Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Chapter Books and The Chicken Squad

One of my favorite times in my classroom is chapter book read aloud time.  I always turn out the lights, so that only our string of white lights is glowing.  The kids find their cozy spot on the rug, and when it's quiet and calm, I begin to read.  And sometimes act.  {It's impossible for me to read any book aloud without doing the character voices and sometimes acting out what the characters are doing.}

As far as read alouds go, I have several that are my old favorites--that I just can't stop reading year after year.   My must have chapter books for first grade:

1.  Junie B.  Jones First Grader (at last!):  Um, this one should be a given, due to the name of my blog!  ;)  Junie B. is one of my favorite book characters ever.  I think my book character "acting skills" are multiplied times 100 when I read this book.

2.  Mr. Popper's Penguins:  read this every winter!  I wasn't so sure about it the first year, but it has become an old favorite.  I want a little penguin shipped to me in a box from Antarctica.

3.  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory:  a classic!  Such an imaginative little book of adventure and great for discussing character.  AND... it gives us a wonderfully fun excuse to watch the movie and snack on chocolate.  Yes please.

4.  The Mouse and the Motorcycle:  just a cute little tale of friendship between a boy and a mouse.  We also HAVE to watch the movie for this one--the kids FLIP when seeing Ralph drive around on his little motorcycle!

Which brings me to my newest chapter book find, by one of my favorite authors, Doreen Cronin:

{click the book to take you to amazon to purchase!}

5.  The Chicken Squad:  a hilarious tale of four adorable little chickens:  Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie, who are on their first crime solving adventure.  A panicky squirrel sees something mysterious in the backyard and its up to the Chicken Squad to crack the case.  This book is also full of fun illustrations that I know my students will adore.  I found myself chuckling in the bookstore while reading it--always a good sign.  Can't wait to share this new book with my class this year!


I would really love some new chapter book read aloud suggestions!  Please leave me a comment with your absolute favorite chapter books for your class!

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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Charlotte's Web

Kim said...

I always start the year with "The Mouse and the Motorcylce," which my first graders love and we end up reading the entire trilogy and watching the accompanying movies. It surprises me how much the kids like them considering that they are very old videos, especially for a first grader. :-) My first graders also love "Fantastic Mr. Fox" by Roald Dahl. That's a really fun read aloud, too!

The Daily Alphabet said...

Thanks for the suggestions, I want to incorporate more read alouds this school year!!

Diana said...

I have the same favorites as you! I also love Trumpet of the Swan. My kids love the Humphrey books about a hamster. I am not a big fan, but it can't always be about me!

susan said...

Bruce Coville's Moongobble books!

Teaching Little Miracles said...

This looks like it would be a very funny book! I will have to get it and add it to my collection. Thanks for sharing! Kristi
Teaching Little Miracles

The Meek Moose said...

Love it! I must get it!
~Heather
The Meek Moose

Anonymous said...

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is an excellent read.

Cori in W. Texas said...

Two total surprises for me this year. My first graders loved hearing Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (I had brought it out for some "older" vocabulary word teaching) out loud and From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (we were talking about art museums when this one came up!). And one I knew the kids would love (and they did). Love, Ruby Lavender.

Cori in TX

Anonymous said...

Kate DeCamillo's Mercy Watson series are a MUST!!!! (great for character voices and super super funny!!!)

Cathy

Jennifer said...

My first graders LOVED the Lulu series by Judith Viorst.

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