Read alouds for older students

All posts in the Read alouds for older students category

Pete & Pickles, by Berkeley Breathed

Published January 2, 2013 by Dagmar

petandpicklesWow.  What an incredible book.  I don’t know if it’s the amazing illustrations or how much I love both Pete and Pickles that makes me love this book so much.  It’s a story about new friends and the strength of friendship. My fourth,  fifth and sixth graders absolutely loved it.  The illustrations are beautiful and are drawn with humor.  Highly recommended.

Synopsis: Pete is a perfectly practical and uncomplicated pig until he meets Pickles, an elephant who is trying to escape his miserable life at the circus.  When Pete rescues Pickles, Pickles opens up a new life for Pete, filled with adventure …and complication.  Pete has just about had it with Pickles when a pipe bursts in the house and begins to flood the house.  The water is rising and threatens to drown the friends.  Pete sits at the top of Pickles’ trunk reaching the last air at the top of the house.  Pickles, underneath Pete, can’t breathe at all…unless Pete helps him.  Students wait with baited breath to see if the two friends make it through the night.  Read and find out.  You won’t regret it.

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, by Mo Willems

Published January 2, 2013 by Dagmar

goldilocksFrom the author of the easy reader Elephant and Piggie series, and books about that naughty pigeon who wants to drive a bus, here is a great picture book for older readers.  It’s the Goldilocks story, re-told with dinosaurs and chocolate pudding.  Snarky humor abounds as the dinosaurs leave everything in their house, “just so” in order to facilitate the arrival of “a little succulent child” who might “happen by our unlocked home”.  Of course, soon enough, “a poorly supervised little girl named Goldilocks” happens along.  A must read for older readers who want a laugh.

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!

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.

A Bad Case of Stripes, by David Shannon

Published November 28, 2012 by Dagmar

A bad case of stripesMy third graders were so happy when I read this funny book today.  It delivers a great message about staying true to yourself.  Written by a student favorite author, David Shannon, this book is full of great, full colorful illustrations that really capture my listeners’ attention.

Synopsis: Camilla loves lima beans.  But, admitting that she likes lima beans will make her unpopular at school.  So, Camilla doesn’t eat lima beans.  Unfortunately, one day, Camilla wakes up with her body covered with stripes.  Her doctor declares her fine to go to school; but, when she goes to school, Camilla’s classmates quickly realize that they can change her colors by talking about different things.  Her parents call in specialists and then experts.  All their prescriptions end in disaster until an old lady comes to the door with…you guessed it…lima beans.  Camilla decides that being unpopular because she likes lima beans is much better than the alternative.

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.

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.