Great Read-Aloud Children's Books with Reviews and Sample Lesson Plans

I was the storytime presenter at my community library in Wickenburg Arizona for three years. Below is a list of books that I read in a story time setting. I recommend most of these children's picture books because they have textual and visual elements that can keep a group of young children engaged in the story. These books were a story time success!

Children develop at different rates, and some children have much better attention spans than others, so some books will be too advanced for young toddlers and preschoolers. With that in mind, keep your story time themes varied, and know that I have tested all of these books on my storytime kids at one time or other. I strongly encourage you to preview any book before you introduce it in a story time setting. Never read a book "cold turkey" to your kids. I have written several additional articles specifically geared to story time presenters. If you are new to the calling or if you have lots of experience, please leave your comments and share your storytime wisdom and experiences too!

The first section, Recommended Children's Books for Reading Aloud, includes a Book Title, Author, and ISBN number. You can use the ISBN number to search for the book on Amazon.com, The Library of Congress, and some children's literature web sites. I am writing book reviews for selected books in this section. Click on the book title to read the review and sometimes see a sample lesson plan or lesson helps for that book.

The second section, Monthly Reading Lists For Story Hour, includes reading recommendations for each month of the year on seasonal topics. I will include some of my favorite recommended read-aloud children's books and new discoveries, too.

Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett ISBN 0689708076. This book takes a hilarious look at why animals shouldn't wear clothes. Laugh out loud.

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slobodkina, ISBN 0061474533. Some mischievous monkeys take a napping hat peddler's wares.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. (Author), John Archambault (Author), Lois Ehlert (Illustrator), ISBN 0439806968. Rhythmic alphabet fun as the alphabet letters climb up the coconut tree. An all-time children's favorite.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, ISBN 0061119741. A tiny mouse with a very long name is teased at school. The fun and fascinating new music teacher saves the day.

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon, ISBN 0439622778. Ducks don't ride bikes! Or do they?

Excuse Me! by Lisa Kopelke ISBN 0743490053. A little frog who burps too much is banished to live with the frogs who burp all the time. 

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelo, ISBN 0618836829. An adaptation of the classic finger rhyme, this is a great way to involve toddlers in story hour.

The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone ISBN 0899191630 This popular folktale is told to perfection in this story by the master folk tale author, Paul Galdone.

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle, ISBN 0064434508. A grouchy ladybug tries to bully his way up the food chain.

Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb, by Al Perkins (Author), Eric Gurney (Illustrator), ISBN 0394810767. This fun book is a finger-tapping, foot-stomping good time.

Harry and the Terrible Whatzit by Dick Gachenbach, ISBN 0899192238. Harry is sure that a double-headed, three-clawed, six-toed, long-horned Whatzit has taken his mother down in the basement. He must face his fears to rescue his beloved mom.

Hilda Must Be Dancing by Karma Wilson, ISBN 1416950834. Hilda the Hippo needs a new hobby, and how! But what could be better than dancing?

I'd Choose You by John Trent ISBN 0849914523 When Norbert the Elephant has a really bad day, his parents reassure him about just how important he is to them. This book is a Christian children's book that illustrates how parents can give their children "the blessing", a topic discussed in Trent's books for adults.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Numeroff (Author) and Felicia Bond (Illustrator), ISBN 0061128562. Laura Numeroff's book If You Take a Mouse To School is another good read for the beginning of the school year.

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback, ISBN 0670878553. Thrifty Joseph the tailor finds new and nifty ways to use his worn overcoat.

The King With Six Friends Jay Williams (Author), Imero Gobbato (Illustrator), ISBN 081930342. King Zar is out of a job, and with only the clothes on his back, he sets out on a quest to find a new kingdom to rule. His six new friends help.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes, ISBN 0688128971 Lilly LOVES, even idolizes, her teacher, until he takes away her shiny new purple plastic purse.

