Reading to a classroom full of students can feel a little intimidating especially in upper elementary, when many kids are beginning to feel “too cool” for certain books.
For grades 3-5, there’s a delicate balance between the perfect read aloud that captivates and sparks interesting conversations and books that can feel a bit too young.
In my experience as a school librarian, students in this age group love to be surprised. They gravitate toward humorous stories with unexpected twists, as well as engaging stories that offer fascinating glimpses into history, science, or the lives of remarkable people.
The titles below are tried-and-true favorites. They are books my former students adored and tales that my current fifth grader can’t get enough of. Whether you’re a guest reader, parent volunteer, or community member stepping into a classroom, this list will help you choose a read-aloud that connects, engages, and leaves a lasting impression.
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READ ALOUDS BASED ON TRUE EVENTS
Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick; illustrated by Sophie Blackall, 2015
(5 and up)
Sophie Blackall’s beautifully detailed illustrations adorn the pages of this award-winning story that shares the origins of the Winnie the Pooh tales. Inspired by true-events, Lindsay Mattick describes how her great-great grandfather, Captain Harry Colebourn, saved a bear from a trapper while traveling to his training during World War I. The bear, named Winnie after Colebourn’s hometown of Winnipeg, becomes the mascot for their troop until it is time to head to the warfront. In a tender scene, Colebourn donates Winnie to the London Zoo where she forms a special relationship with A.A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin. The rest is history.
My children especially loved looking at the photographs of Winnie with Captain Colebourn and Christopher Robin included in the back. We all couldn’t believe how Christopher Robin was allowed in the zoo enclosure with Winnie! I cannot recommend this endearing and charming story enough.
Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Iacopo
(Ages 5 and up)
This entertaining account of how Benjamin Franklin used the scientific method to defraud a dishonest magician is absolutely mesmerizing!
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley; illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien, 2021
(Ages 5 and up)
My kids were astonished by this fascinating true story of a group of boys who built their own soccer field over water. Prasit Hemmin and his friends loved playing soccer, but because they lived on a fishing village built on stilts, there was very little dry land to play on. Inspired by their own village, they worked together to find scraps of wood, barrels, and nails to build a field that floated on the water. They became so good they entered tournaments and held their own.
It is rare to find a nonfiction book that focuses on the achievements of children and this one does just that. Our family was so impressed with the ingenuity and resourcefulness of these boys and what they were able to accomplish. An author’s note provides additional information about the Panyee Foodball Club including photographs of their floating field and village.
Swish! The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High Flying Harlem Globetrotters by Suzanne Slade; illustrated by Don Tate, 2020
(Ages 6 and up)
I don’t know who loves this book more my kids or me! I’ve always thought of the Harlem Globetrotters as a talented group of entertainers, but this book enlightened me on their difficult road to success facing racism and prejudice along the way. The resilient group developed tricks to win over their audience and after beating the best all-white team in the National Basketball League, they became a catalyst for the league to change and become integrated. With its captivating storytelling, this book is a real winner!
Brothers at Bat: The True Story of the Amazing All Brother Baseball Teamby Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Steven Salerno 2012
This incredible tale, documents how the Acerra family of New Jersey formed their own semi-pro baseball team with their sixteen children in the 1930’s. They became the longest-running all-brother team in history and are in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Wombats Are Pretty Weird by Abi Cushman, 2023
This amusing story is the perfect combination of information and humor. The engaging format of the book uses expressive illustrations that contain break out boxes and speech bubbles to introduce readers to all kinds of fascinating facts about wombats! My kids could not get enough of this hilarious story and loved learning about other Australian animals featured as well. We all especially appreciated the photographs of real wombats in the back along with a glossary.
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating; illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens, 2017
(Ages 5 and up)
My science-oriented kids love this interesting story about a determined female scientist who overcame criticism to become one of the leading zoologists to study sharks. This colorful picture book biography introduces children to Eugenie Clark, who discovered new species of fish, published several books on sharks, and was the first to train sharks proving their intelligence. A “Shark Bite” section in the back educates readers with additional facts about sharks while a timeline shares highlights of Eugenie’s impressive life.
The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow; illustrated by Steven Salerno.
