Looking for a fun way to get your kindergarteners thinking and sharing their ideas? Opinion books are a great tool to help young learners express themselves while also building important communication and critical thinking skills. These books spark fun discussions, encourage students to share their thoughts, and teach them that it’s okay to have different opinions. In this post, we’ll explore why opinion books are so fun in kindergarten, see how opinion books provide an introduction to opinion writing, and share some of our favorite titles that are sure to get your students talking!
Why Opinion Books are Perfect for Kindergarten
1. Encourage Self-Expression
Opinion books give students the chance to share their thoughts in a fun and engaging way. Whether they’re deciding if they prefer cats or dogs, or choosing a favorite character from a story, kids are naturally drawn to expressing their likes and dislikes. These books open up space for students to share what’s on their minds and learn how to explain why they feel the way they do.
2. Build Critical Thinking
When students express an opinion, they start learning how to think critically by explaining the reasoning behind their choices. It could be as simple as picking which snack they think is the best or more complex, such as explaining why a character in a story made a good decision. By helping students dive a little deeper into their thinking, you’re nurturing critical thinkers from an early age!
3. Promote Listening and Respect for Others
Kindergarten is a great time to teach students how to listen to one another and respect different viewpoints. Opinion books naturally lead to class discussions where students can hear the different ideas their classmates have. It’s a wonderful way to reinforce that everyone has their own opinions, and it’s okay if they don’t always agree.
Top Opinion Books to Get Kids Talking and Writing!
Here are some of my favorite opinion books that are sure to spark thoughtful conversations with your kindergarten students and provide a frame of reference for forming their own opinions!
1. “Duck! Rabbit!” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
Is it a duck or is it a rabbit? This simple yet clever book gets students thinking and sharing their opinions right away. With playful illustrations that encourage debate, this book is a great starting point for teaching kids how to explain their thinking.

2. “Hey, Little Ant” by Phillip M. Hoose
This is a playful, thought-provoking story about a boy who faces a moral dilemma: To squish or not to squish an ant! As he contemplates whether or not to squish the ant, the ant offers its perspective and asks for empathy.

3. “Don’t Feed the Bear” by Kathleen Doherty
Here’s a great story about a bear and a park ranger who clash over the “Don’t Feed the Bear” sign. The bear wants visitors to share their picnic food, while the ranger tries to maintain the park’s rules. I also really love the vocabulary and descriptive words used in this book!

4. “Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!” by Mo Willems
You’ve probably already read this well-known story, but here’s the quick summary: A mischievous pigeon tries every excuse imaginable to avoid bedtime. From pretending he’s not tired to asking for a snack, the pigeon pulls out all the stops to convince the reader to let him stay awake. It’s a must-read!

5. “I Love Insects” by Lizzy Rockwell
How do your students feel about insects? This is a playful and informative book where a young narrator enthusiastically describes her fascination with bugs.

6. “National Geographic: Cats vs. Dogs” by Elizabeth Carney
Cats vs. dogs is one of the most debated topics of all time, and I bet your students have an opinion on the matter! This book provides students with facts about cats and dogs – all that’s left to do is decide which one is their favorite!

7. “I Wanna Iguana” by Karen Kaufman Orloff
In this story, a boy named Alex is trying to convince his mom to let him get a pet iguana. He and his mom give their reasonings back and forth and it will make your students ponder: Should he get a pet iguana?

8. “Red is Best” by Kathy Stinson
This is a classic story about a little girl who is convinced that everything is better when it’s red. Through her playful reasoning, she expresses her strong preference for the color red, highlighting a child’s sense of individuality and personal choices.

9. “The Perfect Pet” by Margie Palatini
Here’s a story with a subject that your students may relate to – wanting a pet! Elizabeth really wants a pet, but her parents aren’t so sure. The story shows her determination and creativity in getting what she really wants! When you’re done reading, be sure to ask your students to write about what their perfect pet would be.

Activities to Accompany Opinion Books
1. Opinion Writing
After reading an opinion book, ask your students to write or draw their thoughts. For example, after reading Duck! Rabbit!, they can explain whether they think the animal is a duck or a rabbit. If your students are ready to explain their opinion, ask them to provide some simple reasoning to back up their answer.
Once your students have given their opinion about a book situation, you can extend the opinion writing practice in lots of ways! These Opinion Writing pages provide different options, like what I call the “this or that” opinion writing…
…or more open-ended prompts that allow them to give their opinion on a topic like their favorite book:
2. Opinion Polls
Practice sharing opinions with a quick and interactive poll! One way to do this is upon arrival. When students arrive at school, have them provide their opinion on a variety of topics such as “apples vs. bananas”, “rain vs. sunshine”, and so on. You can even do your own “cats vs. dogs” poll before reading the “Cats vs. Dogs” book described above! This activity helps reinforce that opinions can be different, and that’s what makes discussions so interesting!
3. Opinion Corners
Designate different corners of your classroom for different opinions. For example, if you’re reading a book with a dilemma, like Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late, have one corner for “Yes, the pigeon should go to bed!” and another for “No, he should get to stay up late!”. Students will physically move to the corner that matches their opinion and then share their thoughts with their classmates.
Give Opinion Books a Try!
Opinion books provide fun opportunities for kindergarten students to practice forming and expressing opinions. They also help build critical thinking skills, foster communication, and teach students the importance of listening to different viewpoints. By introducing these books and accompanying activities, you’ll create a lively learning environment where students feel confident sharing their thoughts and opinions. Try adding some opinion books to your reading rotation or writing units and watch your students grow as communicators and writers!
More Ideas for Kindergarten:
Alphabet Books for Kindergarten
Social Emotional Books for Kindergarten
