Read Aloud Recommendations

This charming story in rhyme follows six siblings, from ages 4 to 11, on their journey to Gram’s house for her birthday celebration. But, wait! What can they bring Gram as a gift? On their way, the children navigate through town, ride a bus, see a marching band, cross a stream, and rest on a grassy hill. At each point, someone comes across something special – a pinecone, a swishy branch, some rolling quarters – but nothing seems quite right for Gram’s gift. As they reach her home, the siblings realize that while they don’t have a gift in the traditional sense, they’ve brought the perfect assortment of items for a spontaneous jam session with Gram, who is a musician herself. The siblings are depicted as Black, with varying skin tones, and characters around town are racially diverse. Throughout the book, illustrations include background details for eagle-eyed readers to spot, including a subway map, a busker with a banjo, and a familiar face on a jazz festival poster. The rhyming and rhythmic text will help to keep the attention of our youngest K1 and K2 readers, and the I-Spy activities and strong narrative arc to the story offer some extra fun for students in Grades 1 and 2.

For fans of books like Same Love, Different Hug, this colorful and approachable take on different ways to express friendship is a great option for opening up discussions about body safety, personal preferences, and really awesome high fives. The story opens up at a birthday party, where an array of racially and ability-diverse children in colorful costumes engage in typical party activities: smashing a pinata, pinning the tail on the donkey, and eating birthday cake. Throughout the party, friends are reminded that not everyone likes to celebrate with a hug – some friends prefer to give a wave or do a secret handshake, and that’s okay! This is a short and sweet read, focused primarily on the message over an overarching narrative. A great conversation starter and intro to important social-emotional topics for preschool (K1) through first grade.

What would you do if you received an invitation to a party in Pig Town? When a young girl receives an invitation addressed to “Cutie,” she knows it must be for her – after all, she is very cute! Initially unsure of how to even get to Pig Town, she makes her way through the busy streets full of pigs engaged in all sorts of activities: riding scooters, sunbathing, grocery shopping, and delivering the mail. When she finally arrives at the party, a swanky affair at Pig Town’s stateliest mansion, things start to go awry… Why is everyone else wearing a costume? And why are they so excited to see her? Utter chaos erupts when a mix-up is revealed! This hilarious and colorful tale is sure to have everyone giggling, and the big reveal is quite astounding. Filled with detailed illustrations, readers and listeners alike can spot pigs engaged in silly activities and dressed up in the wildest costumes imaginable. Perfect for a lighthearted but engaging read-aloud for kindergarten through grade three.

If you’ve been looking for a chance to do a really dramatic reading, or you’ve always had an inkling you’d be a fantastic sports announcer, this is the book for you. This delightfully silly book follows the absolutely thrilling, edge-of-your-seat tale of a race between, you guessed it, a dog and a strawberry. Dog is a very good girl (though we never learn her name), and through a series of daring acrobatics, manages to race strawberry to the finish line, even finding time for a mid-race nap. Things get especially tense in what appears to be a final twist, but we all know who will come out on top, don’t we? Dog lovers everywhere will appreciate this one, especially if they have an especially silly canine companion who gets up to similar antics, but the story is funny enough that even staunch members of Team Cat won’t be able to resist a laugh, especially if you commit to the bit! Try this one out with Kindergarten (K1) through Grade 3, but be prepared for cheers, oohs, and ahhs from the crowd!

A perfect read for the rainy weather we’ve been having in Boston lately! Grab your headlamp, don your raincoat, and join the Amphibian Migration Team on their journey to assist local wildlife in crossing the road after a big rainstorm. Frogs, salamanders, and peepers must all navigate the treacherous roadway between the upload woods and the vernal pools, where they will lay their eggs. With gentle hands and the occasional wet leaf, the Team helps the tiny creatures make the way to their destination, and we learn about the impact of human-made infrastructure on wildlife. With some innovative thinking and a whole lot of creativity, our young protagonist works with her parents, government departments, scientists, and reporters to help solve the problem. This picture book is full of facts alongside a captivating storyline that is as inspiring as it is informational. The main characters are an interracial family with a white-presenting father, a Black-presenting mother, and a biracial daughter; community members are depicted as racially diverse. With spring finally settling in and more wet weather on the horizon, this is an excellent longer picture book option for an April read aloud with second through fifth graders. Additional information, including fun facts and tips for supporting your own local wildlife are available in the back of the book.

From native author Nicholas Hummingbird and illustrator Madelyn Goodnight, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, comes a thoughtful meditation on connecting deeply with nature. Hummingbird recalls childhood summers spent outdoors with his Cahuilla and Apache great-grandparents, who taught him to regard the earth and trees as essential and revered members of their family and community. But not everyone appreciates nature in such a way, and as the author grows up, deforestation and urbanization collide with the loss of his great-grandparents and leave him feeling disconnected from the earth. Through his work to bring green spaces and nature back to the environment, and through the process of raising his son to show gratitude for nature, the author reconnects with both the earth and his family’s legacy. This intergenerational tale of nature and connection is a perfect pick for spring days when classrooms may be sprouting their own seedlings, raising caterpillars, or simply noticing the changes in the nature within their neighborhoods. Though the text isn’t especially dense, the messages in this picture book carry enough weight to make this a great option for students in first through fourth grade. Tips for noticing nature, taking action, and cultivating the natural world in small spaces are included in the back of the book.

A short and sweet book in rhyme that takes readers through the ups and downs of gardening in record time! Two children, both depicted as Black with short curly hair, set out to grow a garden, first selecting seeds from a variety of colorful packets, and then selecting where to plant them in a rich plot of soil. Soon, seedlings begin to sprout, but - OH NO! Cloudy days, then scorching temps, and even drenching rains all threaten to keep their garden from flourishing. But at every turn, the interdependent creatures in the garden do their work: mushrooms soak up puddles, worms snack their way through the overgrown mushrooms, and flowers bloom as local wildlife begins to visit the garden. With charming, colorful illustrations (even the worms are cute!), this short read is a great option for younger readers in K0 through first grade. Younger listeners may have a fun time pointing out all of the elements of nature they can spot on each page (A ladybug! A butterfly! Ducks!), and older students may be ready to talk about their own experiences sprouting seeds, or what plants need to thrive.