(Ages 5 and up)
The Crayon Manis the true story of the invention of one of our favorite everyday items, Crayola Crayons! Through hard work and persistence, Edwin Binney found a way to bring the beautiful colors of nature into children’s hands.
Superbly detailed illustrations capture his journey and the informative text is perfect for sharing with a wide age-range of readers. Additional text boxes provide more scientific descriptions of the process and photographs in the back matter show the method of manufacturing crayons today.
Jonas Hanway’s Scurrilous, Scandalous, Shockingly Sensational Umbrellaby Josh Crute; illustrated by Eillen Ryan Ewen, 2020
(Ages 5 and up)
This entertaining story describes how a London gentleman named Jonas Hanway disliked rain so much that he traveled the world searching for a dryer place to live. When he arrived in Persia, he discovered the umbrella. When Jonas brought his umbrella back to England, people were shocked and scandalized. Jonas carried his umbrella everywhere he went and eventually it caught on.
My children love venturing out in the rain with their umbrellas, so we really enjoyed reading Jonas’ engaging story and learning about the history of umbrellas in the author’s note. We were surprised to learn that although they have been around since ancient Egypt, it took centuries for them to become popular throughout the world.
How the Cookie Crumbed: The True (And Not-So-True) Stories of the Invention of the Chocolate Chip Cookieby Gilbert Ford,
Nacho’s Nachos: The Story Behind the World’s Favorite Snack by Sandra Nickel and Oliver Dominguez, 2020
(Ages 5 and up)
My kids love nachos, so when they saw a story about the invention of one of their favorite meals, they wanted to read it immediately. Ignacio (Nacho) Anaya learned to cook from his foster mother and incorporated his love of food into a career as he worked in restaurants for most of his adult life. When he was challenged by a famous actress to bring her something new and different he whipped Nacho’s nachos! This is a fun one that my kids enjoyed reading multiple times.
Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez; illustrated by Felicita Sala, 2018
(Ages 5 and up)
Where many of us would squirm at the sight of a snake or lizard, Joan Procter collected and studied them. She even received a pet crocodile on her sixteenth birthday! Her love of reptiles never waned and she became the curator at the Natural History Museum and then the London Zoo at a young age. Soon she was famous for her expertise and for being the first to bring Komodo dragons to Europe.
An author’s note provides additional information on her amazing life as well as the history behind Komodo dragons. Joan’s interesting story is set against charming illustrations making this a perfect choice for a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) themed storytime or for any child who enjoys learning something new.
The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London’s Poop Pollution Problem by Colleen Peff; illustrated by Nancy Carpenter, 2021
(Ages 6 and up)
Yes, this is a story about a sewer and it is surprisingly fantastic! This fascinating nonfiction book gives readers a brief history of the London sewer system and how its flow into the Thames river caused several Cholera outbreaks. Engineer Joseph Bazalgette is the first to recognize the connection between the disastrous sewer design and the illness, and fights to make improvements.
This story is a little longer than most of our bedtime-reads, so it became a favorite after-school book that my son asked for repeatedly. He was drawn into the engaging illustrations and the informative text including a timeline and note on raw sewage pollution today.
Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel; illustrated by Paola Escobar, 2020
(Ages 5 and up)
This captivating story describes the impact one seemingly ordinary person can have on the lives of others. José Alberto is a garbage collector who started his own library after discovering the transformative power of books. He now searches for hidden gems along his garbage route to add to his modest library that allows neighborhood children to escape to a magical world through stories. A fictional account of a boy visiting José’s library is woven into the story allowing readers to fully understand the effect José has had on his community.
The Kid From Diamond Street The Extraordinary Story of Baseball Legend Edith Houghton by Audrey Vernick; illustrated by Steven Salerno, 2016
(Ages 5 and up)
A girl playing baseball in the 1920’s? A girl playing professional baseball at the age of ten? Impossible you say? Meet Edith Houghton who tried out for the Philadelphia Bobbies while she was still in elementary school and was so good that not only did she make the team, she became the starting shortstop. Known as “The Kid”, Edith became a famous baseball player who traveled the world playing against both women’s and men’s teams.
Photographs and additional information on Edith’s life including the fact that she also became the first female scout for a professional baseball team are located in the back. Children will absolutely love this entertaining and engaging tale about a remarkable woman.
