Freddy’s Favorites compile TextProject’s recommendations for read-aloud books for struggling and beginning readers. The Common Core State Standards bring increased focus to what it is that students are learning in schools and what they need to know. Through read-alouds, students can be introduced to topics and genres that they might otherwise not be able to read independently. Our list of Read-Aloud Favorites can be searched by grade level, genre, format and subject.
To read more about the importance of reading aloud in a classroom, please read this blog entry in Frankly Freddy.
A Woman for President
In 1872, when women still wore corsets and bustles, when it was “inappropriate” for women to dine by themselves in a fancy restaurant, one woman challenged the status quo and ran for the office of the President of the United States. The audacity of her presidential candidacy is also magnified by the fact that she ran for office 48 years before the Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to vote.
This book is a lovely introduction to Victoria Woodhull and her presidency campaign. Over time, Woodhull has all but disappeared from history. Since 1872, there have been many other women who ran for the presidency, such as Shirley Chisholm. But as we head into the 2008 presidential election with another female presidential candidate, let’s remember Victoria Woodhull, who led the way.
Merry Navidad!
Merry Navidad! is a collection of villancicos, Spanish Christmas songs. Though the book does have carols in English and Spanish, these songs are not translated version of Christmas carols. Instead the songs are traditional Spanish Christmas songs that are presented in both English and Spanish.
All of the villancicos are presented as snippets that would work equally well as songs or poems. The 19 villancicos in Merry Navidad! are organized into nine categories. Six of theses villancicos are written with musical notes so that they can be played on a piano or sung.
Viví Escrivá’s illustrations are beautiful and they complement the mood and the heritage of the villancicos.
It’s a Miracle!
This is a lovely book about a boy and his family as they celebrate Hanukkah. For the first time, Owen is the OCL—Official Candle Lighter—for his family’s menorah. During the eight nights of Hanukkah, his grandmother tells Owen a bedtime story. Each story is about a member of their family, and each story highlights a theme celebrated in Hanukkah: family, overcoming adversity, and miracles.
Elijah’s Angel
This book is based on the real-life friendship of the author, Michael Rosen, and Elijah Pierce. The story takes place when Rosen was nine years old, and Elijah was “more than eighty years old.” Elijah was the local barber who also carved works of art. As a young child, Rosen would visit Elijah on his way home from Hebrew school to watch Elijah create his works of art. But as Elijah was a Christian and Rosen a Jew, there was very little Michael could do but to admire Elijah’s art. Until one year when the first day of Chanukah and Christmas fell on the same day. Elijah gave Rosen a carving of an angel. At first Rosen was stunned because he had admired the angels Elijah was carving, and was astounded with the magnitude of the gift. But Rosen was also afraid he was committing an offense against his Jewish religion because he now owned a “graven image.”
This is a fabulous story about how friendship can transcend age, race, and religion.
All You Need For A Snowman
What do you do with a pile of freshly fallen snow? Make a snowman of course! All You Need for a Snowman is a sweet book about a group of children working together to make a big snowman. The lyrical format of the text is simple and lovely.