As the winter months surround me, I have been stepping up my reading trying to uncover the great books we will share in October 2014 for the 5th (Gulp!) Global Read Aloud.
Some suggestions have already come in, but please make your own – the perfect book may just be the one you suggest! As we speak several titles or authors seem to pop up again and again, so behold some of the early contenders for Global Read Aloud 2014 (And yes some books have been suggested for more than one category).
Picture Book Study:
- Mo Willems
- Peter H. Reynolds
- Kevin Henkes
- Jon Klassen
1st Grade to 3rd Grade:
- Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins
- My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish by Mo O’Hara
- Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamilo
- Something from Roald Dahl
- The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
4th to 6th Grade (or so):
- Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
- The Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
- The Center of Everything by Linda Urban
- Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamilo
- Savvy by Ingrid Law
- The Real Boy by Anne Ursu
- Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyeau
- Hold Fast by Blue Bailliett
- Rump by Liesl Shurtliff
- See You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles
- One for the Murphy’s by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
7th and Up:
- Endangered by Elliot Schrefer
- Bystander by James Preller
- Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
- The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
- Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Gein
Which books have I missed? What should I be reading, leave a comment a let me know or share your suggestions here.
The Global Read Aloud 
For those looking to expand their digital library, I recommend Harry And Lulu e-book written by Caldecott Medal Winner Arthur Yorinks.
Great list. It would be really cool if you could get National Ambassador Kate DiCamillo on board. You could do her books K-6.
Perhaps one more for consideration? 🙂 Pie by Sarah Weeks http://www.sarahweeks.com/sweeks-pie.htm
Teachers tell me that my own short contemporary fantasy novel, The Secret in the Wood, makes a perfect read-aloud for grades 4-6. I am a teacher, as well as an author. Available via the Kindle app, The Secret in the Wood evokes discussions about moving, adapting to changes and losses, Nature, fairy myths, and friendship. You can read more on Goodreads, Amazon, or my website: http://www.sllipson.com.
Here's a link so you can download your free sample and see what I mean: http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Wood-ebook/dp/B00FK5013Q
May I also suggest for the middle-grade readers: FIREGIRL, by Tony Abbott; STARGIRL, by Jerry Spinelli; THE SKIN I'M IN, by Sharon Flake; and for ages 12+: DRUMS, GIRLS, AND DANGEROUS PIES, and CURVEBALL, both by Jordan Sonnenblick; ELEANOR AND PARK, by Rainbow Rowell; ORDINARY MIRACLES, by Stephanie Tolan; and TUCK EVERLASTING, by Natalie Babbitt. All great for reading aloud, no objectionable language, full of profound themes and great writing!
My sixth graders couldn't get enough of Wonder by R.J. Palacio.
I hope you'll consider my novel MY BEAUTIFUL FAILURE for 7th grade and up. It's about a teen boy and girl who meet on a suicide hotline, and since it's mostly written in phone dialogues it's perfect for reading aloud. Thanks for your consideration. http://www.janetruthyoung.com/books.html
Hey, I just saw this and want to say thanks for the high compliment about my book, BYSTANDER. There are so many great books out there, it's truly (and simply) nice to be a part of that conversation. Great work.