Anything but Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Herrmann Queen of Magic by Mara Rockliff; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno, 2016
(Ages 6 and up)
This is the amazing story of Adelaide Herrmann, one of the first female magicians. She was brave, talented, and as the title suggests, anything but ordinary. Starting out as a prima ballerina, Addie longed for more adventure. While traveling, she met Herrmann the Great, a talented magician, whom she instantly fell in love with and married. When he died suddenly, she took over the show and became one of the first female magicians, continuing to wow crowds for the next thirty years.
My son was compelled by this intriguing true story. The bold illustrations brought Addie’s magical world alive and the text was the perfect length for a read aloud or to share one-on-one. I personally loved reading the author’s note in the back giving more insight into Addie’s extraordinary life!
Butt or Face by Kari Lavelle, 2023
(Ages 4 and up)
I originally declined reviewing this book when the publisher offered it to me based solely on the title and cover. Then I saw it at my library and after reading through it, I immediately regretted my decision. This interactive book is SO much fun and it is a huge hit with my kids.
Readers are invited to guess if a photograph of an animal is featuring its butt or face. When they flip the page, they find the answer and fun facts about exotic animals. My children absolutely love this one and had a blast playing the game while also learning some really interesting information about animals.
Give Bees A Chance by Bethany Barton, 2017
(Ages 4 and up)
Bethany Barton has discovered the perfect mix of information, humor, and clever illustrations to bring nonfiction books alive to children. Give Bees A Chance skillfully presents interesting facts about bees with a comical dialogue between an unseen narrator and a boy who is terrified of bees.
Buy It Here We also love her other nonfiction books:
FUNNY BOOKS AIMED AT OLDER READERS (OFTEN WITH A TWIST)
The Legend of Rock Paper Scissorsby Drew Daywalt; illustrated by Adam Rex, 2017
(Ages 4 and up)
The completely over the top dialogue and narration make this book almost as much fun to read aloud as it is to listen to. As the title suggests, this hilarious picture book explains the origin of the popular game, Rock, Paper, Scissors. This one is sure to be a winner with anyone who loves outrageously silly books!
7 Ate 9: the untold story by Tara Lazar; illustrated by Ross MacDonald, 2017
(Ages 5 and up)
The author has combined the mysterious style of film noir with the classic joke, “Why was six afraid of seven? Because seven ate nine!” to create a comical tale that both children and adults will enjoy. The plot revolves around a Private “I” who takes on the case of the missing “9”. The number “6” claims that “7” is behind the disappearance. Leaving no number unturned, the Private “I” gets to the bottom of this numerical mystery. Because this story is filled with hilarious puns, idioms, double entendre, dialogue, and components that make up the mystery genre, it is a terrific teaching tool to introduce or review any of the before-mentioned elements. Children will delight in pointing out the various word plays that appear on every page.
Mr. Sby Monica Arnaldo, 2023
(Ages 5 and up)
This ridiculously quirky story is without a doubt my children’s favorite book of the year so far. When a group of children start school for the first time, they walk in to find the room empty except for a sandwich at the teacher’s desk. After much debate, they ultimately decide that the sandwich must be their teacher. What ensues is an abundance of comical events ending with a giant surprise.
Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen, 2014
Adults might not immediately see the appeal of this quirky, offbeat book, but once you read it to a group of children, you will immediately notice the magical effect this story has on them.
While Sam and Dave work tirelessly digging for treasure, they can’t seem to find anything of value. The reader, however, will notice that with each change of direction, they narrowly miss finding spectacular diamonds. Children usually love pointing out the gems encouraging Sam and Dave to go the other way. Observant children will also notice that while it appears Sam and Dave return to their home, slight differences in the illustrations may lead some to believe differently creating an interesting discussion about the ending of the book.
No More Gnomes by Beth Mills, 2025
(Ages 4 and up)
Herbert prides himself on being extremely polite, so when his neighbor, Ms. Goat, asks if he likes her creepy new garden gnome that won’t stop staring at him, he politely lies and says yes. Before he knows it, the lawn is overflowing with gnomes, and he’s forced to finally take action.
With expressive illustrations and laugh-out-loud moments, this uniquely funny story had our whole family giggling nonstop. As a bonus, it also delivers a gentle, positive message about honesty.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen, 2022
(Ages 5 and up)
The dynamic team of Barnett and Klassen can do no wrong and their new retelling of the classic Three Billy Goats Gruff tale is one of their best collaborations yet! The deliciously smooth text is a joy to read aloud while the eerie illustrations masterfully elevate the original tale. This one still makes me laugh out loud every time I think about it.
