Our Favorite Read Alouds & Tips

Check out what our youth librarians love reading during storytime and get age-specific tips for choosing books to read with your child at home!

Updated February 6, 2024
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How do you choose books to read aloud with your child? There are many things to think about: how interesting the topic or characters might be for your child; an intriguing setting, time period, or plot; the liveliness or beauty of the language; or how engaging the illustrations are. Some books are more appropriate based on social and emotional development at each stage of a young child’s life. Find guidance here in choosing great read alouds.
Endlessly ever after : pick your path to countless fairy tale endings! : a story of Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, Hansel, Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, a wolf, a witch, a goose, a grandmother, some pigs, and endless variations
Snyder, Laurel
Paper Book
This funny, original, choose-your-path picture book of fractured fairy tales will charm any young fan of the genre, putting the power of storytelling right in the reader's hands! Grab your basket and your coat. Put on some walking shoes. Turn the page...

Jessica's pick. Great for reading aloud with school-age kids!

Bark, George
Feiffer, Jules.
Paper Book
Named one of 100 Great Children's Books by The New York Public Library and #9 on School Library Journal's list of the Top 100 Picture Books! From acclaimed author-illustrator Jules Feiffer, Bark, George is a hilarious, subversive story about a dog who can't . . . bark! This...
Susannah's pick. Silly fun for toddlers and preschoolers!
Farmyard beat /
Craig, Lindsey.
Paper Book
Author Lindsey Craig teams up with Arthur creator and bestselling artist Marc Brown in a toe-tapping farmyard dance-a-thon--perfect for toddler and preschooler read-alouds. As soon as the sun goes down, the animals are up! ("Sheep can't sleep. Sheep can't sleep. Sheep can't sleep 'cause they got...

Heather's pick. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers!

The legend of rock paper scissors
Daywalt, Drew
Paper Book
New York Times Bestseller! 5 Starred Reviews! "Will have listeners in stitches." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Purely absurd, sidesplitting humor." --Booklist (starred review) "Demands bombastic, full-volume performances." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) ...

Heather's pick. Great for reading aloud with school-age kids!

The rice in the pot goes round and round
Shang, Wendy Wan Long
Paper Book
Sing along to this delicious twist on "The Wheels on the Bus" and celebrate the food, laughter, and love of a multigenerational family meal! * "Artfully brings an authentic expression of family love...an utterly charming [twist] to a familiar tune." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred...
Jessica's pick. Readers of all ages will enjoy singing along!
Shh! We have a plan
Haughton, Chris
Paper Book
From the creator of Little Owl Lost and Oh No, George! comes a funny, strikingly illustrated story of best-laid plans -- and the secret to attracting the birdie. Four friends creep through the woods, and what do they spot? An exquisite bird high in a tree! "Hello...

Susannah's pick. An adventure for preschoolers and up!


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