Books can be so much fun to share with students! Here are some frolicking good romps through stories. Not only does reading aloud help speakers of any language to become familiar with covers, pages, rhythm, rhyme and format of stories. It also helps to discover multi layered tales and double meanings. But most of all, sharing stories aloud demonstrates the joy of reading.
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard is a great story to share when kids are grumpy. When he wakes up grumpy, Bird doesn’t feel like doing anything. Too grumpy even to fly, he decides to walk. Soon Sheep and Raccoon and other friends join Bird. As they all stomp along, Bird looses his frown. Soon they are all busy having fun. And they all fly back to Bird’s nest for a meal! A fun story that won’t leave anyone grumpy. ISBN 978-1-0397-0784-9, Scholastic Canada
Alpaca Picnic Panic by Matt Cosgrove is a wonderful romp. The story using great rhymes and word plays as two alpaca friends prepare to go on a picnic when weather finally turns fine. They pack oodles of noodles, sushi rolls and poke bowls. But the bike ride to the picnic spot proves disastrous and all they end up having to eat is an apple. They are happy, until… the rain comes. But at least these two friends had fun together. A great read-aloud story for young readers, that can be followed by a classroom picnic! And if you like the story, there are many more alpaca adventures! ISBN 978-1-4431-9979-7, Scholastic Canada
No No, Baby! by Anne Hunter is a fun picturebook about one baby squirrel. Bouncing and curious and exuberant, Baby visits many of the animals in the forest. But Bunny and Bear and Bird are not impressed. And grumpy Owl sends Baby back to the squirrel hole. However, when Baby does not visit anymore, all the other animals missed it. And when they become worried and peek inside squirrel’s hole, they are much relieved that Baby is still there and comes bouncing out again to visit them all. Oh no! A fun story that young readers can relate to. ISBN 978-1-77488-389-1, Tundra
Just Try One Bite, written by Adam Mansbach and Camila Alves McConaughey, illustrated by Mike Boldt, is a wonderful romp to share aloud. The story is the topsy-turvy tale of parents not wanting to try any new foods and insisting only on junk food. Luckily, the three children have more sense and try to convince the grownups to try broccoli and kale (“Here comes the airplane!”) instead of fries and pop. If they try spinach they can even stay up late! And it’s no stories tonight if they won’t eat peas. This is a wonderful, rhyming story with reversed roles that (almost) every child will recognize. ISBN 978-0-593-62467-8, Dial Books for Young Readers (I read the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library version)
Uncle Wally’s Old Brown Shoe by Wallace Edwards reads like a dream. A wild dream full of impossibilities. It all starts, or rather ends, with a button that pops off a pyjama top. It forms the inspiration for a chain of events: the button becomes a wheel on a shoe in which a kitten drives around. We meet a bee who kissed a frog who chased a pig who tickled the kitten…. and so on. Amazing art to study for lots of details including toys come to life. This picturebook will also appeal to older students and work well during art lessons. ISBN 978-1-4598-0154-7, Orca Book Publishers
Margriet Ruurs writes books for children and visits International Schools around the world: www.margrietruurs.com Read her travel adventures here: www.globetrottingbooklovers.com