Mina by Matthew Forsythe, 2022
(Ages 5 and up)
This book is so delightfully unexpected and magnificent in its visual storytelling!
Shrouded in stunning illustrations, the story follows a book-loving mouse named Mina and her well-meaning, but naïve father. Her father loves bringing home surprises for Mina, but when he adopts a squirrel as a pet that is actually a cat, he may have gone too far.
The lush illustrations are full of rich colors that beautifully blend together creating a charming vintage feel. While the pictures are gorgeous, the understated details steal the show. For example, Mina’s wide-eyed expressions in reaction to her father’s decisions are laugh-out-loud funny and perfectly compliment the droll text.
King Hugo’s Huge Ego by Chris Van Dusen
(Ages 4 and up)
You cannot go wrong with a Chris Van Dusen book and this one is an absolute delight! King Hugo overcompensates his tiny stature with a a giant case of self-importance. When he is cursed by a sorceress, his head grows larger and larger every time he boasts about his greatness. The detailed illustrations capturing Hugo’s giant head are absolutely hilarious making this lesson in humility a terrific read aloud.
It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk by Josh Funk; illustrated by Edwardian Taylor, 2017
(Ages 4 and up)
I love fractured fairytales and this instantly became a favorite of our family’s. An insistent narrator attempts to tell the traditional story of Jack and the Beanstalk, but Jack refuses to cooperate. Jack engages in a hilarious dialogue with the narrator questioning his choice of storyline. Things get even more comical when Jack enters the giant’s castle and they find that they have a common love of beans. Much to the narrator’s dismay, Jack and the giant, who prefers to be called Fred, change the ending of the story by opening a restaurant called “Where Have You Bean?” where they only serve beans. The final scene is a two-page spread of several recognizable fairytale characters enjoying Fred the Giant’s specialty, taco salads. The narrator hems and haws and finally accepts that things worked out and this is the true ending to the story.
The expressive cartoon-like illustrations perfectly match the clever wit of the author. The speech bubbles are easy to follow and I had a blast reading this book out loud. I thought this book would be too old for my two-year-old, but she begged to read it as often as my five-year-old. They both enjoyed the silliness of the story and had fun pointing out the other fairytale characters in the ending scene.
It’s Not A Fairy Tale Series Josh Funk; illustrated by Edwardian Taylor
(Ages 5 and up)
When an unseen narrator attempts to tell classic fairy tales, the characters interrupt with snarky remarks questioning the plot of the story. The results are absolutely hilarious. The narrator grows more and more frustrated as nothing goes according to plan. The expressive illustrations add to the humor and children will love searching for the myriad of fairy tale characters hidden in the pictures. My kids are literally obsessed with this series and I highly recommend it to fans of funny books!
Buy It’s Not Little Red Buy It’s Not Hansel and Gretel Buy It’s Not the Three Little PigsIt’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk
A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Ian Michael Black; illustrated by Kevin Hawks, 2010
(Ages 4 and up )
The hilarious deadpan narration paired with the highly amusing illustrations make this book a winner. The reader is first presented with cartoonlike illustrations of grinning pigs wearing majorette uniforms marching in a parade with the text, “Like most children, you have probably thought to yourself at one time or another, I bet a pig parade would be a lot of fun.” Then the story flashes to an image of a more realistic depiction of pigs wearing majorette uniforms that are too small and some of them even eating them reinforcing that a pig parade is a terrible idea. This was an Irma Black Award nominee that did not end up winning, but was still enjoyed by many children who like tongue-in-cheek humor.
Misunderstood Shark by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Scott Magoon, 2018
(Ages 5 and up)
This entertaining picture book combines a comical story with fun facts about sharks. A jellyfish sporting a fedora hosts an educational underwater television program when a shark chasing a fish interrupts the broadcast. When the host warns the shark not to eat the fish, Shark replies, “I was just showing him my new tooth!” Several other creatures appear to be in danger, but each time Shark informs everyone that they misunderstood his actions. My kids loved learning interesting facts about sharks and couldn’t get enough of the overall silliness of the story.
