Before you browse this list... Did you know?
- Children who read often get better at reading
- Picture books inspire inquisitive minds to think about characters, their problems, their solutions, and the many plots they find themselves in
- Children who are read to often develop a keen skill of listening and concentration
- Children learn about the world around them through illustrations and stories written by talented and knowledgeable authors
- As the many words wash over them during a read aloud, children learn new words and expand their vocabulary
- Children develop imagination and become creative
- Children develop empathy for characters and people
- Children learn life lessons from book characters
- Children enjoy literature and talk about books and characters
- Children seek out reading on their own
- Readers do better in school and life
Her3. Reading improves concentration.
1.
Jan knows that her drawings help tell the story. She is famous for intricate, beautiful borders around her pages.
Clues are hidden in the borders which add to the story. Brett calls these borders her "overflow of thoughts". These borders captivate the reader and invite the reader to read her books many more times than just one, as each time you see something new!
2.
Soon, the winter woodland animals find the mitten and one by one take shelter from the cold inside the mitten. First, mole, then rabbit. Next comes hedgehog and owl. They push over and in to make room for more... badger, fox and bear. Alas little meadow mouse who makes herself comfortable on bear's nose! which makes bear sneeze!
Aaaaaaa-aaaa-aaaa-chew!
The mitten flies up to the sky and all the animals scatter. Nicki spies his mitten tumbling from the sky... a bit stretched but still like new. His grandmother catches sight of Nicki returning home safe and still with his new white mittens! Primary age children love Jan Brett and know all about mittens in winter weather. After reading The Mitten, by Jan Brett, have the children make a pair of their own mittens and decorate them.
- Download the mitten shape here. Trace several templates on card stock. Children trace around the templates to make a pair of mittens. Use construction paper to trace the mittens [white or colored] Cut large mitten shapes from construction paper.
- Since mittens come in pairs, have each child cut out two. Arrange the mittens side by side showing thumbs toward the center. [left and right mitten].
- Invite the children to decorate their mittens by tearing pieces of colorful tissue paper and gluing these onto the paper mittens. Another idea is using crayons and watercolors. Make stripes with crayons, then watercolor the mitten. Watercolors will not cover the crayon stripes.
- As the children admire the mittens they have created, recite this verse together:
Thumbs in the thumb place,
Fingers all together.
This is what we say,
In cold mitten weather.
author unknown
Did you know? Jan Brett has a real hedgehog named, Buffy. Buffy became the inspiration for The Hat when she found her caught in a slipper sock. She couldn't get out because of her prickles.
Winter theme and fun pages to go with both
The Hat and The Mitten by Jan Brett.
Read. Think. Write. Draw. Tell.
about the story using these reader response pages.
3.
James and the Giant Peach is a very entertaining book that has delighted children since 1961. Roald Dahl shows writing at its best! He entertains and engages readers in this fantastic tale starting on page one. This book may even lead to a study of anthropoids.
4. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Everyone loves Charlotte's Web. The most favorite book in elementary schools and homes with small children alike. Learn about friendship, caring and love... and a bit of farm life, too.
... a Newbery Honor Book
5. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Wilson Bentley was a small boy who lived in Vermont and saw small miracles called snowflakes. He so desperately wanted to capture the wonder of snowflakes for others to see. He was determined that one day his camera would be able to catch the beautiful snowflakes. This is a story of patience and determination and gives the reader insight into a scientist's vision and perseverance. If you are passionate about nature, add this to your list. Snowflake Bentley won the 1999 Caldecott Medal with its lovely woodcut illustrations by Mary Azarian.
6. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
A small boy named Peter experiences the joy of a snowy day. Everyone can relate to Peter and his wonderful snow adventures. This is another Caldecott Award-winning book and children listen intently and watch Peter put a snowball in his pocket! Oh! no! what lesson will be learned? This book captures the magic of that first snowfall and the hope to keep it forever. 
Everyone needs to know this story! This heart-warming story of few words and simple line drawings will touch your students' hearts. Share in the journey between the boy and the tree. Sequence the events, talk about the book, and think about the author's message.
Write About The Giving Tree PDF
8. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the neighborhood. Enemy number one! Luckily Dad knew what to do and set out to make Enemy Pie! Read this book to learn about Dad's secret recipe for enemy pie and learn a sweet lesson about turning an enemy into your best friend. The charming illustrations capture the reader right from the start ... the cover!
