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Monday, March 09, 2009

Choosing Read Alouds


I am trying to make a list of great chapter book read alouds I don't want my younger three to miss. And I need your advice! What would you say we have to experience? Keep in mind that these three will be 9, 7, and 4 when we are reading them. I am aiming the reading level at the older two, and counting on the littlest to glean what she can along the way.

So far, here's my list:

(All based on my own personal childhood favorites)

Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing (and the other Fudge books by Judy Blume)

Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards

Danny, The Champion Of The World

Harriet The Spy

From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler

Understood Betsy

We've already done the Little House books and the Narnia books, so what else am I missing? What have your kids loved? Your input is appreciated!
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30 comments:

Tristan said...

The WInd in the Willows
Charlotte's Web
Little House on the Prairie books

Sandra in Phx said...

All the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary

**OK, I need more coffee because my brain isn't thinking of any others...yikes, it must be Monday.

Kelly said...

Do they still put out the Bobbsey Twin series? I read those outloud to my step kids when they were 7 & 8 years old, and they loved them...I read them too as a kid...and Nancy Drew too (I still have some of my aunt's old Nancy Drews from the 40's, where cars were "sedans", etc.!
Also, "Heidi" was a book I remember reading when I was about 9 that I loved!

Ginger said...

I have two children ages 10(a boy) and 7(a girl) and they both loved THE PENDERWICKS A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall. We found it in paperback at Target last summer and we read it all together but they loved it so much that they would sneak it and read ahead to see what happened and then still sit and read it again with me.

Anonymous said...

I was an elementary school teacher ( and read aloud to my class every day) before staying home with my 3 kids, now 4, 7, and 9. Some of my favorites (I can't conjure up all of the author's names, but) are Mr. Poppers Penguins, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit, The Cricket in Times Square, The Enormous Egg, any Beverly Cleary book, Rabbit Hill...I'm sure there are more that will come to me as the day goes on. I hope you enjoy some of these too!

Pam said...

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is always a fun read aloud.

Sitesx6 said...

Home Yet Not Alone (outstanding)

The House of 60 Fathers

Indian in the Cupboard series

Anonymous said...

Henry Huggins
Ramona Quimby, Age 8
The Boxcar Children

Anonymous said...

'The Spiderwick Chronicles' are great - there are 5 books. The authors also have a series after those.

Anything by Beverly Cleary...

You can hop on CMS's website and go to the area for the schools. Some of the schools have their summer reading lists (by grade) on their sites. Great book selections.

sweettea said...

I would look at Sonlight's book lists, Honey For a Child's Heart and Lamplighter Books. At Lamplighter, they have brought back OLD books and reprinted them - ones like Teddy's Buttons, The Hedge of Thorns, The Beggar's Blessing. THey have some they are making more "childlike", but I've read to them straight from the others.

JD

Kris Nading said...

We read The Mouse and the Motorcycle - 3 of them (Beverly Cleary) and also "Ribsy". My 9 & 7 year olds (boy and girl) LOVED them and are now reading them for their daily required reading.

We did go through the Fudge books as well :)

Deb said...

How about James and the Giant Peach or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Those are fun.

Carol said...

When I taught second grade, I always read Mrs. Piggle Wiggle aloud. They loved them. As a child my parents read my brother and I Corrie Tin Boon's Hiding Place. I don't remember how old we were, but I remember loving it.

Anonymous said...

My boys loved the Boxcar Children books, especially the original ones written by Gertrude Chandler Warner. There are probably over 100 others written based on her characters.
Blessings to you and your family.

Unknown said...

Mr Poppers Penguins, Wheel on the School, Kildee House, and will let you know if I think of anything else.

Valerie said...

Beezus and Ramona (Kathryn appreciated the sibling relationship)

All of a Kind Family (loved learning about the Jewish celebrations)

And the ones you've already mentioned.

Cayce's crazy life said...

I've read Treasure Island to my 4th/5th grade class. As well as Sign of the Beaver, Cricket in Times Square, and Island of the Blue Dolphin. If you google lesson plans and the book title, you'll get some great ideas for extension activities.

Anonymous said...

Any books by Carolyn Haywood...especially the Eddie series (or the Betsy series)!

Anonymous said...

This year, we have enjoyed, "Because of Winn Dixie", "Indian in the Cupboard" "All of a Kind of Family" "Pippi Longstocking"

DOakley said...

Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events

Stuart Little

Wind in the Willows

Anne of Green Gables

Spiderwick Chronicles

The Magic School Bus

The Magic Tree House (my 12-year-old loves these two)

Our family really enjoyed Harry Potter, but I know that's a contentious issue with some. The first two books aren't great, but the rest I found gripping.

20,000 Leagues

City of Ember! (My 12-year-old read the first book in school and is begging me to get the series. Based on the 2008 movie good for all ages.)

Eragon (A good dragon story--good for kids over 10)

K said...

I really enjoy The Saturdays, The Four Story Mistake, etc. By Elizabeth Enright. They are set in the1940s, I think.

Julie Zine Coleman said...

Number the Stars, Lois Lowry

James and the Giant Peach
The BFG (my kids' all-time favorite) both by Roald Dahl

The Shining Sword, Charles Coleman (this is lesser known, but is an allegory of a soldier fighting in the Kingdom-- against the enemy-- has the pieces of armor of Eph 6. Kids love this one.)

The Trendy Family said...

A Wrinkle in Time- Madline L'Engle
A Cricket in Times Square
Where the Red Ferm Grows

These are all great read alouds!

Anonymous said...

We just read a great one this morning: A Castle of Books by Bernard Clavel. I have a ton more titles, perhaps I'll chime in later!

Irina in MD

awcamp said...

All of Marguarite Henry's horse books, Little House in the Big Woods series, The 100 Dresses and on and on and on... Happy Reading!

Anonymous said...

Hi Marybeth,
I would also add to the list "Nate the Great" and "Jigsaw Jones" series. Both are fun mystery chapter books that encourage interaction and participation along the way as you gather clues and try to solve the mystery before the end of the book. My seven-year-old son really enjoys them!

Sandy M. said...

James and the Giant Peach
Charlotte's Web
Pippi Longstocking
Where the Red Fern Grows
Ralph Moody series - Little Britches is the first
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
American Girls books - boys can enjoy these too
Ramona the Pest
Boxcar Children (a great place to start-begin with the first book and then continue. About the first 8 or so are the original author)

Anonymous said...

The Series of Unfortunate events is fun [although I was quite disappointed in the last book].

My kids and I read the Harry Potter series aloud. I confess that I did end up getting the audio books, which are amazing. Jim Dale, the reader, is quite a performer. We listened to them in the car.

Anonymous said...

I loved reading as a child. I was and still am a natural speedreader.
Thank the Lord I loved books , as I became a diabetic at age 7, in my Easter basket I would get 3 Nancy Drew books each year.
Though a big favorite of mine was "how to eat fried worms" and Pilgram's progress. FUnny, but just about 3 yrs ago (when I was 43, did I read the Narnia Series , before I saw the movie.

Anonymous said...

You've already got my favorite down....Mandy, I picked in out from the library when I was 10 because my name was the title! ;) Also, there's an out of print series by Clare Bell, Ratha's Creature is one of the titles...if you can find it, it's great!