Unstoppable by Adam Rex; illustrated by Laura Park, 2020
(Ages 4 and up)
If you are a fan of off-beat, humorous stories, you simply must read Unstoppable. It makes our family laugh every time we read it. When a crab and a bird decide to combine forces, they transform into crabbird! Their team grows bigger and bigger as they encounter more forest animals with unique talents. When their home is threatened by the construction of a new shopping center, they enlist the help of the President and Congress to become truly unstoppable.
The attention-grabbing text combined with the colorful, cartoony illustrations makes this a great choice for a read aloud. Children will especially love chiming in on the refrain of “unstoppable” throughout the comical story.
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann, 1995
(Ages 4 and up)
Officer Buckle may know more about safety than anyone in Napville, but due to his boring presentations, no one is listening. That is, until police dog Gloria joins him on stage. With her hilarious demonstrations, the dynamic duo instantly captures attention and makes Officer Buckle’s safety tips unforgettable. This charming friendship story is both laugh-out-loud funny and full of heart.
It’s Only Stanley by Jon Agee, 2015
(Ages 6 and up)
Jon Agee has made a name for himself in children’s literature for creating several quirky and offbeat books. I read this book for the first time when it was nominated for the Irma Black Awards in 2016. It was another book that I didn’t really care for the first time around, but came to love it after reading it several times with my first and second grade students. The story takes place late one night when the Wimbledon family is fast asleep. Strange noises from their family dog, Stanley, continue to wake them throughout the night. The refrain of “It’s only Stanley” doing some odd activity around the house creates a misdirection for the reader of what Stanley is actually up to. In a shocking twist, Stanley has transformed the house into a rocket ship set to the moon to visit a pink moon dog.
My students enjoyed the rhyming text, funny sound effects, and the surprising development at the end of the book that makes this such a great read aloud. There are several visual clues highlighted in the illustrations that foreshadow what Stanley is really doing. After reading the book, some of my more observant students loved pointing out these details and wanted to read it again now knowing the secret. It was clearly a hit with children across the country as this book won the Irma Black Award in 2016
That is Not a Good Idea by Mo Willems, 2013
(Ages 6 and up)
Willems makes a tribute to silent films in this surprising book. Similar to those beautiful old movies, Willems designed the book to show the interaction between a fox and duck on one page and the dialogue in white type on black background on another page. The first few spreads show a very dapper, villainous fox encountering a demure looking duck in the streets of an old-fashioned town. The text reads, “What luck! Dinner” making the reader assume the fox is going to try and trick the duck into becoming his meal. The next few pages show the fox asking the duck to accompany him into the deep dark woods and ultimately into his kitchen. Each time the duck responds positively, little yellow chicks pop up shouting “That is not a good idea!” This is a fun book to read out loud to a group because children usually love the suspense of this story and often chime in during the chicks’ refrain trying to warn the duck. They are often shocked at the surprise ending that almost always elicits a reaction from children. Adults may be equally as stunned and possibly a bit horrified at the ending, but children seem to love it. This was another unconventional book that won the Irma Black Awards in 2014.
Mistaco! A Tale of Tragedy y Tacosby Eliza Kinkz, 2025
(Ages 5 and up)
Izzy is having one of those days where everything goes wrong. Frustrated by her mistakes, she melts down while making tortillas with her uncle. He shows her how to make “mistacos” to help her ease her embarrassment from earlier in the day. Soon the entire family is joining in reminding Izzy that everyone makes mistakes. This hilarious, feel-good story is a great tool for helping readers find the freedom in embracing slip-ups.
On Account of the Gum by Adam Rex, 2020
(Ages 5 and up)
When a child wakes up with gum in their hair, family members offer up comical solutions for dislodging it that end with disastrous results. With each turn of the page, the story gets funnier and funnier ending with a sidesplitting punch line that makes our family giggle no matter how many times we’ve read this story. I continue to be in awe of Adam Rex’s clever, quirky storytelling and could not love his latest creative tale more.
