The Living Library

Our Best Library Where Every Book’s A Curriculum. Best Read Alouds, Teacher Guides, & Activities.

A curated archive of picture books, graphic novels, easy readers, middle grade, and real stories — each with a ready-to-use teacher's guide, discussion questions, and classroom activities. The library where every book's a curriculum.

Explore the Books Pace-Write-Read

KidLit Librarian mascot alligator among library bookshelves

K–12

Grade Range

Learning Units

416+

Curated Books

416

Teacher Guides

416

Lessons

1241

Activities

The Stacks

The Library where Every Book's a Curriculum. Browse the shelves by call number, by category, by author. Enjoy!

K-2

Teacher's Guide

Finding a book that connects with our interests can help us discover the joy of reading. Readers have different tastes, and listening to one another helps us recommend stories that feel just right.

P ALL THE BOOKS

Picture Book·K-2·Imagination & Creativity

A Book for Everyone

Hayley Rocco

K-2

Teacher's Guide

Books connect us to ideas, adventures, and one another. Finding a book that fits our interests—and helping someone else find theirs—makes reading a shared joy.

P ALL THE BOOKS

Picture Book·K-2·Imagination & Creativity

All the Books

Hayley Rocco

PreK-2

Teacher's Guide

All feelings are okay, and we can use healthy strategies to navigate them when they feel too big.

P ALL WELCOME

Picture Book·PreK-2·Acceptance & Belonging

Big Feelings

Alexandra Penfold

PreK-2

Teacher's Guide

Every child brings unique gifts to the classroom, and our diversity makes our school community stronger.

P ALL WELCOME

Picture Book·PreK-2·Acceptance & Belonging

All Are Welcome

Alexandra Penfold

PreK-2

Teacher's Guide

Our classroom is a shared space where we follow kind rules to ensure everyone learns and grows safely.

P ALL WELCOME

Picture Book·PreK-2·Acceptance & Belonging

Welcome to Our Classroom!

Alexandra Penfold

PreK-2

Teacher's Guide

We build strong communities by helping our neighbors and taking care of the places we share.

P ALL WELCOME

Picture Book·PreK-2·Acceptance & Belonging

All Are Neighbors

Alexandra Penfold

PreK-2

Teacher's Guide

Dogs give us loyalty, comfort, and joy — and the everyday heroes in our lives deserve to be celebrated.

P ASHMAN

Picture Book·PreK-2·Friendship & Kindness

Wonder Dogs!

Linda Ashman

K-3

Teacher's Guide

The right word, chosen with care and heart, can be more persuasive than a hundred big ones.

P AVERBECK

Picture Book·K-3·Persuasion & Family

One Word from Sophia

Jim Averbeck

From the Librarian's Desk

A few favorites, each with a downloadable teacher's guide.

2-5

Teacher's Guide

Even the smallest voices can make the biggest difference when you stand together.

Graphic Novel·2-5·Resilience & Courage

The League of Littles

Casey Lyall

K-3

Teacher's Guide

Every person is a story — our experiences, families, and dreams make us who we are, and sharing our stories connects us.

Picture Book·K-3·Identity & Belonging

You Are a Story

Bob Raczka, pictures by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell

K-3

Teacher's Guide

We are all connected like the roots of a tree — strong together.

Real Story·K-3·Community & Interconnection

Be a Tree!

Maria Gianferrari

K-2

Teacher's Guide

True greatness is found in friendship rather than competition.

Picture Book·K-2·Humility & Friendship

Greatest in the World

Ben Clanton

5-9

Teacher's Guide

True freedom is not the absence of responsibility, but the willingness to use your gifts—your eyes, your voice, your speed—in service of something larger than yourself.

Middle Grade·5-9·Freedom, duty, and the tension between wildness and belonging.

The Eyes & the Impossible

Dave Eggers, Shawn Harris

PreK-2

Teacher's Guide

All feelings are okay, and we can use healthy strategies to navigate them when they feel too big.

Picture Book·PreK-2·Acceptance & Belonging

Big Feelings

Alexandra Penfold

PreK-3

Teacher's Guide

It's okay to feel frustrated, but quitting too quickly can mean missing out on the things — and people — that make life worthwhile.

Picture Book·PreK-3·Resilience & Courage

I Quit!

Kristen Tracy

K-2

Teacher's Guide

Creative problem solving can turn a frustrating situation into a success.

Picture Book·K-2·Problem Solving

A Balloon for Isabel

Deborah Underwood

View the Complete Catalog

Curated by Theme

Featured Collections

Thematic book stacks to help you find the right read-aloud fast — each hand-picked for classroom impact.

Bravery & Courage

Stories of bold hearts, big leaps, and everyday acts of courage.

Jabari Jumps

The Trouble with Heroes

Browse all Bravery & Courage

Graphic Novel Favorites

Visual storytelling that hooks reluctant readers and rewards voracious ones.

The League of Littles

Creature Clinic

A Kid Like Me

Chip Gets Swimmer Shivers

Dog Man A Tale of Two Kitties

Browse all Graphic Novel Favorites

Friendship & Kindness

Big-hearted tales about empathy, belonging, and the friends who shape us.

Creature Clinic

Be Kind

Wonder Dogs!

Wheetle: A Little Wagon with a Big Heart

The Quiet Forest

Browse all Friendship & Kindness

A fountain pen resting on a handwritten manuscript page

The Mastery Manual

Pace-Write-Read

The Trifecta of Pacing

A writer's handbook of 38 craft tools covering plot, pacing, and prosody — every technique you need to pace your story with power and purpose. Read the first 6 tools free.

Open the Manual