The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza) by Philemon Sturges, ISBN 014230189. In this modern retelling of the classic fable, Little Red Hen invites the friends in her city neighborhood to help her make a pizza.

Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney ISBN 9780670062409 Little Llama gets frustrated when his mama takes him for a long, boring, shopping trip at the Shop-O-Rama. Fun rhyming text in a situation every toddler and young preschooler can relate to.

Llama Llama Red Pajama and Llama Llama Misses Mama are strong recommends by this author.

"More More More," Said the Baby by Vera B. Wlliams, ISBN 0688091733

No David! by David Shannon, ISBN 059093002. Little David is ALWAYS getting in trouble. How many ways can his exasperated mom say no? Lots of laughs for this contemporary fave.

Olivia by Ian Falconer, ISBN 0689860889 Olivia has a fun-filled day any preschooler would envy.

One Tiny Turtle: Read and Wonder by Nicola Davies (Author), Jane Chapman (Illustrator), ISBN 0763623113. A beautifully illustrated non-fiction book tells the story of a sea turtle. Appropriate for preschoolers.

The Rainbow Fish by by Marcus Pfister and J. Alison James, ISBN 1558580093. This modern children's book classic tells how Rainbow Fish learns to share and make friends instead of being the most beautiful fish in the ocean.

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert (Author), ISBN 015202095. This fanciful book about building a snowman uses colorful objects from all over the world in new and unique ways. You'll love Lois Ehlert's snow people collages.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, ISBN 0670654000. Young Peter in his red snowsuit enjoys playing in the snow.

So Much! by Trish Cooke (Author), Helen Oxenbury (Illustrator), ISBN 0763602965. This book of familial love has a rhythmic cadence that requires some practice reading, but is a beautiful story that illustrates the many ways family members show their love for a baby on the day of his dad's surprise birthday party.

Souperchicken by Mary Jane and Herm Auch (ISBN-10: 0823418294) . This silly adventure story about a hen who reads her way out of the soup factory is a fast-paced story that will have children at the edge of their sits until the story ends at the vegetarian's organic farm.

There's an Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer (Author), ISBN 0803703740. This children's classic takes a humorous peek under the bed at a little boy's bedtime fears. The rhyming text is reassuring and funny. A great read for October.

Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel ISBN 0030127114 This children's book about two Chinese brothers, one with a very long name, and one with a short one, is a great aid to teach reading. Read my review before you share it in story hour.

To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss, ISBN 0007169922 This children's classic was written when my 82-year old grandmother was a young girl. But the story about a little fib that turns into a gigantic whale of a tale is as pleasing today as it was in an era when horses still pulled carts down main street.

Too Many Pumpkins, by Linda White (Author), ISBN 1591128315. Too many pumpkins changes from being a problem to a blessing when a woman shares the bounty from her nuisance pumpkin patch with her neighbors. This charming and hopeful message of this timeless tale is especially appealing during hard economic times.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, ISBN 0399247459. A very hungry caterpillar gets a tummy ache when he eats all the wrong things in this classic story by beloved children's author Eric Carle.

Where Once There Was a Wood by Denise Fleming (Illustrator), ISBN 0805064826 The beautiful illustrations of a wood and animals remind everyone who read this story to tread lightly on the earth.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, ISBN 0060254920. Max in his wolf suit is sent to his room and there begins his journey to the land of the Wild Things, where he conquers and becomes king. This iconic children's tale is a childhood fave of multiple generations of readers.

In this section you'll find recommended book recommendations that you could plan into a monthly theme.

• August: Back to School, Books about Hands and Feet, Dog Days of Summer (featuring books about dogs)
  
• September: Grandparents, Books about Librarians, The Three Little Pigs
  

• October: Pumpkins, Apples, Autumn Leaves, Monsters, Spiders, and Halloween
• November: Picky Eaters, Turkeys, Gratitude and Giving Thanks, Thanksgiving Holiday, Manners