I Don’t Like Koala by Sean Ferrell; illustrated by Charles Santoso, 2015
(Ages 6 and up)
This is one of those books that you will probably either love or hate. Adam receives a spooky looking koala stuffed animal as a present and it seems to follow him with his eyes everywhere he goes. Despite trying to dispose of Koala several different ways, he always seems to find his way back into his bed. One night Adam is in bed complaining about Koala when he is distracted by scary shadows. It is then that he realizes Koala’s watchful eyes are only there to protect him. In the final scene, Adam nestles down to sleep muttering, “I love Koala” while his parents look on from the doorway and his father delivers the funny punch line. “I don’t like Koala”. The illustrations really make this story. There is plenty of white space that allows the eye to rest on the koala, which really does look creepy. Some may find this story disturbing while others will think it is hilarious and the ending sweet.
Invasion of the Unicorns by David Biedrzycki, 2021
(Ages 4 and up)
When an alien unicorn comes to Earth to scout it for possible invasion, he is surprised to find how much he falls in love with the people and the planet. This book is an absolute riot! The unicorn’s amusing observations paired with the entertaining illustrations had our entire family laughing out loud! Full of hysterical details, this story is such a delight to read!
ENGAGING THOUGHTFUL BOOKS
The Barnabus Project by The Fan Brothers, 2020
(Ages 5 and up)
Kids who love adventure and suspense will be eager to read the epic tale of Barnabus. Half mouse, half elephant, Barnabus is considered to be a failed experiment who is hidden away underneath a store that sells perfect pets. Barnabus and his cohort of friends dream of a day when they can see the outside world and in a daring escape, they work together to gain their freedom. With its dramatic storyline and stunning illustrations filled with eye-catching details, this is a book readers will want to pour over. Adults and children alike will cheer for the adorable Barnabus who reminds us that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Buy It from Amazon Buy from Bookshop
The Night Gardener, The Fan Brothers
Grimloch Lane appears to be a bleak and sad place until a stranger inspires magic and hope through the creation of beautiful topiaries resembling animals. Each night a new one is constructed leaving the townspeople in awe. A young boy soon discovers the mysterious night gardener and spends an enchanting evening aiding him in his creations. Filled with rich details, the illustrations in this book are simply stunning and the poignant plot is mesmerizing.
The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
(Ages 4 and up)
Awe-inspiring artwork displays a group of fifteen circus animals who are shipwrecked on a small island off the coast of Maine. At first, the townspeople see the animals as a nuisance, but after a daring rescue, they grow to love them. In a heartwarming ending, the town bands together to protect the animals from the cruel circus manager.
The upbeat rhymes are a joy to read aloud and the detailed illustrations could not be more engaging. My children and I particularly love pouring over the stunning two-page spread of the animals hiding in plain sight from the circus manager. This has become one of our all-time favorite read alouds!
Sparky by Jenny Offill; illustrated by Chris Appelhans
When a girl’s mother says the only pet she can get is one that doesn’t need to be walked, bathed, or fed, she adopts a sloth with comical results. This sweet story about finding the perfect pet will absolutely steal your heart!
Hattie & Hudson by Chris Van Dusen, 2017
(Ages 4 and up)
Hattie loves to explore the beautiful lake outside her home, but was shocked one morning when the quiet song she was singing to herself was interrupted by an enormous sea monster emerging from the water. Although massive in size, the sea monster is quite friendly and joins Hattie in her song. While other boaters see the monster and flee, Hattie instantly forms a bond with the gentle giant. She sneaks out to meet him at night and names him Hudson. When the frightened townspeople threaten to harm Hudson, Hattie and Hudson work as a team to hatch a plan to save him. This sweet story of an unlikely friendship is beautifully told through gorgeous illustrations. The scene of Hudson emerging from the water toward the end of the story is particularly awe inspiring. This book has many layers that will appeal to several age groups. Younger readers will appreciate the vivid illustrations and enjoy the story at the surface level, and older readers will hopefully pick up on the underlying messages of acceptance, compassion, and not judging others based solely on their appearances. Chris Van Dusen is an amazing storyteller and artist. Children always gravitate toward his books and this will be no exception.
It Fell From the Sky by The Fan Brothers, 2021
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce, illustrated by Joe Bluhm, 2012 This enchanting tale, tells the story of a man who finds hope and purpose inside a magical library after a devastating storm. As Morris cares for the books, they quietly care for him in return.
With lyrical storytelling and warm, expressive illustrations, this timeless picture book beautifully celebrates the healing power of stories and the lasting impact they have on our lives.
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