Grades
PreK - 12
The Top Books Teachers Say Students Won’t Stop Talking About
Watch your class get excited about these popular picks.
Falling head over heels for reading is a magical experience, and when certain books whisk your students away to another world, you can’t help but share in the joy — especially if your young readers won’t stop talking about it!
We asked teachers what books their students talk about endlessly. From contemporary graphic novels to beloved chapter books, these are their top picks.
A lovable animal embarking on a zany adventure is a tried-and-true storyline that captivates young readers. Often misunderstood and always hilarious, these star characters show students just how fun reading can be!
Dog Man is always one of the most talked-about graphic novel series among students. This action-packed series has pawed its way into the hearts of countless students and stars a half-dog, half-man character who sniffs out crime to save the world.
The Bad Guys series is also beloved in the classroom; teachers find the laughs to be contagious, and the series’ rich vocabulary primes class discussion. Students, of course, can’t get enough of Bad Guy characters — Big Bad Wolf, Shark, Snake, and Piranha — and love incorporating different voices for each, which builds even greater reading fluency, especially among reluctant readers.
"I can't have enough of those books,” Melissa Miller, a first-grade teacher in Tennessee, told us previously.
Another animal favorite: the Wings of Fire series. The series follows the tales of dragon tribes and their battles, prophecies, and friendships. Most of the books are written from the point of view of different young dragons with humanlike traits and emotions — making them incredibly relatable to young readers.
Howl with laughter with Dog Man,the internationally bestselling series from Dav Pilkey,the creator of Captain Underpants!
Hardcover Book
Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #11): From the Creator of Captain Underpants
Piggy has returned, and his newest plot is his most diabolical yet. WHAT other new villains are on the horizon? WHERE are they all coming from? And WHO will step forward to save the city when scoundrels sabotage our Supa Buddies?
Mr. Wolf. Mr. Shark. Mr. Snake. Mr. Piranha. They're bad guys, everybody knows that. They're scary and dangerous and...well, just bad. But these guys want to be heroes.
The seven dragon tribes have been at war for generations, locked in an endless battle over an ancient, lost treasure. A secret movement called the Talons of Peace is determined to bring an end to the fighting, with the help of a prophecy, a foretelling that calls for great sacrifice.
These graphic novel adaptations of bestselling Tui T. Sutherland's Wings of Fire series continue to set the world on fire!
When it comes to books that inspire class discussion, a clear choice is the I Survived series. It blends action and adventure with real events from history (through the eys of kids), and your students will be eager to discuss the characters that bring the stories to life.
To spark even more lively debate, Front Desk and the Who Would Win? series are also great choices. In Front Desk, a young girl navigates life as an immigrant living and working at a motel with her family. This book not only helps build compassion and empathy, but is also a great way to encourage honest discussion about important topics relevant to your students.
When real-life creatures go head-to-head in the Who Would Win? series, students can’t help but jump in and make their own predictions and arguments. Teachers find that these books inspire friendly debates, which boost reading momentum.
“Children of all reading levels love these books,” Kristen McGonagle, a second-grade teacher in Massachusetts, explained previously. “They love the comparison of animals doing tasks — and the conversations that come from this will help get readers wanting to read more and more of these!”
Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series takes on vivid new life in full-color graphic novel editions.
Fiesty and resilient Mia Tang works and lives at the motel with her parents, who secretly help immigrants, while she pursues her dream of being a writer.
Check out how these amazing real life creatures match up. Who's the strongest, fastest, biggest and baddest-in a fight to the finish, who would win?
Each book is illustrated with full-color pictures and features a pair of animals that rarely, if ever, meet in the wild. Young scientists will love using the book's easy-to-read facts and their own reasoning skills to decide for themselves which creature would be the winner.
Another book students talk about endlessly: The One and Only Ivan. They not only love talking about how it’s inspired by a true story, but they also love discussing the movie. Film adaptations of books are a great way for students to learn how to visualize the stories they read and learn even more about character and plot development.
Students also love to point out the differences between the book and the movie, which is a great lead-in to deeper class discussions about storytelling.
“Middle school students not only love this book, but you should see their faces when I tell them it was inspired by the true story of a silverback gorilla who spent 27 years intimidating children at a shopping mall in Tacoma, Washington,” Kris Hart, a middle school library specialist in Iowa, told us previously.
