Read alouds

All posts in the Read alouds category

A Sick Day for Amos McGee, by Philip C. Stead

Published November 17, 2012 by Dagmar

amosmcgeeA sweet story about friendship. Great for pre-school and kindergarten read alouds.

Synopsis: Amos McGee is a zookeeper who takes the bus each day to go to the zoo.  Although he has lots of work to do, he always finds time for his friends.  The elephant loves chess, the tortoise loves to race, the penguin loves to sit quietly, the rhinoceros always needs a handkerchief for his runny nose, and the owl likes to have stories read to him, because he is afraid of the dark.  When Amos is sick and can’t come to work, the animals get on the bus and go to see him.  One by one, they take care of Amos, just as he always takes care of them.

Lucy Dove, by Janice Del Negro

Published November 17, 2012 by Dagmar

lucydoveLucy Dove is terrific read aloud for 3rd-5th graders that will keep even those who think they’re too old for read aloud hanging on your every word.  I love the illustrations, especially when I turn the page and students see the picture of the bogle.

Synopsis: A superstitious laird hears that he’ll find good luck if someone can sew a pair of trousers in the moonlight in the graveyard at St. Andrew’s church.  Many men have gone to the graveyard at night and have disappeared.  Lucy Dove is an old seamstress who was fired from the laird household, because she stitches too slowly.  She wants to win that bag of gold, so that she can buy herself a house by the sea for her retirement.  She bastes together cloth into a pair of trousers and goes to the churchyard at midnight to sew the pieces together.  The monster (bogle) that appears in the moonlight is, indeed, scary and threatening.  But Lucy, in her very cool manner, lets him know that he’s no big deal.  The story ends in an exciting chase scene.

The Perfect Present, by Fiona Robertson

Published November 16, 2012 by Dagmar

perfectpresentWith messages about friendship and just the right amount of suspense this wonderful book really captured the attention of my 2nd graders.   The book is broken up into small chapters, which I think add to the suspense.  I enjoyed the simple illustrations.

Synopsis: It’s Henry’s birthday.  He is just about to open a special birthday present from his pet duck, Spot, when his grandparents arrive with a pet puppy.  Henry forgets all about Spot’s present and rushes off to play with his new puppy.  Spot is disappointed and thinks that Henry no longer needs him, now that he has a new puppy as a pet.  Spot runs away.  While trying to cross a river in a storm, Spot gets stuck in a tree.  Luckily, Henry’s new dog tracks Spot to the river.  Using the fishing rod Spot bought for him, Henry is able to save both his puppy and Spot.  Henry and Spot agree that the puppy can be their perfect pet.

The Widow’s Broom, by Chris Van Allsburg

Published November 15, 2012 by Dagmar

widowsbroomMy favorite Halloween book for older listeners comes from one of my favorite children’s authors, Chris Van Allsburg.  Like all of his books, The Widow’s Broom has wonderfully detailed sepia illustrations.  There are magical elements and sufficient “scariness” for 3rd and 4th graders to really enjoy the book.

Synopsis: A witch falls out of the sky when her broom wears out.  She leaves with another witch but leaves her old broom behind.  The Widow Shaw inherits the broom and finds it to be very useful.  Not only does it sweep (it’s favorite activity), but it also chops wood, fetches water and plays piano.  Neighborhood children tease it as it’s sweeping.  The broom makes short work of their dog (flinging it into a tree) and scares the children.  When the neighbors hear about the broom, they tell Minna Shaw that it is evil.  She and the broom hatch a scheme that sends the neighbors away and leaves them in peace.

Ghosts in the House! by Kazuno Kohara

Published November 15, 2012 by Dagmar

ghostsinthehouseAnother Halloween favorite for very young listeners.  Ghosts in the House is sweet and funny with simple illustrations.
Synopsis: A girl moves into a house that’s haunted.  That’s no problem, because she is a witch and likes ghosts.  In fact, she finds them very useful.  After throwing them into the washing machine and hanging them out to dry, her ghosts become curtains, a tablecloth and finally blankets for she and her cat.

Room on the Broom, by Julia Donaldson

Published November 15, 2012 by Dagmar

roomonthebroomWhile I’m still remembering my Halloween read alouds, I want to mention one of my favorites.  Room on the Broom combines great rhyming with enough repetition to keep even the youngest listener engaged.  The illustrations, by Alex Scheffler, are great and the story funny and sweet.  I read this to my pre-k and K classes.
Synopsis: A witch is flying on her broomstick with her cat and drops her hat.  A dog finds it but asks, “Is there room on the broom for me?”.  As the story progresses, the witch drops a stunning number of things and gives a ride to many different creatures.  When the witch’s broom snaps in half, all her passengers fall into a bog.  She flies into a cloud, only to meet a fierce dragon who wants to eat her.  All of her animal friends gather themselves together.  Covered with bog slime and stacked one on top of the other, they look so fearsome, they scare the dragon away.  Left without a broom, the witch and her friends make a brew and create a spectacular new broomstick with room for everyone.

The Perfect Nest, by Catherine Friend

Published November 13, 2012 by Dagmar

the perfect nestWhat a funny and fun read aloud with a very satisfying ending.  This is your chance to accents and animation.  If you do, you’re sure to get lots of laughs.  Perfect for 2nd grade read alouds.
Synopsis: A cat named Jack loves eggs and omeletes.  So, he makes the perfect nest so that birds will come and lay their eggs.  When the birds find the nest, they love it.  In fact, Jack finds that the Spanish-speaking chicken, the French duck and Southern goose love it so much, they argue about who will get the nest.  Jack solves the problem by telling them about another “perfect” nest at the next farm.  The birds race to claim the next nest, leaving their eggs behind.  When the eggs hatch, Jack has a whole new problem to deal with.

Moon Over Manifest, by Clare Vanderpool

Published November 10, 2012 by Dagmar

moonovermanifestMoon Over Manifest won the Newbery Award in 2011.  This book combines a compelling mystery with wonderful characters. It is filled because with poignant stories of a small town of people pulling together in the face of hardship, friendship and a parent’s love for their child. Highly recommended for middle readers or as a read aloud for fourth or fifth grade.

Synopsis: Moon Over Manifest is the story about a 12 year old girl who lands in a small Kansas town called Manifest in 1936 after traveling as a drifter with her father for years. She wants to learn about her father’ time in Manifest, where he spent time as a boy. Her story in 1936 is cleverly woven together with the town’s history from 1918, which she hears through the stories of an old Hungarian woman, other towns’ people and newspaper articles.

Sing, Sophie, Sing! by Dayle Ann Dodds

Published November 10, 2012 by Dagmar

Sing, Sophie, Sing! by Dayle Ann Dodds never fails to get laughs when I read it aloud.  I think it works best with kindergarten and 1st graders.  There are lots of funny phrases.  If you can sing and pull off a southern accent, all the better.

Synopsis:  Sophie’s singing and guitar strumming bothers everyone in her family until a big thunderstorm scares her little brother.  When Sophie stops Baby Jacob’s tears, everyone finally appreciates her singing.