(Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links, so if you click through and make a purchase, I will receive compensation at no additional cost to you.)
(UPDATE 08/12/24: To freshen up this post, I have switched up some of the books from the original list to include some of the favorite titles of my 2023-24 students!).
Reading aloud to my students is one of my favorite parts of being a school librarian. I love trying out funny voices and dramatic faces and making the kids laugh. As a result, I typically pick light and fun books to share with my students. While I admit that some of my read alouds might not be great literature, I think that one of my primary goals of reading aloud is to sell reading as something that can rival video games and Netflix in terms of entertainment value. And based on the enthusiasm I saw with some of these read alouds, I think I’m on the right track!
Over the years, I have asked the first graders to name their favorite picture books that we had read together in library class, and the zany, silly ones were well-represented among the ones they chose, although there are some beautiful, gentle ones in the mix as well. Here are their picks.
Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
This book CAPTIVATES the first graders every year! Suspense builds as they wait to find out what will happen when Jeremy Ross eats the enemy pie, and the story shares a wonderful lesson about friendship.
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Mo Willems
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy shows the quirky genius of Mo Willems at its best with his version of the classic story of “be careful what you wish for.”
Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
This book could not be more adorable! With super cute illustrations by Jen Corace, I needed to set up a looooong waiting list for this one after I read it to the first grade class last spring!
If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson
This is a lovely book with gorgeous illustrations and a simple story that promotes kindness. The students absolutely loved the pictures by Kadir Nelson!
Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast by Josh Funk
I have read this book with the first graders for years and it is always a hit. I love (attempting) to do different character voices and accents. In my version of the read aloud, I decided that Lady Pancake speaks with a bit of a Southern drawl, while Sir French Toast obviously has a French accent (my rendition sounds kind of like Lumiere from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast…well, at least, that is what I’m going for). It’s one of those situations where I’m not quite sure if they are laughing at me or with me, but the kids like the accents and love this book!
Mr. Wiggle’s Book by Paula M. Craig and Carol L. Thompson
I read this book with kindergarten, first grade, and second grade every year as the first read aloud of the year in order to get kids thinking about how they should treat the library books they are about to check out. You would think I’d get groans from the kids who have already heard it, but actually, nope. The kids look forward to hearing this story at the beginning of each school year, even in second grade when it’s their third listen. It’s out of print, so if you can get your hands on a copy, hang on to it!
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas
This story is perfect for fall. The kids find it hilarious, and it’s a very short book, which works well for a library class since us librarian-folks are usually trying to squeeze a read aloud, a lesson, an activity, and book checkout into a short amount of time.
Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown
Warning: Do not read this one to the kids unless you are okay with A LOT of laughter. It’s the story of a bear who finds a little boy and decides to keep him as a pet, and ever since I discovered it a few years ago, it has definitely been a fave every time I read it.
Principal Fred Won’t Go to Bed by Carolyn Crimi
The first graders loved this silly rhyming book. Maybe it’s because kids love to think about what their teachers (and principal) are like outside of school, and it’s always fun to think of grownups acting like kids. It’s another fun read.
Bob and Otto by Robert O. Bruel
This is the story of two best friends, a caterpillar and earthworm, and how their lives change as the caterpillar does his thing and becomes a butterfly. I read this book to the first graders in the spring when the class was learning about butterflies in science, and they loved this sweet book.
Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook by Michael Garland
Michael Garland’s illustrations are always gorgeous, and this book is no exception. It’s the story of a teacher who loves to read aloud from a special book, and the characters in this book always jump out of the book and become real as she reads. One day, someone else reads the book, and chaos ensues! It’s fun, and the kids love to think about story characters that they would like to see in real life.
What are your first graders’ favorites? Feel free to shout out other fabulous first grade read aloud ideas in the comments!