Books to Read to Kids

Picture Books 

• Window by Jeanie Baker: OK so you can't technically read this to kids as it has no words but it is fantastic. Jeanie Baker collages the most beautiful pictures and the ones in this book tell a story about the life of a boy. I haven't met a clas that didn't love this book, they find something new each time they open it.
• Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle, Glenn Murray, and Audrey Colman. A dog that passes wind and saves the day. The kids LOVE it (and a number of adults too). There are some sequels now, must get my hands on them!
• Scritch Scratch by Miriam Moss. Nits and a love story all in one book. This book will get you scratching your head without you even realising it. It is a great read.
• Worried Arthur by Joan Stimson. The blurb says that Arthur is a penguin and a worrier. It's an apt descripion, he worries about absolutely everything.
• Pirate Jam by Jo Brown. This is a bright and colourful book about two not very piratey pirates! They do manage to get their fortune in the end.
• When The People Are Away by Ann Jungman and Linda Birch. This was a book that I found in a sale and am so glad that I did. I wonder if this is what my cats get up to when I go away, no wonder they sleep so much when I am home.

Reading Longer Books...... 

• Roald Dahl is the most awesome of children's authors and each of his titles could be included here. I developed my love of these books when my teachers read them to me as a child. I have chosen the following three that have been winners with all the children that I have read them to.
• The Twits: Mr and Mrs Twits are mean ,ugly people. They contsntly play mean tricks on each other and finally get the tables turned on them by Mugglewump the monkey.
• George's Marvellous Medicine: Everyone knows that Grannies shouldn't be nasty to their grandchildren, but George's is. That is until he makes he some marvellous medicine...
• The BFG: This adventure of the gentle giant and the orphan Sophie is longer than other titles by Roald Dahl but it is a great one to read aloud. The BFG gets so mixed up that he often mispronounces words. I haven't met a child that wouldn't like to get their hands on a bottle of Frobscottle.
• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. This is an all-time children's classic that hits a nerve with each generation that discovers it. Charlote manages to save Wilbur the pig by spinning messages into her webs. There is now an edition of this story that is designed to be read aloud to and by children, what a great idea!
• The Great Ghost Rescue by Iva Ibbotson. My copy of this book is over 20 years old and is suitably tattered! In this story Humphrey the Horrible discovers that the ruined castle which he and his family haunt is about to be developed.
• Superfudge by Judy Blume: This is simply one of those books that all children can relate to. Who doesn't have an annoying brother and sister, who doesn't get the blame for things they didn't do. For parents this is a great book to read with your kids, especially if there is some sibling conflict.

Fairy Tales 

• Prince Cinders by Babette Cole: This is a great take on the story of Cinderella. The story line is similar though it has very modern events. It provides a great opportunity to look at stereotypes.

New Text List 

New Text List