Reading Themes - > READ-ALOUD FAVORITES for 1^st GRADERS

Stories to Share with 1^st Graders & 1^st Grade Classrooms

BALONEY, HENRY P. BY Jon Scieszka  [Picture Book SC]
A transmission received from outer space in a combination of different Earth languages tells of an alien schoolboy's fantastic excuse for being late to school again.

CLICK, CLACK, MOO: COWS THAT TYPE By Doreen Cronin  [Picture Book CR]
When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn they start making hilarious demands for things like electric blankets and a diving board for the duck pond, and go on strike when the bewildered farmer refuses to give them what they want.

CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS By Judi Barrett  [Picture Book BA]
Life is delicious in the town of Chewandswallow where it rains soup and juice, snows mashed potatoes, and blows storms of hamburgers--until the weather takes a turn for the worse.

COSMO ZOOMS! By Arthur Howard [Picture Book HO]
Cosmo the dog discovers a special talent when he accidentally takes a nap on a skateboard.

COW BUZZED By Andrea Zimmerman  [Picture Book ZI]
The farm animals give one another a cold with hilarious results, passing along their distinctive voices along with the coughs, sniffles, and sneezes.

FARMER DUCK By Martin Waddell [Picture Book WA]
When a kind and hardworking duck nearly collapses from overwork, while taking care of a farm because the Farmer is too lazy to do so, the rest of the farm animals rally together in a hilarious series of events that chase the Farmer out of town!

FROGGY GETS DRESSED By Jonathan London  [Picture Book LO]
Rambunctious Froggy hops out into the snow for a winter frolic but is called back by his mother to put on some necessary articles of warm clothing. Enjoy other lively Froggy stories by Jonathan London.

GREAT GRACIE CHASE, STOP THAT DOG! By Cynthia Rylant [Picture Book RY]
Join the fun as Gracie the dog runs and runs and runs – in an unexpected chase that surprises everyone – especially Gracie!

HARVEY POTTER’S BALLOON FARM By Jerdine Nolan  [Picture Book NO]
A child ventures out in the middle of the night to see how Harvey Potter grows his wonderful balloons.

HOW TO MAKE AN APPLE PIE AND SEE THE WORLDBy Marjorie Priceman [Picture Book PR]
Since the market is closed, the reader is led on a fantastic journey around the world to gather the ingredients for making a delicious apple pie. Includes a yummy apple pie recipe.

LEGEND OF MACKINAC ISLAND By Kathy-Jo Wargin  [Folklore/Fairytales W]
Retells the story of the great turtle Makinauk that enlists the aid of other animals to help create the special place known as Mackinac Island.

LEGEND OF SLEEPING BEAR By Kathy-Jo Wargin  [Folklore/Fairytales W]
In this retelling of an Ojibwe Indian tale, a mother bear loses sight of her two cubs as they all attempt to escape a forest fire by swimming across Lake Michigan.

MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS By Robert McCloskey  [Caldecott Picture Book MC]
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard proudly return to their home in the Boston Public Garden with their eight little ducklings.

MY LUCKY HAT By Kevin O’Malley  [Picture Book OM]
When Frank’s favorite baseball player, the mighty Keefoffer, strikes out, Frank loans him his lucky hat to help him hit a home run.

ONE DOG CANOE By Mary Casanova  [Picture Book CA]
A girl and her dog set out in their canoe one morning, only to be insistently joined by a series of animals, large and small, with hilarious results.

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE DINOSAUR STOMP  By Carol Diggory Shields. [Picture Book SH]
When it’s rock ‘n’ roll time during the prehistoric era, many different kinds of dinosaurs gather to twist, twirl, and tromp at a Saturday night party.

SECRET SHORTCUT By Mark Teague [Picture Book TE]
On Monday, Wendell and Floyd were late for school (They had nearly been captured by space creatures, they told their teacher). In an effort to make it to school on time they take a secret shortcut, which leads to unexpected adventures!

SILLY SALLY By Audrey Wood  [Picture Book WO]
A rhyming story of Silly Sally, who makes many friends as she travels to town--backwards and upside down.

STELLALUNA By Janell Cannon  [Picture Books CA]
After she falls headfirst into a bird's nest, a baby bat is raised like a bird until she is reunited with her mother.

SWEET DREAM PIE By Audrey Wood  [Picture Book WO]
Pa Brindle helps Ma bake her irresistible sweet dream pie, and the whole neighborhood is affected.

TEACHER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON By Mike Thaler  [Picture Book TH]
On the first day of school, a boy expects only the worst when he discovers that his new teacher is the "monstrous" Mrs. Green! A hilarious story that helps alleviate students’ fears about new teachers. Enjoy other stories in the “Black Lagoon” series by Mike Thaler.

TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO By Arlene Mosel  [Folklore/Fairytales M]
Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-char bari ruchi-pip peri pembo! Children love hearing this classic story about the boy with the long name who fell down the well. This re-creation of an ancient Chinese folktale has hooked legions of children, teachers, parents and librarians, generation after generation!

VERY LAZY LADYBUG By Isobel Finn  [Picture Book FI]
A lazy ladybug that never learned how to fly decides she wants to go somewhere, but she cannot find an animal to give her a peaceful ride.

WHAT! CRIED GRANNY: AN ALMOST BEDTIME STORYBy Kate Lum  [Picture Book LU]
It’s Patrick’s first sleepover at his Granny’s house. What is a boy to do when he can’t go to bed because something is missing? And . . . what will the boy’s Granny do when she discovers that the missing something is a BED! With her ladylike purse slung over one arm, and a loaded toolbox in the other, this amazingly resourceful Granny proves she can do whatever it takes, with hilarious results!

WILL YOU BE MY FRIEND? By Nancy Tafuri.  [Picture Book TA]
Bird comes to feel less shy when Bunny helps her rebuild her ruined nest, showing her what a good friend can be.