Write About Enemy Pie PDF
9. After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again
by Dan Santat
This book naturally invites class discussion about Humpty Dumpty and how he overcomes a real-life problem. Your students will show high interest in the plot and will be delighted with the ending! Read this book! and see.
10. Big Al by Andrew Clements
Big Al is a large, scary and quite an ugly fish. None of the other fish want to be near him and they don't know that Big Al is one of the nicest fish in the sea. Big Al wants to make friends and tries many different tactics to do so. He tries a disguise. He tries to be silly. He tries to blend in but nothing seems to work. Until, one day Big Al saves all the other fish and they finally see Big Al for who he truly is. A great book to read aloud to talk about friends, getting along and differences.
11. Tops & Bottoms
Life lesson: using one's wits to overcome hardship. This Caldecott Honor book by Janet Stevens is quite entertaining and the illustrations are big, bold and beautiful! Hare solves his family's problems by tricking rich and lazy Bear in this funny story about working hard and rewards for doing so. It's wonderful and fun and the book opens from top to bottom instead of from side to side...perfect for read aloud!
Reader Response Pages for Tops & Bottoms PDF
12. Aesop's Fables
Aesop's Fables is a collection of tales by a Greek storyteller, Aesop. Fables are a favorite as the morals taught in each one is a definite take-away for real-life learning. Children naturally love to listen to all the animal antics and the lessons they learn. Read some fables and include telling the moral... later read some more fables and use the fable as a springboard for a class discussion on the moral or lesson. What do you think the moral is? What evidence shows you are right?
12. Aesop's Fables
Aesop's Fables is a collection of tales by a Greek storyteller, Aesop. Fables are a favorite as the morals taught in each one is a definite take-away for real-life learning. Children naturally love to listen to all the animal antics and the lessons they learn. Read some fables and include telling the moral... later read some more fables and use the fable as a springboard for a class discussion on the moral or lesson. What do you think the moral is? What evidence shows you are right?
13. The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown
The important thing about
The Important Book -- is that you think about for yourself what is important about the sun, the moon, the wind, the rain, a bug, a bee, a chair, a table, a pencil, a bear, a rainbow, a cat. Enjoy the rhyming words and vivid pictures and write some of your own objects that are important to you.
Write about the Importance of Things PDF
14. Only One You by Linda Kranz
Reader Response Pages and Activities for Only One You PDF
15. Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien
The story follows Mrs. Frisby, a widowed field mouse with four children. The family must move out of their winter home in the garden before farmer Fitzgibbon comes with his plow, but the youngest son Timothy is gravely ill and cannot survive the trek to the meadow. In desperation, the mother mouse seeks help, first from a wise old owl, and then from the mysterious Rats of NIMH, a community of super intelligent rodents that live under the rosebush on the farm. Entertaining!
Reader Response Pages for Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH PDF
16. Ramona Quimby, Age 8
Ramona Quimby, Age 8, is a story of a young third-grader's experiences as she starts a new school year at a new school and deals with family stresses. Ramona endures some embarrassing episodes at school and learns to address a misunderstanding she has with her teacher. At home, Ramona observes the strain that financial concerns are placing on her family but affirms that they are still a happy family.
The story is told from Ramona's point of view, with sympathy for the confusion she sometimes experiences when she does not fully understand what she sees and hears. Great read aloud! Everyone listens! Beverly Cleary is a master at capturing children's attention and hearts with her talent for writing good books!
17. The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
This book is funny! It is fun to read! The children LOVE it! Get a copy and read it aloud to your class! Time well spent.
18. Frances Books by Russell Hoban
Frances is my favorite book character in the whole wide world. She always is learning something and teaches us through her life experiences. Tender heart! Perfect read aloud for beginning readers. And be sure to sing-read her songs!
- A Bargain for Frances
- A Baby Sister for Frances
- A Birthday for Frances
- Bread and Jam for Frances
- Bedtime for Frances
19. Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Another book that children love because Henry is a real boy with real boy everyday problems. They will ask you "when can we read Henry Huggins?" Even young children will love to follow Henry's adventures with Ribsy; and it reads well which makes this a perfect read aloud.
And there are the 19 must reads for 2019! Enjoy reading aloud to children!
