By Logan Fisher, Staff Developer at The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower
If you’re a classroom teacher, I don’t need to tell you that every moment counts. We’re juggling content standards, assessments, and the needs of dozens of unique little humans. And still—we know that one of the most important things we can do is build a classroom where kids feel safe, seen, and emotionally supported.
The good news? We don’t have to carve out separate time to “teach SEL.” We can weave it right into the fabric of our literacy instruction. One of the most powerful tools we have is right at our fingertips: books.
Books open the door to conversation. They give us characters to empathize with, mistakes to learn from, and emotions to unpack. By choosing the right titles, we can help students become more emotionally aware, more connected to each other, and more ready to learn.
Below, I’ve organized some of my favorite SEL-supportive books by the five CASEL competencies. Use this list to guide your read-alouds, classroom conversations, and even small moments of shared writing across the year.
📖 Books We Can Use to Understand Others
(Social Awareness)
Social awareness is about being able to recognize the emotions, perspectives, and needs of others. It’s about empathy, compassion, and understanding that there’s always more to someone’s story than what we first assume.
These books offer characters who start off making assumptions—and then shift, learning to be more
A Sled for Gabo by Emma Otheguy
A House for Every Bird by Megan Maynor
Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña
Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand
One strategy I love is the “If we… then we…” chart. After reading, invite students to reflect:
If we make assumptions, like Milo did…
Then we can remind ourselves to stay curious, not judgmental.
This tiny shift can help turn a read-aloud into a classroom-wide mindset.
📖 Books We Can Use to Understand Ourselves
(Self-Awareness)
Self-awareness is all about knowing who we are—what lights us up, what triggers us, and what makes us unique. When students better understand themselves, they’re more likely to feel confident, connected, and ready to learn.
Look for books with characters who wrestle with comparison, self-doubt, or identity. These stories help kids name their own feelings and see themselves reflected on the page.
Bob the Artist by Marion Deuchars
Brian the Dancing Lion by Tom Tinn-Disbury
The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival
Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great by Bob Shea
Try asking your class:
What is this character learning about themselves?
How can we apply that lesson to our own lives?
These quick conversations can lead to powerful self-reflection, especially when students hear their classmates’ voices echoing their own thoughts.
📖 Books We Can Use to Connect with Each Other
(Relationship Skills)
Of all the CASEL competencies, relationship skills may be the most essential in our classrooms. How can kids learn in a space where conflict simmers just below the surface? How can we build community without trust?
Books about friendship, forgiveness, and working through misunderstandings help kids practice navigating social situations with more grace and care.
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You by Sonia Sotomayor
Potato Pants by Laurie Keller
I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët
The Cool Bean by Jory John
I love pairing these books with classroom stories. Maybe a student hoards the recess equipment each day—write a class narrative together where the character learns to share. Use writing as a tool for empathy, repair, and community-building.
The lesson? We all make mistakes. But we can talk about them. We can write through them. We can grow.
📖 Books We Can Use to Manage Our Emotions
(Self-Management)
Self-management is about knowing what to do with our big feelings. Whether it’s excitement, frustration, sadness, or fear, students need tools to regulate themselves and bounce back when emotions run high.
Books can help. Especially stories where characters model how to pause, reflect, and choose a response.
Ping by Ani Castillo
Decibella and Her 6-Inch Voice by Julia Cook
Even Superheros Have Sad Days by Shelly Becker
Fergal is Fuming! by Robert Starling
A Shelter for Sadness by Anne Booth
One of my favorite metaphors comes from the book Ping. It reminds kids: we can only control our own "ping"—not the "pong" we get back. A powerful message for kids who are learning to navigate tough reactions from peers, siblings, or even adults.
📖 Books We Can Use to Make Thoughtful Choices
(Responsible Decision-Making)
This CASEL category is woven through everything. When kids understand themselves and others, manage their feelings, and build strong relationships—they’re better equipped to make thoughtful, responsible choices.
Books that show consequences, choices, and turning points are great conversation starters. So are shared writing experiences where your class co-constructs stories to solve real classroom challenges.
Bonus Tip: Grow Emotional Vocabulary
Vocabulary matters. Brene Brown’s Atlas of the Heart reminds us that we can only process emotions we can name. Let’s give kids more words than just “happy,” “sad,” or “mad.”
Try using books that show shades of emotion—grief, relief, envy, serenity—and invite students to explore what those feelings look and feel like. Over time, your classroom will become a place where emotional expression is specific, thoughtful, and safe.
Final Thought
You don’t need to overhaul your curriculum. Just keep doing what you’re doing—reading aloud, talking about books, writing together. But now, do it with a second lens. Use stories not just to teach reading—but to teach kids how to be people.
And if you’re ever stuck, just reach out. I’d love to help you build your SEL bookshelf.
Let’s raise readers. Let’s raise humans.
💌 Email me anytime at logan@readingwriting.net. You can also watch my YouTube video on this topic!
