Northland Public Library | Kids | Parent/Teacher Info

30 Great Books to Read Aloud

Apple Pie 4th of July
Janet S. Wong
Great paper cut illustrations highlight a good story. A Chinese American child fears that the food her parents are preparing to sell on the Fourth of July will not be eaten. Good for the end of the school year (or to dream of summer in February). J PIC WON
Bad Boys
Margie Palatini
Two hungry wolves in disguise attempt to raid a sheep farm. J PIC PAL
Clarence the Copy Cat
Pat Lakin
Clarence, a cat who does not want to hurt mice or any other creatures, does not feel welcome anywhere until he discovers the Barnstable Library. J PIC LAK
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Doreen Cronin
When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn, they begin making demands and go on strike when Farmer Brown refuses to give them what they want. J PIC CRO
Earthquack
Margie Palatini
When Chucky Ducky feels the earth beneath him grumble and rumble, he runs to alert the other barnyard animals to the coming earthquake. J PIC PAL
A Fine, Fine School
Creech, Sharon
When a principal loves school so much that he wants children to attend 365 days a year, his students must show him that free time is good, too. J PIC CRE
A Flea In The Ear
Stephen Wyllie
When a fox tricks a dog into abandoning his post at the chicken house in order to get rid of his fleas, the dog discovers his error and returns the favor. J PIC WYL
The Great Turtle Drive
Steve Sanfield
When he sees how much a bowl of turtle soup costs, a cowboy comes up with an unusual plan to earn a fortune. J FIC SAN
John Philip Duck
Patricia Polacco
During the Depression, a young Memphis boy trains his pet duck to do tricks in the fountain of a grand hotel and ends up becoming the Duck Master of the Peabody Hotel. J PIC POL
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
Kevin Henkes
Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, but when he asks her to wait a while before showing her new purse, she does something for which she is very sorry later.
Liza Lou and the Yeller Belly Swamp
Mercer Mayer
With her quick thinking, Liza Lou manages to outwit all the haunts, gobblygooks, witches and devils in the Yeller Belly Swamp. J PIC MAY
Martha Speaks
Susan Meddaugh
Problems arise when Martha, the family dog, learns to speak after eating alphabet soup. J PIC MED
Miss Nelson is Missing!
Harry Allard
Kids love vile substitute teacher Viola Swamp. (This is a great chance for those who like to use "voices" when they read aloud.) J PIC ALL
Monster Mama
Liz Rosenberg
Patrick Edward's fierce monster mother helps him deal with some obnoxious bullies. J PIC ROS
My Great Aunt Arizona
Gloria Houston
The story of an Appalachian girl who becomes a teacher and "travels" vicariously through her students. J PIC HOU
Officer Buckle and Gloria
Peggy Rathmann
The children at Napville Elementary School ignore Officer Buckle's safety tips until police dog Gloria takes a paw in the program. J PIC RAT
Olivia Saves the Circus
Ian Falconer
At school, Olivia tells about her summer vacation and how, when she went to the circus and all the performers were out sick, she saved the day. J PIC FAL
Pecos Bill
Steven Kellogg
Incidents from the life of tall tale hero Pecos Bill. J398.2 K PIC
Piggie Pie
Margie Palatini
When a fox tricks a dog into abandoning his post at the chicken house in order to get rid of his fleas, the dog discovers his error and returns the favor. J PIC PAL
The President and Mom's Apple Pie
Michael Garland
It's 1909, and the streets of town are packed with people waiting for a glimpse of President William Howard Taft. But when Taft's train finally pulls into the station, he finds the cheering crowd pales in comparison to a delicious smell wafting on the summer breeze. J PIC GAR
Pumpkin Soup
Helen Cooper
Preparing pumpkin soups becomes more complicated than expected when Cat, Squirrel, and Duck argue about who is doing what. J PIC COO
Rap-A-Tap-Tap
Leo Dillon
Wonderful illustrations reinforce the rhymes that tell the story of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. J PIC DIL
Snow
Uri Shulevitz
This playful depiction of a snowy day and the transformation of a city is perfectly captured in simple, poetic text and lively watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations.
Song and Dance Man
Karen Ackerman
A fun look at the life of a former vaudeville player. J PIC ACK
Stella Louella's Runaway Book
Lisa Campbell Ernst
As she tries to find a book that she must return to the library, Stella encounters many people who have all enjoyed reading the book. J PIC ERN
Stinky Cheese Man
Jon Scieszka
Traditional folk tales are turned on end when Jon Scieszka writes his version of the stories. J PIC SCZ
Talking Eggs
Robert San Souci
An Appalachian folk tale of virtue rewarded and selfishness punished. J398.2 S PIC
Tikki Tikki Tembo
Arlene Mosel
Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo is a favorite with kids and parents alike. J 398.3 M85 PIC
Wild About Books
Judy Sierra
When librarian Mavis McGrew drives the bookmobile to the zoo by mistake, she proves that librarians can match anyone up with the right book. The rollicking rhymes are great fun to read. J PIC SIE
Wolf!
Bloom, Becky
A wolf learns to read in order to impress a group of farmyard animals. J PIC BLO