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FAMILY READ ALOUDS

These book lists are solely the books that we have read so far as a family or the kids have read on their own. We will continue to add to the lists. Enjoy!

Story Time

We have an obligation to read aloud to our children.

To read them things they enjoy.

To read them stories we are already tired of.

To do the voices.

To make it interesting, and not to stop reading to them just because they learn to read to themselves.

-Neil Gaiman

TOP 5 FOOTE FAMILY FAV'S

  1. Masters of Disaster - Gary Paulsen

  2. Ramona & Beezus - Beverly Cleary

  3. My Fathers Dragon - Ruth Stiles Gannett

  4. My Side of the Mountain - Jean Craighead George

  5. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - William Kamkwamba

BUT WHY? AND HOW?

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL READ ALOUD TIME

1. Start out reading for a minimum of 10 minutes/day and see how everyone does. Then increase time.
 

2. Let the kids keep their hands busy - lego's, Magna-tiles, coloring/drawing, wipe-off books, stamps, play-doh.
 

3. Use fun voices as you read to help keep them engaged. 
 

4. Laugh out loud - even when you have to force it. They will see you having fun and want to listen.
 

5. Pause when getting restless and ask 1-2 open ended questions. ("Would you have done that?" "Why do you think X or Y was sad?")

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6. Before you start reading, pick out one word that everyone has to listen for as you read. They can say it out loud or put a sticker on a sheet for how many times they hear it.

Toys
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BENEFITS OF READING ALOUD

  • You will instill a love for reading. Once they love to read, they can learn anything they want to in life!
     

  • Helps develop language and expand vocabulary.
     

  • Creates opportunity for fun or difficult conversations that you may have not had otherwise. 
     

  • If they are doing something with their hands while listening, they are working two different parts of the brain which is very beneficial for growth and development.

QUESTIONS TO GET YOU TALKING ABOUT THE BOOK

  1. What would you change if you were writing this book?

  2. What surprised you the most?

  3. What is something you don't want to forget about this story?

  4. Compare an event from the story to something that has happened in your life.

Image by Road Trip with Raj

FICTION

Use Your Imagination!

CHAPTER BOOKS:

  • Masters of Disaster - Gary Paulsen

  • My Side of the Mountain - Jean Craighead George

  • My Fathers Dragon - Ruth Stiles Gannett

  • Dragon Masters- Tracey West

  • The Boxcar Children - Gertrude Chandler Warner

  • A Bear Called Paddington - Michael Bond

  • Beezus and Ramona - Beverly Cleary

  • Magic Tree House - Mary Pope Osborne

  • Horrible Harry

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PICTURE BOOKS:

  • Good Hunting, Blue Sky

  • Caps For Sale

  • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

  • The Very Hungry Catepillar

  • What Mom's Can't Do (and Dads)

  • Magic School Bus

  • Max and the Tagalong Moon

  • My NO, NO, NO Day

  • Read to Tiger

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NON-FICTION

  • A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story - Linda Sue Park

  • The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity & Hope - William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer

  • Daniel Boone

  • Davy Crockett

Stick to the Facts!

CLASSICS

  • Charlotte's Web

  • Little House on the Prairie

  • The Tale of Peter Rabbit

  • Davy Crockett

  • Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

  • Where The Wild Things Are

  • Goldilocks and the Three Bears

  • Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

  • The Little Engine That Could

  • Goodnight Moon

  • The Story About Ping

  • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

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SELF-DEVELOPMENT

  • Way of the Warrior Kid - Jocko Willink

  • Bully on the Bus - Kathryn Apel

HOLIDAY

  • The Family Under the Bridge - Natalie Savage Carlson

  • The Polar Express - Chris Van Allsburg

  • The Night Before Christmas

  • The Nutcracker - E.T.A. Hoffmann

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