Great Read Alouds for K-2Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade - by Stephanie Greene
80 pages (with larger type) This short new series has been very popular in our library. Posey is very nervous about the first day of First Grade. Her mom can't walk her to her class room so she'll have to face "The Monster of a Blue Hall" by herself. The boys next door have told her that the first grade hallway has snakes and monsters. My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett 87 pages This book is a great 1st read-aloud as the chapters are very short and the story is light and funny. A young boy travels to Tangerine Island in hopes of learning to fly. While he is there he must outwit the animals who are trying to stop him from rescuing a dragon. The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry 174 pages A fun story about the Willoughby children. These 4 are very good children while their parents are rather awful. The parents go away on vacation with instructions for the house to be sold while they are gone...but the children are still living in it. This parody of "old fashioned stories" is great fun. Lots of laughs as well as great new vocabulary for kids Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar 124 pages If you want some laughs before bedtime with no lessons involved, this is your book. Wayside school is a 30 story schoolhouse. Lots of wacky things happen at Wayside School including a teacher who can turn her students into apples and a boy who can only read upside down. Lots of fun! Gooney Bird Greene by Lois Lowry 88 pages There has never been a girl like the new girl at Watertower Elementary School. She confidently wears tutus, pajamas and cowboy boots to school. The students are captivated by her "absolutely true" stories....and you will be too. Lots of fun. Matilda by Roald Dahl 232 pages with pictures From the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this book is for the family that loves an outrageous and funny story and doesn't mind a Dahl's humor with incredibly evil adults. Matilda is a brilliant 4 year old whose parents and think she is dull and dim-witted. She outsmarts them at every turn. Great book for children and parents who enjoy children beating out the adults. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater 138 pages First published in 1938, this is the tale of Mr. Popper, and his family, who receive a penguin in the mail. After obtaining a 2nd penguin from the zoo, the two penguins have 10 baby penguins that live in the Popper's home. There of lots of silly animal antics. A great choice if very young children are listening as well. The Doll People By Ann Martin 256 pages Second graders love this story of a family of 100 year old porcelain dolls that are alive unknown to the Kate, their owner. Kate's little sister gets a doll set of her own. However, her modern plastic dolls are risk takers and are much sillier and much wilder than the porcelain dolls. Two girl dolls (one from each doll family) become friends and embark on a mystery to discover what happened to a porcelain doll who's been missing for 40 years. They must be careful not to be seen by humans and must watch out for the cat! |
Great Read Alouds for 3-5Wait Till Helen Comes: A ghost story by Mary Downing Hahn 187 pages
This book was first recommended to me by a 4th grader. Molly and Michael move into a converted church with their mom, their new stepdad, and his daughter, Heather. Molly and Michael think their new 7 year old sister is a pain. Heather begins playing out in the graveyard in the backyard with her new imaginary friend, Helen. When strange things start happening they begin to wonder if Helen really imaginary. A good scary read! Holes by Louis Sachar 233 pages Stanley has been falsely accused of stealing a pair of sneakers and has been sentences to Camp Green Lake where campers have to dig 5 large holes a day in the hot Texas sun. They are told to report if they find anything interesting while digging their holes. The campers soon figure out that the cruel warren is searching for something. A fantastic read! Wonder by R.J. Palacio 315 pages This new book has won numerous awards. August was born with a facial deformity that required 37 surgeries. He thinks of himself as a normal kid but know that others are shocked by the way he looked. His parents decide that it's time for him to get out in the world...and go to middle school. August is an inspiring character that you will cheer for while wondering if you would have been his friend if he came to your middle school. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi 229 pages Charlotte is an upper middle class girl in 1832 traveling from England to Rhode Island on a Merchant ship to rejoin her family. Before boarding she learns that "Cap'n Jaggery" is despised by the sailors on the ship. The crew warns her not to take this 2 month voyage, but her guardian forces her to go. On her first day the cook gives her a knife and tells her she might need it. Exciting! Hoot by Carl Hiaasen 292 pages Roy's family has just moved to Florida. Outside the school bus window Roy sees a boy with no shoes running. Curious, he gets off the school bus and runs after him. He soon discovers the homeless boy will do anything to stop a new pancake restaurant from bulldozing a site that's home to burrowing owls (including putting live alligators in the Port-a-Potties). The Fairy-Tale Dectectives by Michael Buckley 284 pages Written by the creator of SpongeBob Squarepants. Two sisters find themselves without parents and are forced to move in with a grandmother they never even knew they had. The girls find out that they are related to the Brother's Grimm. The Grimm Brother's put a spell on all the Fairy-Tale characters and now they are trapped in the town of Everafter. Granny's job is to keep everyone in line. Much more fun if your child is familar with FairyTales. The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies 173 pages Want to teach your kids about running a business? This is your book. Very popular with students. A brother and sister compete to be the first to earn a $100 at separate lemonade stands. Good business competition as well as trying to outsmart your competition for limited customers. The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson 230 pages This book was written for 9- 14 year olds. It is a 1st person account of the Holocaust from the youngest person on "Schindler's List." It is most likely too emotional for most elementary students. However, it is an an incredible account of survival in the midst of the horrors under the Nazis. My favorite read this year. |
Why Read Aloud to my Child?
Reading aloud to children has many benefits. First, reading aloud should be an enjoyable experience between parent/guardian and child. Many busy parents have found that reserving 15 minutes before bedtime is a great time to do a read aloud. The article Reading Aloud to Kids Pays Off In Many Ways in Education News (09/2011) mentions the following academic boosts reading aloud gives to children.
All the books listed above can be checked out by parents/guardians at our learning center. Stop in, email ([email protected] or call us (652-7218) about setting up a family library account.
Reading aloud to children has many benefits. First, reading aloud should be an enjoyable experience between parent/guardian and child. Many busy parents have found that reserving 15 minutes before bedtime is a great time to do a read aloud. The article Reading Aloud to Kids Pays Off In Many Ways in Education News (09/2011) mentions the following academic boosts reading aloud gives to children.
- Allows children to enjoy stories beyond their reading level
- Exposure to new vocabulary
- Increases ability to read silently
- Develops imagination and creativity
- Increases attention span
- Increases literacy skills (predicting, writing, speaking and listening)
All the books listed above can be checked out by parents/guardians at our learning center. Stop in, email ([email protected] or call us (652-7218) about setting up a family library account.
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