And, of course, once your students read Clifford, The Hunger Games, and Harry Potter, then relish in each series’ respective movie magic, you can expect non-stop classroom conversation.
Young readers also love to follow along the hoot-worthy adventures of Eva Wingdale in Eva the Owlet, an AppleTV+ adaptation of the beloved Owl Diaries series. Plus, Stillwater is the perfect television show and book pairing to teach students important social and emotional topics, such as mindfulness.
Shop more student favorites below! You can find all books and activities at The Teacher Store.
From the creator of The Dot and Happy Dreamer comes a celebration of finding your own words — and the impact you can have when you share them with the world.
Inspired by the true story of a gorilla who spent 30 years alone in a cage at an indoor zoo in a mall, this beautiful book imagines what that gorilla might have felt and said about his life.
This graphic novel adaptation will feature original illustrations and exclusive new scenes and stories not seen in the movie.
This beautiful hardcover box set includes all three books in Suzanne Collins's internationally bestselling Hunger Games trilogy together with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Inspired by the traveling trunk of a Hogwarts student, this stunning boxed set contains all seven of J.K. Rowling's beloved, bestselling Harry Potter books in handsome hardcover editions featuring original jacket artwork and chapter opening illustrations.
Eva Wingdale gets in over her head when she offers to organize a spring festival at school. Even with her best friend Lucy's help, there is NO way she will get everything done in time. Will Eva have to ask Sue (a.k.a. Meanie McMeanerson) for help? Or will the festival have to be cancelled?
Eva is ready to rock out at the Woodlandstock Music Festival! But when another band can't make it, Eva and her friends are ready to step in. Will they be able to form their own band in time to save the festival? And who will be their band's star singer?
Based on an episode from the Apple TV+ series, Stillwater. In A Perfect Fit, Addy and Michael are building a go-kart for the neighborhood race, and Karl is super excited to help. But with his siblings covering most of the work, he finds himself without much to do. Feeling left out, Karl makes his way to Stillwater's garden, where the wise panda helps him see there may be a perfect job for him after all.
"Michael," says Karl, "there's a really big bear in the backyard." This is how three children meet Stillwater, a giant panda who moves into the neighborhood and tells amazing tales. To Addy he tells a story about the value of material goods. To Michael he pushes the boundaries of good and bad. And to Karl he demonstrates what it means to hold on to frustration.
In a story brimming with love and light, Jon J Muth shows how we can all heal the world a little bit at a time -- just the right message for now -- and always!
Charles and Lizzie Peterson know a lot about puppies, because the Petersons are a foster family for young dogs, and help find special homes for every little visitor.
Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. They want a puppy of their own more than just about anything. They know dogs are a lot of work. But their mom still doesn't think their family is ready for a puppy. Then, Goldie arrives. She is a sweet golden retriever that needs a home. Goldie is very young. She doesn't know how to be a good puppy yet. Will Charles and Lizzie be able to help her?
They may look like Bad Guys, but these wannabe heroes are doing good deeds... whether you like it or not! Discover all you need to know about the baddest guys around in this all- new novel based on the major motion picture!
Join the Bad Guys in this funny fill-in based on the major motion picture. Pick up a pencil and create your own laugh-out-loud moments with Mr. Wolf and the gang. This book has over a dozen fun fill-in stories starring the Bad Guys who really just want to be good!
Titles include Fly Guy's Big Family, Frog on a Log?, Goodnight, Butterfly, Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, Princess Truly in I Am Truly and more!
A persnickety pigeon just wants what he wants-and kids will delight in his hilarious behavior!
A creative young boy wants a pet for The Amazing Pet Show, so he catches a fly-little knowing that Fly Guy will become a great friend!
If you could have any animal's hair, or ears, whose would you choose? Explore the outrageous and ridiculous illustrations and informative text in this collection of titles which introduces children to animal traits.
Titles include Charlotte's Web, Dog Man Unleashed, Ivy and Bean, Open Wide and Say Arrrgh!, Who Would Win?: Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Velociraptor and more!
Titles include The Boy Who Failed Show and Tell, Charlie & Frog, The Encounter, Leon the Extraordinary, Upside–Down Magic: The Big Shrink and more!
Titles include The Aquanaut, Because of Winn-Dixie, Front Desk, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005 and more!
