M E R I D I A N M A G A Z I N E
Books for
Kids to Read Aloud
By Holly E. Newton
I’m always on the lookout for books that kids will love to read aloud. These are special kinds of books that pull the reader, young or old, instantly into the realm and joy of the story.
The books I have listed below beg to be read aloud. There is either an element of unique fantasy, dialogue or storyline that is great fun to read out loud. The first four are fiction books that all ages will enjoy. The next six are picture books geared for younger children.
The first book is a wonderful fantasy about a subject kids know well — candy. The Candy Shop War, by Brandon Mull, immediately draws the listener into the story because of the well drawn characters and the plot of the story.
Nate is about to start fifth grade at a new school in a new town, and he’s nervous about making friends and beginning life in a different place. But everything is about to get very exciting in his life. He meets three great friends, and they begin a journey into magic when they walk into a candy store and meet Mrs. White, the proprietor. She gives them opportunities to work for her and in return gives them some enchanted candy that works magic when eaten.
For instance, she gives them some crystallized “moon rocks” after they collect special beetle eggs. She says that she needs them for a special project. After they complete their assignment, they try out the moon rocks and are completely amazed at what happens to their bodies after ingesting.
It doesn’t take long for the four friends to discover that there are other candy magicians in town, and they all seem to be in search of the same thing — an ancient talisman. You can almost taste and smell the author’s delicious descriptions of the candy throughout the exciting story, so you may just have to have a few sweet confections handy while reading this wonderful piece of fiction. There’s even a study guide located at the back of the book for parents and teachers.
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Jack
Plank Tells Tales, by Natalie Babbitt, is an enjoyable smallish book that tells about the
Pirate Jack Plank who has fallen on hard times. He’s been let go of his ship
of thieves and has ended up in a boarding house with the owner and guests listening
to his stories with great intensity.
Of course, Jack can tell a story unlike anyone, and the stories are so entertaining that all await the next night’s tale to be told. You may just guess what Jack is really so good at doing, and it’s not pirating! The pictures, sprinkled throughout, help capture Jack’s imagination!
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Maude
March on the Run!, by Audrey Couloumbis, is great fun to read. Here is a story about a heroine
told through the eyes of the younger sister, Sallie, who knows that her sister
didn’t mean to do the things the newspapers say she did. But in the meantime,
both orphan sisters are on the run. This book reads like an old fashioned Western
as the girls ride away on horseback away from their jailbreak. It’s so nice
to have two strong female characters in this adventurous read!
Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon, by Sally M. Keehn, is a most unusual story about 13-year-old Magpie attempting to track down her older brother and bring him home. Even though this is never accomplished, the incredible adventures she experiences and being able to overcome all kinds of obstacles is what makes this a great read-aloud. She encounters goblins, magic water and locates and saves the moon. A delightful and creative story!
Knuffle Bunny Too, by Mo Willems, carries on the same picture format as Willems’ other picture books. This fun and humorous story exhibits the excitement a child feels as preschooler Trixie takes her precious one-of-a-kind bunny to show at school. Problems ensue when another girl brings a very similar bunny to also show at school. It’s a great story that is solved when the parents of both girls display the lack of sleep in order to help their daughters when a crisis arises! Willems is a genius!
Don’t Touch My Hat!, by James Rumford, has the text of the western twang about Sheriff John and his “ten gallon hat.” He’s proud to protect this Wild West town with the help of his very tall hat. But, he’s soon to find out that it’s not the hat that helps the law in this town. Unbeknownst to John, he grabs his wife’s feathery hat and sets out to grab some robbers. The story reads with a melodramatic flair.
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Phooey!, by
Marc Rosenthal, is perfect for a smaller setting because it’s the pictures that
tell the tale. A boy kicks a can as he proclaims “Nothing … ever … happens
… around here!” But the action of the can sets in motion an entire book
full of events that are pretty amazing. But probably more amazing is the child
is completely unaware of all that’s going on around him!
City Hawk: The Story
of Pale Male, by Meghan McCarthy, is a great story
about a real life hawk living on the ledge of a high-rise apartment building.
The way the city and citizens of
And now let’s end with humor. Knock, Knock!, compiled by Saxton Freymann, and illustrated by Judith Byron Schachner, is a must for all kids who love a good joke! Fourteen of the best children’s authors have contributed some of the classics as well as some less known “knock, knock” jokes! This book is a must for laughs galore!
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