Read Aloud Recommendations

Follow along with the special agents of the Bureau of Imagination, an organization dedicated to creativity writ large. Staffed by figments, tiny imaginative creatures of all shapes sizes, each sporting a very official Special Agent Badge, the Bureau operates in imaginative secrecy. We meet Sparky, the mail carrier figment, who is secretly a poet at heart. One day, Sparky sets out to deliver mail as usual, when he realizes Brenda (a dragon he’s thus far avoided talking to, or being eaten by…) needs help. Sparky harnesses his talent for poetry and his skills at mail carrying to inspire humanity to use their imaginations in the way we were all meant to. With fun tidbits to explore, including a cross-section of the very busy Bureau, this would make a fantastic read aloud option for Grades 1 through 3.

Babies, arise! This absolutely hilarious tale follows what can only be described as a horde of babies who refuse to go to sleep. Pictured with wide, bright eyes, each baby in this book is a veritable insomniac. The babies embark on a journey through a series of bedtime pitfalls, like the Forest of Nightlights and the Rockabye River (a dangerous body of water for any baby who dreams of staying awake all night). Faced with an Army of Teddies and (oh no!) The Cuddle, the babies finally succumb to sleep and join forces again in dreamland. While this book will be appreciated by any adult who’s tried to get a sleepless baby to bed, little ones are also sure to love its silliness. Recommended for PreK through second grade.

Space exploration can be hard, especially when you’re exploring solo. Avni, the proud owner of a very creative space station, realizes she could use some help and goes on the hunt for the perfect assistant. Sadly, her pet dog, Alpha, is a little too enthusiastic, and her toddler neighbor, Kai, is a little too…stinky. Avni has almost lost hope when she makes a new friend, Aya, who is just as creative as she is! The two butt heads a bit over creative differences until Avni realizes that having a co-pilot could be a lot more fun than just having an assistant. Stegmaier’s illustrations are detailed and colorful, and offer fun visual cues for the imagined details in Avni’s mind. Readers will love following Avni on her perilous journey to find the perfect new space teammate and learn a lesson about cooperation along the way. Recommended as a read aloud for Kindergarten through second grade.

Ari is feeling angry, and she just can’t get the feeling out. Ms. Snail, snacking away at a leaf, finds herself the target of Ari’s misdirected anger. Ari lashes out at Ms. Snail, insulting her eyes, her shell, and (perhaps most offensive of all) her slime. That night, Ms. Snail makes an appearance at Ari’s bedside and sets of a full day of payback, snail style. Ari is taunted and teased by a whole community of snails until she realizes that her own behavior wasn’t very kind and warranted a sincere apology. This story takes a lighthearted and fun approach to the importance of making amends when we’ve hurt someone – the army of avenging snails truly steals the show. Recommended for kindergarten through second grade.