What’s New in Read-Alouds for K-2?

Check out these fun new titles sure to capture the attention of your students.

 


Amelia Bedelia’s First Vote.  Herman Parish.  Greenwillow, 2012.
Amelia Bedelia literally runs into the principal in the hallway.  She convinces him to let kids participate in the rule-making process.  Kids won’t get some of the humor, but it does present a kid-friendly version of the voting process.  Picture Book.
Read-aloud K-2nd grade

 

 


A Bus Called Heaven.  Bob Graham.  Candlewick, 2012.
When an abandoned, run down bus appears in a city neighborhood, little Stella mobilizes the neighbor to help her transform it into a community gathering place.
Picture Book.
Read-aloud 1st-3rd grade

 


Duck Sock Hop.  Jane Kohuth.  Dial, 2012.
Once a week this colorful group of ducks have a sock hop.  They pull all kinds of socks from a big box and kick up their..well, I guess ducks don’t have heals, but they have a lot of rhythm and fun at their weekly event.  A crowd pleaser!  Picture Book.
K-1st grade

 


The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.  William Joyce.  Atheneum, 2012.
The movie and apps usually follow the publishing of a book, but in this case it is just the opposite.  Joyce won an academy award in 2011 for animated short film.  Now we have the book.  After a tornado transports book lover and writer Morris to a dreary, far-off land, he finds an abandoned library.  The books care for and protect him as he ages and finds the ability to write again.  Picture Book.
Read-aloud 1st-4th grade

Flabbersmashed About You.  Rachel Vail.  Feiwel and Friends, 2012.
Katie is crushed when her best friend decides to play with someone else at recess.  Her “whole self felt like a bruise.”  Katie learns that whether or not Jennifer stays her best friend, there are other kids who also make great friends.  Picture Book.
Read-aloud K-2nd grade

 

 


A Home for Bird.  Philip C. Stead.  Roaring Brook Press, 2012.
One day Vernon the toad finds a blue bird with button eyes and wooden legs.  He tells his friends that the bird is shy, but a good listener.  The animals decide that bird must be homesick, so Vernon sets out to help bird find his home.  Sweet, charming.  Everyone needs a friend like Vernon.  Picture Book.
Read-aloud K-2nd grade

 


I Know a Wee Piggy.  Kim Norman.  Dial, 2012.
A pig escapes from its owner at the county fair.  As he runs amuck, he becomes covered in many colors, turning himself into a prize-winning work of art.  Told in the pattern of “I Know an Old Lady.”  Picture Book.  Go to Kim’s website for teacher guides to all of her books:  http://www.kimnormanbooks.com
Read-aloud K-1st grade

Jack and the Baked Beanstalk.  Colin Simpson.  Templar Books, 2012.
The setting is a big city in the 1930’s.  With the construction of a new overpass, Jack and his mother’s food truck cafe fail.  Jack spends the last of their money on a can of magic baked beans and comes upon a lonely giant who loves to count his money and cook.  A clever, very well illustrated and satisfying version.  Picture Book.
Read-aloud K-4th grade

 


Little Bird.  Germano Zullo.  Enchanted Lion Books, 2012.
My favorite line in this deceptively simple book is “There are no greater treasures than the little things.”  In this partly wordless story, a man releases a flock of various birds into the wild.  When he found one little blackbird left in his truck, he set out to teach it to fly.  Charming and provocative.  Picture Book.
Read-aloud K-3rd grade

 


Oink-a-Doodle-Moo.  Jef Czekaj.  Balzer + Bray, 2012.
This is a hilarious farmyard version of “telephone” that goes, well wrong!  It starts with pig whispering a secret to rooster.  There will be many laughs as this story goes full circle.  Picture Book.
Read-aloud K-2nd grade

 


Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peek.  Marianne Berkes.  Dawn Publications, 2012.
What a beautifully illustrated and informative version of “Over in the Meadow.”  The baby animals are called by their names: kits, poults, joeys, fawns, etc.  Fabulous back matter includes information about the animals, lists of additional resources, tips from the author and illustrator, music to the song.  Besides being a great participation read-aloud,
this book has many curriculum applications.
Read-aloud K-2nd grade

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.  Eric Lutwin.  Harper, 2012.
Pete’s back for the third time.  This time he loses four buttons one at a time.  A little
subtraction, a little chant or song and his unfailing positive attitude.  Fans will love it.
Go to: www.harpercollinschildrens.com/petethecat
to see and hear all of the Pete books, fun activities.  Be prepared to kid the silly songs
stuck in your head!  Picture Book.
Read-aloud K-1st grade

Rocket Writes a Story.  Tad Hills.  Schwartz & Wade, 2012.
If you loved “How Rocket Learned to Read,” you will love this new title just as much.
Since he learned to read, Rocket has been collecting words.  It is time to write a story, but the writing process can be frustrating at times.  His teacher, the little yellow bird, encourages and guides Rocket.  He is proud of his final product.  Picture Book.
Read-aloud 1st-2nd grade

 


Tyler Makes Pancakes!  Tyler Florence (celebrity chef).  Harper, 2012.
Tyler gets up early and wants to make pancakes for his family.  He goes to the store for ingredients, where Mr. Jones explains where all the ingredients come from.  Just the right amount of story and information and a great recipe at the end.  Picture Book.
Read-aloud 1st-3rd grade
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About the author

2 Replies to What’s New in Read-Alouds for K-2?

  1. Kim Norman says:

    Thanks for mentioning my color concept book, I KNOW A WEE PIGGY! Just in case any of your readers are interested, I have teacher guides to all my books on my website on the Teacher and Media Materials page.

    Regards,
    Kim Norman

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