Summer has a funny way of making teachers do two things. First, we finally catch our breath.
Then we start looking through books. Stacks begin to form on the dining room table. Favorite picture books find their way back into our hands. We think about new read-alouds, replace worn-out copies, and start imagining the first days of school. But this summer, consider looking at those books a little differently.
Instead of asking, “What reading strategy does this teach?” Try asking, “What strengths might this story help my students discover in themselves and in one another?” Because the most powerful read-alouds can help build readers’ well-being, belonging, and confidence. For autistic students and really, for all learners, literacy is about much more than decoding and comprehension.
Stories help us make sense of the world, understand ourselves, connect with others, and imagine new possibilities. When students have meaningful access to literacy, they gain more than academic skills. They gain opportunities to develop resilience, empathy, courage, and a stronger sense of belonging. That’s why read-alouds deserve a much bigger role than simply introducing comprehension skills. They help shape classroom culture.
Think about Ish. Yes, students can identify the theme or analyze the author’s message.
But they remember Ramon discovering that perfection isn’t the goal, creativity, the freedom to try, and learning that “ish” is enough.
Or think about Owl Babies. Children practice sequencing and they experience uncertainty, witness siblings comforting one another, and discover hope, reassurance, and connection.
Then there’s Swimmy. Students certainly notice character, setting, and problem-solution as well as courage, leadership, teamwork, and belonging. The realization that everyone, including the smallest fish, has something valuable to contribute. Those are the conversations students carry long after they’ve forgotten the graphic organizer.
Before choosing your first read-aloud this fall, imagine your students ten months from now. Who do you hope they are becoming?
Curious. Kind. Brave. Persistent. Empathetic. Hopeful. Confident in their unique strengths. Now work backward. Every picture book becomes an opportunity to intentionally nurture those qualities through authentic conversations woven into literacy every day.
As you browse bookstores this summer or rediscover old favorites on your shelves, consider organizing books in a new way. Along with thinking about topics of theme, main idea, vocabulary, and text features, you can also think about the strengths each story invites students to explore. These are character strengths such as curiosity, gratitude, perseverance, kindness, creativity, teamwork, hope, humor, leadership, and love of learning.
Research continues to remind us that literacy isn’t simply an academic outcome. Meaningful literacy experiences can reduce anxiety, increase engagement, strengthen relationships, foster self-expression, and support overall wellbeing. When we intentionally pair great literature with conversations about character strengths, we’re helping students recognize their own strengths, giving them language to understand themselves and appreciate others, and creating classrooms where every learner, including autistic students, can experience connection, confidence, and belonging.
This summer, ask, “How might this story help every student discover their strengths and flourish?” Because the stories we choose today can help create classrooms where every child has the opportunity to grow, belong, and thrive.
