Supporting a community of readers!
Reading aloud with children strengthens all kinds of literacy skills — introducing kids to rich, new vocabulary; modeling what fluent, expressive reading sounds like; and boosting comprehension through ongoing conversations between readers and listeners. Reading aloud also helps build a community of readers and explorers. And it's pure fun!
In this section, you'll find many resources to support your read-aloud activities:
- How to select wonderful books for kids at different ages
- Tips on read alouds that will really engage kids
- Ideas for combining read alouds with hands-on activities to extend learning and build background knowledge
- Ideas for creating joyful, inclusive reading celebrations
You'll also find basic information about how kids learn to read and what caring adults can do to help launch confident young readers.
Finding great kids' books
Book Finder
Create your own customized list of fiction and nonfiction books. Search through more than 5,000 books on Reading Rockets — by author, illustrator, age, reading level, genre, format, and topic.
Themed Booklists
Sometimes it just takes one wonderful book to turn a kid into a reader. Tap into what interests your child. Browse these themed booklists selected by Maria Salvadore, our children's literature expert.
Favorite Books for Kids with Learning and Attention Issues
Sometimes it just takes one wonderful book to turn a kid into a reader. Tap into what interests your child. Browse these themed booklists selected by Maria Salvadore, our children's literature expert.
Nonfiction for Kids
Our resources can help you find great nonfiction picture books and offer tips on how to get the most out of reading nonfiction. Nonfiction can sometimes turn a reluctant reader into an enthusiastic one!
Choosing and Using Kids' Books
When it comes to deciding what books to share with young readers, there is so much to choose from! With thousands of new books for children published every year, get pointed in the right direction with guidance from Reading Rockets.
More Resources on Finding Great Kids' Books
- Big Summer Read Booklists
Reading Rockets' annual summer booklist makes it easy to find great books kids will enjoy during the long, lazy days of summer. - Award-winning Books
Find out about the annual winners of the Newbery Medal, Caldecott Medal, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, Pura Belpré Illustrator Award, and other awards. - Guys Read
Created by children's author Jon Scieszka, this is the place to come if you’re looking for something to get a guy reading. Get recommendations from teachers, librarians, booksellers, publishers, parents, and guys themselves. - Children's Choices
Find books that children themselves have voted as their favorites. The Children's Choices project is co-sponsored by the Children's Book Council and the International Literacy Association.
Reading aloud
Tips for Guest Readers
If you’ve been invited to be a guest reader, the best way to make the read aloud experience a great one for you and for your listeners is to be prepared!
How to Read Aloud to a Group
From previewing to reading with expression, here are helpful hints for anyone preparing to read a book aloud to a group of children.
Dialogic Reading
Dialogic reading is just children and adults having a conversation about a book. Learn how to use this strategy in your read alouds.
20 Ways to Adapt the Read Aloud in the Inclusive Classroom
Here are tips on how to include all students in classroom read alouds. These suggestions may work for students who need materials to keep focused, and those who require alternative ways of demonstrating attention, engagement, and interest.
Choosing Read Aloud Books
There are many things to think about: topic, characters, setting, plot, the liveliness of the language, or how engaging the illustrations are. Find guidance here in choosing great read alouds.
Getting the Most Out of Nonfiction Reading Time
Nonfiction books give kids a chance to learn new concepts and vocabulary, as well as broaden their view of the world. Learn how to take a "book walk" with a new nonfiction book and how to model active reading.
More Resources on Reading Aloud
- Reading Aloud to Build Comprehension
Learn how to use "think alouds" to help kids think about the text and problem solve as they read. Modeling think alouds make the invisible act of reading visible. - Picture This! Using Mental Imagery While Reading
One way to help children comprehend what they're reading or listening to is to encourage them visualize parts of the story in their minds. - The Read-Aloud Handbook
Read excerpts from the classic book by Jim Trelease. - Mem Fox: A Read-Aloud Lesson
Listen to audio excerpts from Reading Magic, a read-aloud guide by children's author and educator Mem Fox. - Reading Aloud Video Library
Hear from literacy experts and children's authors on the power of reading aloud with children.
Combining read alouds with hands-on learning activities
Start with a Book
Explore 24 topics (bugs, birds, dinosaurs, sports, inventions, flight, poetry, music ...) through books, hands-on activities, educational apps, writing, and more.
River Rangers
A book-based summer science adventure all about water and the rivers and streams in your community. Get the free toolkit.
Reading Adventure Packs
Reading Rockets has developed a set of reading adventure packs to encourage hands-on fun and learning centered around paired fiction and nonfiction books. Topics range from archaeology to cooking, robots, stars, and many more! In English and Spanish.
More Resources on Combining Read Alouds with Activities
- DIY Science Camp
Books and activities for exploring weather, stars, inventions, flight, bees, and archaeology. - RIF Literacy Central: Interactive Literacy Calendars
Make literacy come alive every day of the year! RIF's new daily calendars link to digital resources and reading activities designed to spark children’s interest.
Reading celebrations
Creating Inclusive Literacy Celebrations
For kids who struggle with reading, special literacy events and celebrations can challenge their self-confidence. Here are 15 strategies to help you plan a successful, joyful reading event for all kinds of readers and learners.
NEA's Read Across America
Read Across America is a year-round reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading. Many communities highlight special events in March, the month of Dr. Seuss's birthday.
Jumpstart's Read for the Record
Read for the Record is a national campaign to bring young children together with valued grownups in their lives to read the same book, on the same day, in communities all over the world.
More Resources on Reading Celebrations
- El día de los niños/El día de los libros
Day of the Child/Day of the Book, also known as "Día", is a celebration of children's books, reading and learning together, and literacy. - National Poetry Month (April)
30 days of celebrating the joy, expressiveness, and pure delight of poetry. - Reading Rockets Literacy Calendar
Reading basics
To find in-depth information about how young children learn to read and how to help those who struggle, dig into the Reading Rockets resources below.
Our PBS Series: Launching Young Readers
These 30-minute programs feature top reading experts, best teaching practices, and how to support struggling learners in school and at home.
Top 10 Things You Should Know About Reading
Get the basic facts about what it takes for a young child to learn to read, best practices in teaching reading, the importance of oral language in literacy development, why so many children struggle, and more in this overview.
Building blocks of reading
Learn about the building blocks of reading — print awareness, sounds of speech, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension.
