3rd grade read aloud

All posts in the 3rd grade read aloud category

Swirl by Swirl, Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman

Published May 2, 2013 by Dagmar

This swirlmay be one of the most beautiful books in my library.  Swirl by swirl is full of illustrations by Beth Krommes (winner of the Caldecott Medal for The House in the Night)  that look as if they have been etched.  The colors are vibrant and really “pop” against the black background.  I use this book with my older grades to show them the incredible art work and talk about seeing shapes in nature.  I use the book in my younger grades to show the students all the ways that swirls exist in nature.  Either the way, the book is always a hit and would make a great gift for any young child at all interested in nature.  The words are simple, but the concept has lots of room for discussion.

“A spiral is a snuggling shape.  It fits neatly in small spaces.  Coiled tight, warm and safe it waits.”  The pictures show a woodchuck, an eastern chipmunk and a bull snake curled up in their burrows underground. “A spiral is a growing shape.  It starts small and gets bigger, swirl by swirl.”  This page includes a swimming nautilus and a cross section of a nautilus shell.  As the book progresses, we see ferns, snails, hedgehogs, millipedes, the horns of rams, octopi, seahorses, elephants’ trunks, spider webs, ocean waves, flowers, the Milky Way.  There are endless things to talk about.

This is an incredible book worthy of any school library or any bookshelf at home.  It’s a favorite of mine.  I hope you enjoy it!

One Grain of Rice, by Demi a mathematical folktale

Published May 1, 2013 by Dagmar

one grain of riceThis book is a mathematical folk tale.  It also happens to be a great read aloud book, especially for third grade.  Even the most fidgety child is amazed and applauds at the end of the book.  I love the colorful drawings.

Once there was a greedy raja in India who asked all of his subjects to give him nearly all of their rice, so he could store the rice safely in case there came a famine.  However, when the famine came, the raja kept all the peoples’ rice for himself.  One day, a young woman was gathering rice that had dropped from the raja’s baskets onto the road.  She was arrested for stealing and brought before the raja.  The girl, named Rani, cleverly told the raja that she was simply returning the rice to him.  He was pleased and granted her one wish.  She asked him to give her one grain of rice and then double the grains of rice every day for thirty days.  The raja, clearly not clever at math, readily agreed, thinking Rani a fool.  Little did the raja suspect that in thirty days, one grain of rice on day one would result in his giving more than one billion grains of rice by day thirty.  Asking Rani what she would do with the rice she received, Rani replied that she would feed the hungry.  The raja then mended his ways and became a truly wise and fair raja.  The best part of reading this book aloud is always the  “oohs and aahs” I get when I fold out page at the end of the book, showing the 256 elephants it takes to carry the millions of grains of rice the raja had to deliver.

If I Never Forever Endeavor, by Holly Meade

Published April 27, 2013 by Dagmar

If you knowIf I Never a child that is struggling with taking risks or overcoming a fear, this is an inspiring book.  I share this with my grades, 2nd through 6th but think it works best with 2-4th graders.  I had a great experience reading it to my third graders recently.  They were drawn in by the words, written in verse, and the simple but beautiful illustrations of a yellow bird, green trees and a blue sky.

“If in all of forever, I never endeavor to fly, I won’t know if I can…I won’t know if I can’t.  On the one wing, I could try and find that I flap and I flail, flounder and plummet, look foolish and fail.  On the other wing, I could try and take flight…If I did endeavor, and found my wings clever, I could see the world! Or get lost in it.”

I think this book really works with kids, because it acknowledges the fears that come with taking risks but also explores the possibilities and opportunities if risks are taken.  After I read this book, we had a great discussion as a class of times when students took risks.  They also talked about risks they were still scared to take.  I love this book, because it is thought-provoking at the same time it is comforting and uplifting.

Boot & Shoe, by Marla Frazee

Published March 15, 2013 by Dagmar

Boot&Shoe-103112-kids-380This book is fantastic and has the funniest, sweetest ending.  The language is up-to-date, the illustrations are really great.  I loved it as did my students.

Boot and Shoe are two adorable dogs who were born in the same litter.  They do everything together, eat, sleep, pee…but Boot likes to be on the back porch and Shoe spends his days on the front porch.  One day, a squirrel causes havoc.  Boot and Shoe chase and chase the squirrel until they get totally turned around.  Boot ends up on the front porch and Shoe ends up on the back porch.  Boot and Shoe are determined to wait until the other returns to their proper spot.  They wait and wait and wait.  Finally, they decide they should check the other porch.  Without seeing each other, Boot ends up back on the front porch and Shoe ends up back on the front porch.  They wait all night for each other.  Finally, they miss each other so much that they cry.  All my students are really sad at this point in the story.  Luckily, every dog has to pee.  Where do Boot and Shoe finally find each other?  You’ve got it…at their favorite place to pee, the bush.  You can’t help but giggle.

