I have a few fun picture books to share, but I decided today just to report in on our latest chapter book adventure for today’s Read Aloud Thursday. After finishing The Secret Garden, 
My girls really seemed to identify with Ramona and enjoy this book. It’s not unusual to hear cries of “one more chapter, please!” no matter what we’re reading, but they were particularly persistent with this book. The situations Ramona finds herself in in this story are very age-appropriate; Lulu, in particular, really took the story to heart. She would actually cover her ears sometimes in anticipation of what was going to happen next to Ramona, especially if she thought Ramona might get in trouble. (Above almost all else, Lulu strives to PAY ATTENTION TO THE RULES. She’s my child, for sure.)
When choosing a chapter book to share with my girls, I always waver between wanting to introduce them to my favorites and wanting them to experience reading them on their own. Do any of you have certain criteria for choosing books to read aloud? I’m thinking I might try Peter Pan after we finish the book we’re reading now, just because I’m ready for something a little meatier again. However, I’ve never read it. Is it a worthwhile read-aloud story?
Please share your own Read Alouds by leaving a link to your post below, or simply by leaving a comment. 🙂
Have a terrific Read Aloud Thursday!
I did it! I’m back with a RAT post! =)
I LOVED Ramona growing up. I read every single book and enjoyed the tv series with Sarah Polley (from the Road to Avonlea series) very much also. Ramona is just plain fun.
I was kinda surprised by how much of an attitude Peter Pan copped but I’d still read it with my boys for classics sake.
I’ve never read Peter Pan, but I remember really enjoying all Beverly Cleary’s books. My eldest has read a few and liked them, including Ramona Quimby, Age 8. She liked Ellen Tebbits, too.
No post from me this week. We’ve enjoyed The Secret Garden, but I don’t have much to say about it beyond what I’ve already said… Currently I’m suffering from audiobook inferiority, as my girls are listening to one of the Humphrey the Hamster stories and I’m wishing I could do great hamster voices and giggles as the reader does.
We read Peter Pan last fall at N1’s request. She really stuck with it, but it was hard to read-aloud for me. Tricky language (just old-fashioned) and there were a few slang words that I glossed over. Worth a read I think, but I might wait a little longer – I’ll definitely be reading it with the boy down the road, but I think I’ll try when he’s a little older than N1 was and then we’ll ALL get into it more.
We need to read another Ramona book around here. There is a movie coming out at the end of July called Ramona and Beezus and I’m hoping that I will be able to take N1 to see it. It would be especially fun if we had just read/finished another book. 🙂 We finished The Voyage of the Dawn Treader yesterday and I’m torn between jumping in to The Silver Chair or reading The Boxcar Children. Decisions! ; )
It has been a long time since I’ve read any of the Ramona books. Just getting into starting with chapter books. I have read Peter Pan, though it has been quite awhile. I once read aloud a portion of the book during a library program about pirates. If you do decide to read it, there is a wonderfully illustrated version by Michael Hague , 100th Anniversary Edition that I recommend.
Stockard Channing does the series of Ramona audio books and she is fabulous! My girls do great imitations of Ms. Channing doing all the different character voices from the books. Your girls might love these since they love audio books too. We listened to the whole series in the car last fall.
We’re also looking forward to the Ramona movie — the girls first theater movie.
We just finished a short chapter book that my older daughter loved (5 1/2). It’s The Little Riders by Margaretha Shamin. Set in WWII Europe. A gentle introduction to the war. We’re hoping to follow up with some other WWII related titles and movies soon. (I got the idea for reading this book to them b/c I’m on a WWII kick after finishing The Trapp Family Singers at your recommendation:)
We’ve just begun The Children of Noisy Village by A. Lingdren but I don’t have an opinion yet.
Thanks to everyone who weighed in with an opinion about Peter Pan. We brought it home from the library today (alas, no Michael Hague anniversary edition to be had) so we’ll see how it goes.
Angie, thanks for recommendation on the WWII book. I’ve never heard of it or the author, but my girls are interested in WWII, so we’ll have to look it up!