TOUR Read Aloud suggestions
Titles that teach how to care for books and use the library
We’re Going On a Book Hunt c2008 Pat Miller (teaches young children how to be thoughtful library uses
through run participatory rhyming text)
Shelf Elf c2004 Jackie Hopkins (Skoob the Shelf Elf helps us learn about the proper way to handle books
and behave in the Library. It’s also an eye spy book.)
The Shelf Elf Helps Out c2006 (Skoob takes kids on a trip through the library with help from Stacks, the
Grand Dewey Daddy Shelf Elf. He explains book addresses—where each book lives on the shelves (dewey #s
000-900)
The Library Gingerbread Man c2010 Dottie Enderle (Teaches Dewey decimal system, showing that he lives
at #398.2)
Read It, Don’t Eat It c2009, Ian Schoenherr (rhyming advice on how to care for a book)
What Happened to Marion’s Book? c2003 Brook Berg (a little hedgehog loves to borrow books from the
library and read. She accidentally spills one at the breakfast table)
Mr. Wiggle series
Mr. Wiggle’s Book c2003 Paula Craig and Carol Thompson (Something terrible has happened to Mr.
Wiggle’s book. This little inchworm educates young children how to care for books)
Mr. Wiggle Loves to Read c2003 Thompson (explains fiction/nonfiction, genres, how to find on
shelves)
Mr. Wiggle Looks for Answers c2003 Thompson (how to use physical ref. resources…encyclopedias,
dictionaries, thesaurus) *Be careful using this one if all those resources are now online only.
For younger groups you can use titles above that teach how to care for books and use the library or just use
your favorite books from storytime, past Beehive winners and nominees etc. *starred books below are
better for older kids. Even older kids love picture books if you choose the right ones. Try to choose books
with large colorful illustrations, fun twists, and/or are participatory.
If You Take a Mouse To School c Laura Numeroff (If you take a mouse then he’ll want…)
I Will Not Read This Book c2011 Cece Meng (A child adamantly refuses to read a book regardless of the
increasingly outrageous circumstances that might occur)
How To Teach a Slug To Read c2011 Susan Pearson (step-by-step instructions on how to teach a slug to
read, including using Mother Slug rhymes, teaching your slug how to sound out words and make vocab lists)
Can You Make a Scarey Face c2009 (a ladybug invites us to play a game of “let’s pretend. Do the actions)
How Big Is It?: A Book All About Bigness c2007 (a nonfiction book comparing big things)
Falling For Rapunzel c2003 Leah Wilcox (A prince tries to get Rapunzel to throw down her hair so he can
rescue her, but she mishears and throws down random rhyming objects)
*The Book That Eats People c2009 John Perry (The reader is warned to be careful around this book, which
has already eaten several people and is always hungry)
One Smart Cookie c2006 John Nez (When Cookie, a dog who can read and write, goes to school, he not
only inspires the children, but helps avert disaster)
Reading Makes You Feel Good c2005 Todd Parr
That’s What You Get…! c2000 Rick Walton (A zany mother’s rhyming explanations for why things happen.
“Yesterday when I brushed my teeth, the top teeth stuck to the ones beneath. I told mom. She said, What’s
new. That’s what you get for brushing with glue…”)
Read All About It! c2008 Laura and Jenna Bush (boy doesn’t like reading then realizes how wonderful it is)
*The Librarian From the Black Lagoon c1997 Mike Thaler (mean librarian will laminate you if you don’t
behave…in the end she is nice and helpful)
*Would I Ever Lie To You? c2007 Caralyn Buehner (A young boy is never sure if his cousin is teasing or
telling the truth)
*The Younger Brother’s Survival Guide c2006 Lisa Kopelke (tips on how to survive being a younger brother
to a sometimes tricky older sister)
*Why Do I Have To Make My Bed? Or a History of Messy Rooms c2011 Wade Bradford (a fun history
lesson for older kids)
*How To Clean Your Room In 10 Easy Steps c2009 Jennifer Huget (A young girl provides unique advice on
how to tidy a bedroom)
What’s With This Room? c2003 Tom Lichtenheld (book in rhyme about a boy’s messy room. He has excuses
why it is so…and ends doing experiment in his bedroom that cleans up (blows up) his whole bedroom)
Otto Grows Down c2009 Michael Sussman (A boy doesn’t want his baby sister and wishes he was young
again. So he does grown younger and younger as the book progresses)
*Todd’s TV c2010 James Proimos (Todd spends so much time watching TV that the TV adopts him and
parents get jealous and start dressing like TVs)