decorates it with leaves and flowers, stores her art pens in it, and styles it in wild ways for dress-up days. Her mum even says it looks like a bird’s nest! What creative things would YOU do with your hair if it could be anything you imagined?
I Think I Can Help!
A friendly bird has just moved to a new neighborhood, but he doesn’t know anyone yet. He notices that the other animals all seem to have problems they can’t solve on their own. The rhino has pesky flies, the crocodile has a sore tooth, and the giraffe has something stuck behind his ear! The helpful bird has an idea - maybe he can lend a wing. Will his kindness help him make the friends he’s hoping for?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are SEL books valuable for 1st graders who are learning to read?
Social emotional learning stories deal with situations 5- and 6-year-olds live every day — managing feelings, making friends, and showing empathy — so children are naturally invested in the text. Li et al. (2025) found that social-themed picture books significantly improve prosocial behaviour in young children, and that emotional engagement keeps readers attentive. Bookbot’s free SEL books pair these themes with decodable text so children build phonics skills and emotional vocabulary at the same time. For more on the benefits of story-based learning, see the benefits of reading aloud.
What formats are these free SEL books available in?
All SEL books on Bookbot are free to read on the Bookbot website. Many also include PDF downloads, and select titles offer a read-aloud feature with word-by-word highlighting. Manu et al. (2019) found through UNICEF-supported research that accessible, shared reading materials improve both literacy and social development in young children, so free access matters.
What reading levels do the free SEL books cover?
The books range from basic CVC words (like sad, hug, pal) through consonant blends and digraphs — covering the phonics skills typically taught in 1st grade. Each book is tagged by level so you can match it to your child’s current ability. Our scope and sequence page explains how the stages progress.
Can reading about feelings actually help my child's reading progress?
Yes. A 2022 study on narrative absorption showed that when readers connect emotionally with a story, they read more carefully and remember more of what they have read. For 1st graders still building decoding stamina, that deeper engagement translates directly into more practice with sounding out words. SEL topics also expand a child’s vocabulary for emotions — words like brave, kind, and calm — which supports both literacy and everyday communication.