Read Aloud Recommendations

In this bouncy, playful picture book for very young listeners, follow two baby friends who live in facing buildings through their day--playing, singing, and napping--till they meet in the park! Somewhere in the big, big city two happy babies look out their morning windows at the very same time. Just what will these two babies do today? Well, this baby meows like his cat, and that baby barks like her dog. This mellow baby listens to a story, and that rambunctious baby sings a song. Soon enough, both babies get hungry...and a bit cranky. How will this Mama and that Papa help them feel better? Perhaps a play date in the park will help! Perfect for a young audience (PreK and younger) as well as anyone who has ever gotten a little grumpy after a full day!

Introducing Papilio Polyxenes, the Black Swallowtail Butterfly! She's an adorable and hilarious caterpillar who is ready to join the world and become a butterfly! But growing up is complicated, and Papilio encounters some hiccups as she learns to fly, fall, and feed. While avoiding foes and making friends, she transforms from caterpillar, to chrysalis, to butterfly...and most importantly, learns to believe in herself along the way. Told in three parts and complete with back matter about butterflies. A great choice for a PreK - 1st Grade classroom learning about butterflies and migration, but also an awesome opportunity to talk about self-esteem and inner strength!

There's a new crane on the construction site! His name is Lefty and he's the opposite of Cranky--smiley, talkative, and a jokester. Everything Lefty does makes Cranky feel extra cranky. But everyone else seems to love him. What if Cranky's friends like Lefty more than him Find out how self-acceptance and a supportive crew help one cranky truck make a new friend in this humorous story aboutbig feelings, and even bigger friendships. Perfect for Kindergarten - 2nd Grade classrooms. Pair with Grumpy Monkey or Mother Bruce for some cranky, crabby fun!

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!

It’s that time of year! If you’re looking for a short and sweet end-of-school read, the latest book about the Pigeon’s antics might be just the thing. We start off confident, recalling all of the Pigeon’s hard work and resilience in the face of challenges, sure that the Pigeon will graduate! But – Pigeon wonders… what happens after graduation? Imagining the future is a daunting task, but Pigeon receives a diploma and (spoiler alert) takes flight. Like most of the other books in Mo Willems’ Pigeon series, this read aloud option is light on text and heavy on the fun. This would be a great pick for students who will have an upcoming graduation ceremony, or a fun final book to wrap up the school on a hopeful high note. While appropriate for most grade levels, you may have to explain the concept of a graduation to especially small readers in K0 and K1, and older students in Grade 3 and up will likely need an additional book or two to round out those 20 minutes!

Dani and her family are going on a camping trip, complete with adventures in the forest,
sleeping under the stars, and climbing enormous boulders. Though Dani is thrilled to be on this trip with her family and spending time in nature, she sometimes feels afraid; there are unfamiliar sounds in the woods at night, and the boulders she scales are so tall. Throughout the story, Dani returns to her breath, counting to four in Potawatomi and thinking of the bravery of Grandmother Moon and Grandfather Sun, who appear each day, no matter what. Colorful illustrations and Potawatomi words and phrases are present throughout the book, alongside reminders of how we can be mindful and challenge our negative thoughts and worries. This would make a perfect seasonal read for Grades 1 through 4, and offers fantastic opportunities to discuss mindfulness, self-regulation and the lessons we can learn from the natural world.

A winner of the 2024 APALA Picture Book Award, this beautifully illustrated story about Hawai’i would make a perfect read aloud for AAPI Heritage Month. The tale follows a baby as she grows into adulthood among her intergenerational community, learning about her ancestors, the lore, and the land through hula. In between expansive and colorful illustrations that span both pages, rhyming text guides us through the child’s life as we, too, learn about her ancestors’ bravery on the seas and the respect the community has for those who came before them. A pronunciation guide to the Hawaiian words included in the text can be found in the back of the book, along with a glossary and a link to learn more about Hawaiian culture and hula preservation. Though many books in rhyme are well-suited to the younger grades, the length and density of this text and the rich, complex illustrations make it an excellent choice for Grades 2 and up.

Spring has officially settled in around Boston, and this charming story about waking up from winter is a favorite every year. One by one, William rouses his animal friends to bake a cake to welcome the new season, but everyone is remarkably sleepy. Slowly but surely, everyone yawns themselves awake to tidy up, bake, and paint, making the seemingly insurmountable heap of work doable by sharing the load. With rhyming text and a muted color palette, this book is a warm and gentle welcome to a season that sometimes has its own hard time waking up and getting started! Recommended for students in K0 through 2nd grade.