Who doesn’t love read-aloud time?! Honestly, it’s one of the only quiet times in my first grade! So naturally, one of the best ways to train readers is to cash in on read-aloud time!
Teach your kindergarten, first, and second graders to improve their reading skills through story time. When they hear the words read by their teachers {and even follow along}, it helps them become better readers.
Here are some top read-alouds for K-2 grades!
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Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
I can vividly remember reading this book when I was a young reader and it’s still a first-grade fave all these years later! Alexander’s day is less than great. Read this book aloud to young children in your class as a relatable and entertaining story. Overall, many kids empathize with Alexander’s bad day, and the humor will keep them engaged. Read this to your students to turn their not-so-good days around.
The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
The Foot Book is another silly fun story to read aloud. Its catchy rhyming and easy to follow storyline make it a kindergarten favorite. Plus, who doesn’t love Dr. Seuss? The main character in the book goes through all the different things that feet can do. Overall, this is a funny book that many people overlook when in the Dr. Seuss library. Don’t pass on this one!
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
Of course, kindergarten and first graders love fun stories that use repetition. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is just that story! Plus, it’s a great way to teach kids about the alphabet. In the story, all of the letters of the alphabet race to the top of a coconut tree. Will they all make it to the top? Read to your little readers to see!
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Next, read aloud this classic fable in second grade! This story teaches a moral lesson. In the story, a lion is about to eat a mouse. However, the mouse begs for mercy and is set free. Later, when the lion is trapped, the mouse comes back to save him. The moral of the story is that the smallest creature can be a hero.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
Of course, this series is another favorite in the primary grades {and one of Luke’s favorites!} The pigeon tries to get the bus driver to let him drive the bus. However, the driver is adamant that the pigeon does not drive the bus. As the story goes on, the pigeon gets more and more persistent. At the end, it’s up to the reader to decide whether or not to let the pigeon drive the bus!
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
Next, Enemy Pie is another story with a fantastic lesson. This surprising story has a nice twist for young readers. First, a boy must make friends with the boy who caused him to lose his best friend. To do this, he follows his dad’s recipe for enemy pie. Finally, the recipe calls for spending time with the enemy. By the end of the story, the two boys become friends.
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
This is a great read aloud for second grade! First, it’s a little bit longer and has a more complicated plot. Also, the main character worries about fitting in and being like everyone else. Next, she gets a bad case of “stripes”. It’s not until she embraces her individuality that she starts to feel better.
If you’re looking to stretch those little minds a little further, grab the FREEBIE! To use, simply ask the kids to roll a die and complete the activity that corresponds to the number they land on!
These are the top read alouds for K-2 that you should consider adding to your classroom library. Overall, these stories will engage and delight your young students and provide you with plenty of opportunities to model reading fluency and comprehension strategies. So go ahead and add a few of these titles to your list!
