Five Favorite Read Alouds

When I taught 5th grade, on the first day of school I introduced what I called “Kindergarten Moments.” This involved getting all the kids sitting together on the floor while I read to them from my favorite picture books. I expected them to think it was silly – which they did – but they enjoyed it too, so it became a fairly regularly occurrence in my room each year, and it continued even when I moved up to the middle school (though those kids weren’t quite as excited about sitting on the floor).

I had several favorite books, and I LOVED when I had students for whom these stories were new, who were hearing them for the first time.

So I never shared my favorite titles with the other teachers in my building, to lessen the chance that students would say, “We heard this last year!” Selfish? Maybe.

But they are fantastic books, and well worth sharing. And absolutely worth reading out loud.

1. “Math Curse” by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

I love, love reading this out loud. The story builds, and I have a tendency to talk very quickly when I’m excited (my college speech professor once said that I speak “rapidly, but with good clarity.”) So as the story goes I get faster and faster until the craziness comes to a conclusion at a whole/hole. So much fun. Love.

2. “Stephanie’s Ponytail” by Robert Munsch

This story works really well when talking with kids about peer pressure. It’s a funny, light-hearted take on the “if everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you too?” idea.

3. “My Little Sister Ate One Hare” by Bill Grossman

This has all the hallmarks of a great read aloud: repetition, great pictures and a surprise ending that will have kids laughing and saying “Gross!” at the same time. Perfect.

4. “Cindy Ellen: A Wild Western Cinderella” by Susan Lowell

I have a collection of Cinderella stories, and this is my favorite to read out loud. I get to read quickly and try out my best Texas drawl. Cleverly written take on a familiar story.

5. “Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs” by Alan Katz

Does it count as a read-aloud if you actually sing the words? These are familiar tunes, like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” with new lyrics, like “Stinky, Stinky Diaper.” So funny and clever.

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Five Favorite Read Alouds