QUALITY BOOKS
Reading Storybooks or Chapter books are one of the best ways to build children’s oral language, (also known as expressive and receptive language) vocabulary and background/world knowledge in the classroom and or at home as part of your Structured Literacy Approach.
Zaner-Bloser has released an incredible information sheet on how to set a routine for parents and teachers to use to make sure you are getting the most out of your read-aloud. The two-page document also includes a list of questions to ask for fiction books and a separate list for non fiction. This list is really helpful if reading aloud doesn’t come naturally to you or if you are a teacher its a great handout for parents.It is also a great resource to help children who have language delays.
You can download the document here – Read-Aloud_Routine to use with any of the books suggested below.
Many of the books below also come with their own study guides if you would like some questions and activities to work through.
I would also recommend the webinar Maximize Your Read-Alouds to Build Language Comprehension by Maria S. Murray, Ph.D. who is the founder, CEO and President of The Reading League. This is a great information for parents and teachers starting out their journey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqL-NSRQLcQ
Children’s Picture Books
- The Terrible Suitcase by Emma Allen
- The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Mulhammad
- Greyfriars Bobby by Ruth Brown (true story)
- The Story of Ping by Marjorie Flack
- Home Child by Dawn McMillian
- A Boy and a Ball by Phil Cummings
- Dinosaur Hunter by David Hill
- Taking the Lead by David Hill
- First to the Top by David Hill
- Speed King by David Hill
- Hero of the Sea by David Hill
- Sky High by David Hill
- The Golden Rule by Ilene cooper
- Kate Sheppard by Maria Gill
- Three by Stephen Michael King
- Lucy Goes to the Lighthouse by Grant Sheehan
- The Dragon Riders by James Russell
- The Dragon Hunters by James Russell
- The Dragon Tamers by James Russell
- The Mouse Cat by Antonia Barber
- Flood by Jackie French
- Herbert The Brave Sea Dog by Robyn Belton
- Fire by Jackie French
- The Secret of the Kelpie by Lari Don
- Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
- The Snow Dragon by Abi Elphinstone
- The First Dog by Jan Brett
- Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McClosky
- A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert
- They Were Strong and Good by Robert Lawson
- Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
- Rotten Island by William Steig
- Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
- Three Names by Patricia MacLachlan
- Mrs Katz and Tush by Patricia Polacco
- Peter Pan
- Peter Rabbit
- Wind in the Willows
- Aesops
- Chinese Myths
- Wisp: A Story of Hope by Raillon Zara
- Old Man by V,SARAH
- Sulwe By Lupita Nyong’o by Vashti Harrison
- Ten Pound Pom by Carole Wilkinson
- Harmonica by Dawn McMillian
- Elephant Man by Di Fiore MAriangela
- Extraordinary Mr Qwerty by Karla Strambini
- Bess the Brave War Horse by Susan Brocker
- Anzac Violin by Jennifer Beck
- The Bantam and the Solider by Jennifer Beck
- The Anzac Puppy by Peter Millet
- Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say
- Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost , Susan Jeffers
- The Glorious Flight by Alice Provensen, Martin Provensen
- The Raft by Jim LaMarche
- Andy and the Circus by Ellis Credle
- Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
- Song of a River by Joy Cowley
- Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Early Readers or Large Print Chapter Books to support the transition from decodable books to authentic text (real books)
- Boys Vs Beast books
- Mighty Robot books
- Bad Guys books
- Zac Powers books
- Beast Quest books
- D Bot books
- Billie B Brown books
- Ninja Kid books
- The Magic Tree house books series
- My Fathers Dragon book series
- Aussie Nibbles book series
- The Kingdom of Wrenly book series
Chapter Books rich in vocabulary and background/world knowledge
- Alice in Wonderland
- The Secret Garden
- Charlotte’s Web
- The Railway Children
- King Arthur
- Gulliver’s Travels
- Journey to the Centre of the Earth
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
- Dr Jekyll and Dr Hyde
- Oliver Twist
- Treasure Island
- Around the World in 80 days
- Huckleberry Fin
- Black Beauty
- Greek Myths
- North Myths
- The Boy in Striped Pajamas
- Children of the Rush (3 book series)
- Choose your Own Adventure books
- Famous Five books
- Secret Seven books
- Nancy Drew books
- The Roald Dahl collection
- The Magic Treehouse Collection
- Faraway Tree Collection
- Hachet book series
- China Town Girl
- Canterbury Quake
- Dawn Raid
- Mission Girl
- The Wahine Disaster
- The Hobbit
- The Harry Potter Series
- Who was or Who is book Series (Non Fiction)
- The Box Car Children
- The World of Christopher Robin
- The Story of Helen Kellar (Non Fiction)
- The Story of Marie Curie
- The Wild Robot
- Wings of Fire
- The House of One Hundred Clocks
This document was created by Sharon Scurr founder of the deb, 3rd March 2022
Updated 23 January 2025 by Sharon Scurr