This very cute book is highly recommended for K-3 students.

Chicken Big, by Keith Graves

Published February 18, 2013 by Dagmar

chickenbigThis Is a hysterical take on the chicken little story. I love to read this to second and third graders. A humongous chick is born and joins his fellow chickens in the chicken coop. No one seems to realize that he is a chicken. The smallest chicken is not the brightest chicken in the coop. When he is hit with a falling acorn and then rain drops he becomes just like Chicken Little. Poor Chicken Big tries to calm the chickens while they guess again and again what he might be…is he an elephant, a squirrel, an umbrella? Each guess is more hilarious. Such a fun book – always a hit with my students.

Extra Yarn, by Mac Barnett

Published January 18, 2013 by Dagmar

extra yarnI have to admit that I’m a big fan of local Bay Area author Mac Barnett and also the illustrator Jon Klassen (I Want My Hat Back).  Annabelle lives in a town with no color.  One day, she finds a box with colorful yarn.  She knits herself a sweater, when she has some yarn left over, she knits a sweater for her dog Mars.  The yarn never seems to run out, and Annabelle never seems to stop wanting to knit.  Soon her drab town is covered in wonderful color, everyone has a sweater (or a hat), including the bird houses, the trees, the houses, the pets.  Color is everywhere.  My students love watching the book come to life as Annabelle knits.  But, like every great book, there is a villian. The archduke offers millions of dollars to Annabelle if se will just give up her magical yarn.  When Annabelle says, “no”, the Archduke steals the box.  My students love this book and are always quiet until the end, when they applaud.  It’s a wonderful read aloud for all second to fifth graders in the library or just one on one at home.

Creepy Carrots!, by Aaron Reynolds

Published January 3, 2013 by Dagmar

creepycarrotsYes.  Carrots can be creepy, very creepy.  Jasper Rabbit’s passion for carrots gets him in trouble.  I tried this book with younger listeners and didn’t get much of a reaction.  Then, I tried it with my older students who loved it.  I love the great illustrations by Peter Brown.

Synopsis: Jasper Rabbit loves carrots and heads for Crackenhopper Field where he finds plenty of carrots to eat and eats them constantly. Until one day, when he starts to think that the carrots are following him.  Everywhere he looks, there are shadows of carrots that only he sees.  Finally, so spooked by the carrots, Jasper takes action and rids himself of the carrots once and for all, much to the carrots’ delight.

This book won a Caldecott Honor in 2013.

Press Here, by Herve Tullet

Published December 28, 2012 by Dagmar

presshereIf you’ve ever wanted to make a young audience scream with delight, read them this book.  You’ll need an audience volunteer.  Press Here is magical. Not only did my older students absolutely loved it, but my younger students are completely overjoyed by it.  I had to ask them to keep it down, or the fifth grade next door wouldn’t be able to work!  (My first graders even recognized a pattern in the book and started chanting it.) Highly recommended as a read aloud.

Synopsis: Follow the instructions in the book (involving pressing dots,  shaking the book or clapping) to see what happens.  Is it magic?  Maybe!

Clever Jack Takes the Cake, by Candace Fleming

Published December 12, 2012 by Dagmar

cleverjackJack is invited to the princess’ 10th birthday party and wonders what to bring. Trading away his few possessions, he makes an incredible cake to take to the princess.  But, all sorts of trouble lies ahead: crows, trolls and dancing bears, you name it.  By the time Jack gets to the castle he is left with one strawberry from the cake – only to find out that the princess is allergic to strawberries!  What to do?  Without knowing it, and with no present left, Jack gives the princess the best present of all.  My very, very wiggly third grade class sat so still you could hear a pin drop and then clapped at the end.  I loved this book before today, but seeing this class mesmerized made me love it even more.  The illustrations by G. Brian Karas are wonderful.

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, by Chris Van Allsburg

Published November 28, 2012 by Dagmar

This book combines wonderful black and white drawings with an element of magic that really works for older students, because there is just enough mystery to leave listeners wondering what really happened.  I love to read it to third graders.

Synopsis: Miss Hester owns a naughty dog named Fritz.  Alan is watching Fritz while Miss Hester is gone.  When Alan takes Fritz for a walk, Fritz tugs the leash and runs away – straight into the garden of Abdul Gasazi, a retired magician.  Unfortunately, Mr. Gasazi’s garden is clearly marked with a sign that says ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO DOGS ALLOWED.  When Alan meets Mr. Gasazi, he politely asks for Fritz back but is dismayed to learn that Abdul Gasazi turns naughty, straying dogs into ducks.  Convinced that Fritz is now a duck, Alan returns to Miss Hester’s house, only to find Fritz safely at home.