World Read-Aloud Day: Six Great Books to Read Aloud

When was the last time someone read aloud to you? Odds are you remember it. Reading together creates a shared experience with lasting impact – a warmer heart, a fuller mind, a better vocabulary. It offers benefits we never outgrow, so it’s a practice we should all continue, long into adulthood!

Today in celebration of World Read-Aloud Day I’ve handpicked several titles from the First Book Marketplace that I know from experience make great read-alouds.

For Babies

“More More More,” Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams

This multiethnic celebration of love and family is one of my favorite books to give new babies! As three babies cavort and play with a parent or grandparent, each one begs for the fun to continue, saying, “More More More!” Children listening to this book will quickly add its refrain to their repertoires and make this title a frequent request.

For Toddlers and Preschool

A House in the Woods by Inga Moore

This picture book gem is relatively new, but it looks and reads like a classic. When a moose, bear, and pig decide to move in together, they hire a team of talented beavers to design and build their house. Kids love following each step of its assembly, and readers of all ages love noting the intricate and funny details in the book’s illustrations. Heartwarming and utterly wonderful!

For Kindergarten – 1^st Grade

I Stink! By Kate and James McMullan

Rambunctious readers will find a kindred spirit in the lively trash truck that narrates this wry and clever book. With a voice that oozes personality he regales readers with accounts of all the items he eats as he makes his rounds. Kids delight in his gross list of consumables and love imitating the truck’s sound effects. The book also makes a great entry point to conversations about waste management, recycling, and composting.

2^nd Grade – 3^rd Grade

National Geographic Book of Animal Poetry: 200 Poems with Photographs That Squeak, Soar, and Roar! edited by J. Patrick Lewis

This hefty hardcover is truly a book for all ages, and a gift no reader will outgrow. A terrific collection of poems paired with stunning photographs, it’s a visual and auditory feast that’s perfect for any animal lover and the ultimate resource for teachers. This is a book you’ll reach for all year long!

For 4^th – 5^th Grade

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

Want to captivate and entertain a room full of kids? This Newbery Honor-winner will absolutely do the trick! A small-town Southern murder mystery, it’s both riotously funny and wonderfully suspenseful. Memorable characters, distinct voices, and rich metaphors make it an utter delight from start to finish.

For Middle School

Buried Alive! How 33 Miners Survived 69 Days Deep Under the Chilean Desert by Elaine Scott

Good nonfiction is both illuminating and captivating, and this book is both. A well-researched account of the collapse that almost buried 33 Chilean miners, it explains both the science that saved them and the psychology that kept them alive during a harrowing, lengthy ordeal. Moving and inspiring, it’s a must-read for middle schoolers and a great book for adults and kids to read together!

What books have you enjoyed reading aloud with your family or students? Please add a comment and share your favorites!