Book List: Books About Community Helpers

Teaching my community helpers unit is my favorite way to start the school year. Teaching about community helpers allows me to learn about the occupations of my students parents, and what they, themselves, hope to be when they grow up. You can see the community helpers unit I created, in my TPT store, here. It includes full lesson plans, reading comprehension sheets and a writing project.

I know how hard it can be to find quality books to supplement social studies instruction so, I've made a list of books that you can use with your community helpers unit. The first section contains books that give an overview of many community helpers. The next sections show books about specific community helpers.

Books About Community Helpers

Helpers in My Community by: Bobbie Kalman

This simple book is designed for students to read to themselves. It has clear, real world pictures of the community helpers. The explanations of the jobs are simple and child friendly.

Whose Hands are These? by: Miranda Paul

This is a fun book for a whole class read aloud. The students guess the identity of the community helper based on the actions of their hands. The illustrations in this book are beautiful!

Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by: Miranda Paul

Another fun option for a read aloud, Clotheslines Clues to Jobs People Do will keep your students guessing as you read. Each page features a picture of a uniform on a clothesline along with a rhyming description of a community helper for the students to guess.

Community Helpers Then and Now by: Bobbie Kalman

This book combines learning about community helpers with comparing historical life with today. Students will learn about how jobs have changed over time.

The Berenstain Bears: Jobs Around Town

by: Stan and Jan Berenstain

Brother and Sister wonder what jobs they might like to have when they grow up. They travel around town learning about how people use their talents to make the community a better place.

Show Me Community Helpers: My First Picture Encyclopedia by: Clint Edwards

This picture encyclopedia uses real world pictures to teach students about different types of community helpers.

Career Day by: Anne Rockwell

This story follows Mrs. Madoff's class on career day. Each invites a special adult to share thier occupation with the class.

Whose Vehicle is This? by: Shannon Katz Cooper

This fun book allows students to explore community helpers by looking at the vehicles they drive. This book would be a fun read aloud.

Whose Hat is This? by: Shannon Katz Cooper

Perfect for a read aloud, this guessing book introduces community helpers by showing the hats that they wear.

Whose Tools are These? by Shannon Katz Cooper

Another fun read aloud book, this story challenges the reader to guess the identity of the community helper based on the tools that they use.

Books About Chefs

Chefs by: Cari Meister

This book uses bright photographs to show a chef's job. It also includes a labeled diagram. table of contents and index for teaching about text features.

Books About Construction Workers

Let's Meet a Construction Worker by: Bridget Heos

This books is told from the point of view of elementary studetns taking a field trip to visit a construction site. This book even guides the reader through the steps to construct a graham cracker house.

Construction Workers by: Cari Meister

This leveled reader is great for students to read on their own. It uses bright, engaging photos to teach the reader about how construction workers help our community. It also includes a labeled diagram. table of contents and index for teaching about text features.

Books About Dentists

Let's Meet a Dentist by: Bridget Heos

This brightly colored book is written from the perspective of an elementary school class visiting a dentist to learn more about her job. The kids learn about tooth x-rays, dentists chairs and all the ways that a dentist can help you keep your teeth healthy.

A Day in the Life of a Dentist by: Heather Adamson

This book uses real life pictures to give the reader a peek into life as a dentist.

Books About Doctors

Let's Meet a Doctor by: Bridget Heos

This book is told from the point of view of an elementary school class that is interviewing a doctor to find out more about his job. It has bright, engaging illustrations and even includes directions on how to make your own stethoscope.

Doctors by: Cari Meister

This leveled reader uses high quailty photos to teach students about how doctors help our community. It includes a table of contents, labeled diagram, picture glossary, and index for teaching about text features.

Books About Farmers

I Want to be a Farmer: by Dan Leibman

Using real life pictures, this book gives an overview of a career in farming. The reader will learn about the tools a farmer uses, the daily chores they do and the livestock and crops that they raise.

Farmers by: Cari Meister

This easy to read book uses bright photos to engage the readers and teach them about life as a farmer. This book also includes a table of contents, labeled diagram, and index for teaching about text features.

Books About Firefighters

Let's Meet a Firefighter by: Gina Bellisario

This book is told from the point of view of an elementary school class visiting a fire station. They learn about a firefighter's job and fire safety. Suggestions for making a fire escape plan are also included.

A Day in the Life of a Firefighter by: Heather Adamson

This book uses bright photographs to give the reader a peak into life as a firefighter. The reader will learn about the duties of a firefighter, the tools they use, and how they help our community.

Firefighters by Cari Meister

This book uses engaging photographs to give the reader a peak into life as a firefighter. Also included are a table of contents, labeled diagram, and index for teaching about text features.

Books About Librarians

Let's Meet a Librarian by: Gina Bellasario

Mrs. Rio's class visits the library and learns that their local librarian can help them find books to learn about any topic!

Books About Mail Carriers

Delivering Your Mail by: National Geographic Learning

This is a great option for a read aloud. It has beautiful illustrations. This book gives an interesting look at the details of a mail carrier's life.

Books About Police Officers

Let's Meet a Police Officer by: Gina Bellisario

This book is told from the point of view of an elementary school class receiving a visit from a police officer. The kids learn from Officer Gabby, their school resource officer and Officer Ken and his K-9.

A Day in the Life of a Police Officer by: Heather Adamson

This book uses real photos to give the reader a glimpse into the life of a police officer. This book provides simple, easy to understand explanations for young learners.

Police Officer's Help by: Dee Ready

Using real life photos, this book tells about a police officer's job, the tools they use and how they help the community.

Books About Teachers

Let's Meet a Teacher by: Bridget Heos

Mrs. Crawford explains how a teacher can help their students learn.

Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

This book is a little longer, it's perfect for a read aloud. This book tells the story of the author's struggle with learning disorders and bullying as she was growing up. She shares the story of the teacher who believed in her and helped her over come her struggles.

Books About Veterinarians

A Day in the Life of a Veterinarian by: Heather Adamson

This book uses real life pictures to teach children about a veterinarian's job. This book is best for young learners. It has simple, easy to understand explanations.

Veterinarians by: Cari Miester

This leveled reader is perfect for students to read to themselves. It features beautiful photos and simple text. It also includes a labeled diagram, picture glossary, table of contents and index to use when teaching about text features.

Let's Meet a Veterinarian by: Gina Bellisario

A veterinarian visits a school to do a check up on a class pet. While she is there, she teaches the class what it is like to be a veterinarian.

Books About Zookeepers

A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper by: Nate LeBoutillier