Top Ten Read Alouds – In Classrooms

Top 10 Read Alouds

Here are my favorite Read Aloud’s from this semester in Children’s Literature.  I can’t believe that we have all collectively as a class found, recommended and read so many incredible books.  I will miss this class and I will continue to read and think of the commitment this class required.  Here are the books that made my list (not in order). These are only a few I will thoroughly enjoy reading as a whole group one day in a classroom.

1. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

This is a fictional mystical novel based on the lives of two misfit children to whom, I am sure, many students will identify with.  In this story tragedy and imagination are interwoven.  The suspense of the story holds the attention of 5-8 grade students.

2. The Wish Giver: Three Tales of Coven Tree (Coven Tree) by Bill Brittain, Andrew Glass (Illustrator)

This is a fantasy book for children 4^th-6^th grade.  It invites children to become enchanted with the unrealistic events of the four people who purchase a ticket that grants them one wish that cannot be retracted.  You can see the wheels of a child’s imagination start turning when they try to predict the wishes written about in the story.

3. Do Princesses Really Kiss Frogs? (Princesses) by Carmela LaVigna Coyle (Goodreads Author), Mike Gordon (Illustrator), Carl Gordon (Illustrator)

I look forward to reading this out loud to girls who may be struggling with self-esteem in early elementary.  At the end of the book children can see reflection of themselves as beautiful acceptable princess.

4. Green Eggs and Ham (Beginner Books B-16) by Dr. Seuss

This classic book is a perfect Read Aloud because it is silly and imaginative and sounds so much like the endless questioning of young children.  This silly and fun book makes my list because ridiculous laughter is good for children in a busy school day.

5. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

This is a science fiction mystery book that is almost, real.  It is appropriate for 10-14 year-old students.  They will learn about trust, friendship and the pains of puberty while on an adventure of finding a person who has moved through time. Rebecca Stead really puts their imaginations to work here and ignites the minds of children for deep thinking.

6. Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, Lynd Ward (Illustrator)

This historical fiction targets grades 6-8^th.  It is hard to follow as a Read Aloud but with worksheets and frequent dialogue included it is touching.  All children learn about the revolutionary war however, in this story they can identify with characters their own age who were involved the battles.

7. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

In this story main character’s mother is plagued with depression and becomes estranged before her early death. The story is told in first person very slowly and effectively builds up tension in the book making it a good choice for a Read Aloud.  The moral to the story is to stop yourself from judging others without knowing the details of their personal story.

8. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Out of all the books that I read this semester this is the book that touched my soul.  The author touches on abuse, disability, poverty, war & the power of knowledge . Although the children in the book suffered they were blessed by a stranger who took them in during WWII.  I look forward to reading this to children so they can hear and imagine the examples given by the author of how survival and hope can lead to a better future.

9. Where Does Garbage Go? (Soar To Success) by Isaac Asimov

Personally, I feel that it is important for children to understand that just because they through away their trash that does not mean its vanished from the world.  Garbage is one of the larges wastes we have in our world today and read like this can open the door to discussions about recycling, so I look forward to the short read aloud.

10. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (Goodreads Author), Patricia Castelao (Illustrations)

After reading this book I found that I wanted to collect all the award-winning books that introduce children to social issues.  This nonfiction story touches on the right of citizens to speak out against animal cruelty.  A topic that is import around the world.