My Favorite Read Aloud Books

The best books to read aloud are the ones that keep students actively engaged. Here is a list of my all-time favorites for read-aloud books to make story time fun! As an added bonus, these titles lend themselves well to sound effects! For more info, you can see my other post on where to find sound effects for stories here.

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade

• Duck and Goose by Tad Hills - The twist at the end of this book is super charming and cute! This is a favorite to read aloud during the spring months too.
• The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak - The students all seem to really enjoy this one! It's simple, but funny, and is perfect for reading aloud to a large class.
• Snappsy the Alligator by Jullie Falatko - Be sure to explain to the class what a narrator is before reading this story, and the students will get so much more out of reading this book. So many opportunities for sound effects too! Door slamming, knocking, grocery store background music, and the party scene all lend well to added effects.
• A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals by Lucy Ruth Cummins - I love the slightly dark humor and twists in this story. Very witty with some cute illustrations!

3rd Grade - 4th Grade

• Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin - Funny and whimsical! When those dragons get into some spicy salsa, watch out.
• Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Melanie Watt - This book and the illustrations are simply adorable. I especially love the message of friendship and kindness too.

5th Grade and Up

For this age group, I usually read the first chapter of a "must read" book. This way students get a "taste" of what the book is about and it encourages them to explore the rest of the book on their own.

• Roller Girl by Victoria Jamison -- This is my top pick: it introduces a lot of the action in the first chapter, plus Chapter One is about perfect in terms of length. This graphic novel is an engaging format. Added bonus: I have met Victoria Jamison in person, and she is fabulous. She even signed my roller skates and gave me a few tips on creating a graphic novel of my own. Just thought I would add that.
• El Deafo by Cece Bell -- Another favorite, however Chapter One is a little short. Perhaps include Chapter Two as well?
• The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate -- This book doesn't really have 'chapters', per se; It has sections, but could maybe read the first 20 pages or so. This book overlaps nicely with The One and Only Ivan, also by Katherine Applegate, which most students may already know.

Is there a favorite read-aloud book you love that is not listed here? If so, I would love to hear about it! Shoot me an email and share your ideas!