Mock Newbery 2026 discussion

I had a request for some good read aloud books for Elementary school kids.

What would you recommend? Give us your top pick.

Because of Winn Dixie, How to Steal a Dog and wayside school stories

Charlotte’s Web
Walk Two Moons
Out of My Mind
Some Kind of Courage

The Cricket in Times Square

Shreddarman, Where the Red Fern Grows, Wonder, Stone Fox - I could go on and on...

Bob, by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead makes a great read aloud. It's an imaginative story about a little girl from Massachusetts, who returns after 5 years to visit her grandmother in Australia. When she finally gets to her grandmother's home she realizes she's forgotten something very important, but she doesn't remember what. Peeking into a closet upstairs she spots "Bob" a small avocado green zombie in a chicken suit. The story follows a promise she made to Bob 5 years ago. Told through the contrasting voices of Bob and Livy, it's an adventure these 2 characters take so that Livy can fulfill the mysterious promise. I read most of this book to 2nd-5th graders before the authors visited our school. The kids were mesmerized as I read. Giving different voices to Bob, Livy and the grandmoher makes the story come to life. All of the kids loved it and were absolutely silent as I read, begging for more!

These are my favorite read alouds. They are classics the children should enjoy.

All of a Kind Family
My Side of the Mountain
Anne of Green Gables
Little House in the Big Woods
Charlotte's Web
The Black Stallion
Mandy
Half Magic
James and the Giant Peach
Misty of Chincoteague (I always had a thing for horse books)

Home run read aloud:
Toys go out by Emily Jenkins, runner-up is Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Any recommendations from the past year would be greatly appreciated. Covid has left me unable to read much… thanks!

D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths
The Sword and the Circle (Sutcliff)
(yes, elementary school kids WILL happily sit still for the classics)
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
And a picture book which second/third/fourth graders will adore:
Once Upon A Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley

How about current titles? Any great stand outs for reading out loud to children?

Kristen wrote: "How about current titles? Any great stand outs for reading out loud to children?"

This group is chock full of teachers, librarians and booksellers, Kristen. The classics are near and dear to our hearts. There are definitely some worthy recent titles, however. I will list some stand outs later today :)

Current titles that would make good read alouds:

A Place to Hang the Moon
Unplugged
Lion of Mars

The Creakers by Tom Fletcher (2019) we had a 3rd teacher read it aloud and said it engaged every student.

Here are some 2021 middle grade reader titles that would make wonderful read alouds.

Weird Kid by Greg van Eekhout
Billy Miller Makes a Wish by Kevin Henkes
Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera
The Hedgehog of Oz by Cory Leonardo
Dead Wednesday by Jerry Spinelli

I also recommend these September releases: The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo and Willodeen by Katherine Applegate. There are several non-fiction picture books that would make incredible read alouds, too.

My students loved Front Desk. Highly recommend as a read aloud.

Kristen wrote: "How about current titles? Any great stand outs for reading out loud to children?"

Skunk and Badger by Kristen Timberlake!

When my daughter was young she was a voracious reader. Her third grade teacher would walk to the front of the class and announce the next book and always, my young girl would call out, "That's a great book, I loved it!"
The teacher decided to pick a current title, Savvy. At the time "Savvy" had only been published for a couple of weeks. "I've got her, finally a book that she hasn't read," thought her teacher.
As she walked to the front of the class, to announce her book, my daughter called out from the back of the room, "Oh! Savvy! One of my favorites!"

What books have you been reading to children lately?

Kristen- I love your story, if only because as a (now retired) children’s librarian, I always recommended Savvy!

I absolutely loved Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey, and think it would make an awesome read aloud!

Mary HD wrote: "D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths
The Sword and the Circle (Sutcliff)
(yes, elementary school kids WILL happily sit still for the classics)
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
And a picture book which second/third/fourth graders will adore:
Once Upon A Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley"...

When I was in 6th grade (several decades ago), my teacher read The Wolves of Willoughby Chase to our class. I don't know about the other students, but I was enthralled. Years later, when I was a librarian, I sought it out to re-read it.
I LOVE Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude! I own a copy, and agree that it would be a great read-aloud, even a reader's theater with 2 readers, one for the boy and one for the girl.

Long Road to the Circus- just finished and think this is a fantastic book to read aloud. If you are a teacher and doing- One more text- this is a perfect springboard to research a variety of topics or to get kids reading the next text.

Shella wrote: "Long Road to the Circus- just finished and think this is a fantastic book to read aloud. If you are a teacher and doing- One more text- this is a perfect springboard to research a variety of topics..."
Shella - I just finished reading this book and I think your read aloud recommendation is excellent. It’s just quirky enough to keep even the most distracted listener interested.

Bob by Wendy Mass
Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly
Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf (older elementary)
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus (older elementary)
The Unteachables by Gordon Korman (older elementary)
The Ickabog by JK Rowling (FYI parent dies early)
Lion of Mars by Jennifer Holm (FYI death)

I try to read aloud to my 4th graders every day, dispute the challenges to carve out enough time. Although I mix in different books every year depending upon student interest, perennial favorites of mine are "A Long Walk to Water", "Because of Mr. Terupt", "The Twenty-one Balloons", "The Old Man and the Sea", "Wonder", and "History's a Mystery" (read the first page and you'll understand why!) It's science fair time right now, and I'm reading aloud "Project Mulberry" this year - the kids are really enjoying it, especially the author's conversations with the protagonist!

Who wrote History’s a Mystery?

This might be it:
History's a Mystery by Dell Brand

I just finished reading Emily Jenkins' Harry Versus the First 100 Days of School. It's a perfect chapter book read aloud for 1st-3rd graders, funny and true to life. Her imaginative beautifully illustrated Toys Go Out books also make fantastic read alouds for first graders and up.

Lulu and the Brontosaurus was such a fun classroom read aloud! Judith Viorst is amazing and I enjoy the whole series.

Thank you for the author,that’s it

History is a Mystery is by Australian author Dell Brand. It's kind of a "Magic Treehouse" adventure for 5th graders, but the time portal is hidden in their classroom. The kicker for me is that the inventive teacher is an old guy named Mr. McIlquham, who they call Mr. Mac ... same name as mine, my kids call me Mr Mac, and I used to live in Australia! The book isn't about me and I've never met the author, but my students love the connection.