SEL Books for 1st Graders
We believe every child deserves access to quality reading materials that nurture a lifelong love of learning. Discover meaningful SEL books for 1st graders ages 5-6. Our children’s books feature emotions, empathy, and self-awareness perfect for beginning readers. These picture books and storybooks build reading confidence through social-emotional learning.
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?
We All Help
Jan’s special day is coming up, and everyone in the family wants to help make it wonderful! Mom is cooking something delicious, Dad has a surprise, and Grandma and Grandpa have special gifts too. Even Tim is excited to help! Can you guess what everyone is preparing together? Find out how a whole family comes together to create something amazing!
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?
A Shed for Ned
Ned needs a safe place to stay, and The Book tells him exactly what to do. Will Ned be brave enough to build a shed all by himself? Find out how Ned creates his shelter and what happens when darkness falls in this exciting story about courage and building.
All of Us
In a busy house full of people, a young child sometimes wishes to be alone—especially when there’s no room to run or play. But what happens when everything changes and being surrounded by family becomes the safest, most comforting place to be? Discover why this child learns that sometimes, having everyone around is exactly what you need.
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.
Bird in a Cage
A child loves watching the beautiful birds that Dad brings home. They can sing such lovely songs! But something is wrong—the birds won’t eat and they seem so sad in their cage. What could be making them unhappy? And what will happen when the child decides to help? Join this caring family as they discover what the birds truly need.
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?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do SEL books help 1st graders develop both emotional and reading skills?
SEL books for 1st graders pair social emotional learning themes like empathy, self-regulation, and kindness with decodable text matched to 1st grade phonics patterns. Scarborough’s Reading Rope (2001) shows that skilled reading requires both word recognition and language comprehension, and the emotional vocabulary in SEL stories directly builds the language comprehension strand. On Bookbot, social emotional learning books for first grade are available on the website, with many titles free to read and select titles offering word-by-word highlighted read-aloud.
Why are feelings books for 5 year olds valuable during the first grade transition?
Starting 1st grade brings new social demands like sharing a classroom, following rules, and handling frustration with difficult tasks. Feelings books for 5 year olds give children the language to name and manage these experiences. Murphy Odo (2024) discusses the importance of connecting literacy instruction with content that is personally meaningful to children, and few topics are more personally relevant to a first grader than navigating emotions. Bookbot’s SEL books for beginning readers present these themes within a structured phonics framework so children build decoding fluency alongside emotional literacy.
Can SEL books for beginning readers improve reading motivation in 1st grade?
SEL books for beginning readers feature relatable characters and everyday scenarios that draw children into the story, increasing their willingness to keep reading. Li et al. (2025) found that emotionally engaging content significantly boosts children’s reading engagement. On Bookbot, SEL books are available on the website with many titles free to read, so families can build consistent reading routines. For more strategies, see our guide on 8 ways to boost reading motivation.
How should parents use social emotional learning books for first grade at home?
Parents can read the story aloud first, pause to discuss how the characters feel, then invite the child to re-read independently using Bookbot’s online reader. This shared reading approach builds both comprehension and decoding. A University of Chicago study found that parent-child digital shared reading significantly improves literacy skills. Continuing the conversation after reading, asking what the child would do in the same situation, deepens understanding and helps children apply SEL lessons to real life. See also our article on laying the foundations for a love of reading.