Top Ten Read-Alouds for Kindergartners

Saturday, September 15, 2012

according to Jim Trelease, THE authority on reading aloud:


Jim's Favorite Kindergarten Novels
(in order of difficulty)
  • Two Times the Fun by Beverly Cleary
  • Chibi: A True Story from Japan by Barbara Brenner & J. Takaya
  • Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus by Barbara Park
  • The Chalk Box Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla
  • My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
  • Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith
  • Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne
  • The Reluctant Dragon adapted by Inga Moore
  • The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron
  • The Water Horse by Dick King-Smith
  • Wolf Story by William McCleery
  • James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
The Read Aloud Handbook is probably my favorite book I've read so far this year.   It confirmed the value we've always held and encouraged me to squeeze more and more time in for reading aloud.


Since my two boys are around Kindergarten age (5 and 7) we are working through this list together.  A few weeks ago we read a Junie B. Jones book and, I loved it.  I found myself cry-laughing at an unexpected funny part.  I will grant you that I might have been overly tired but it was a good read.  

We started school two weeks ago and I'm feeling pretty good.  Hope your school year is off to a great start too.  Any books you're reading to your kiddos this year?   Any perennial family favorites?

2 Creative People Had This To Say:

Rachel said...

Thanks for this, Kristen! I do love the picture of big sis reading to little sis, too. As far as family reads, I picked up this beautiful old "Richard Scarry's Best Story Book Ever" at a library sale last year. The illustrations are beautiful and the pages are very busy. Just as fun for mom to read as kid.

Amanda said...

I loved Richard Scarry! I think my mom picked up that book (or one like it) for Hannah at a yard sale or something. She has yet to read it. She's a book snob. Just kidding!
Thanks for the list Kristen, I put that book by Jim Trelease on hold @ the library.