Read Aloud Thursday

I’m really excited about this week’s post because we have read several picture books lately that I consider real winners.  The real test, though, is whether or not my girls actually like them.   I can answer with a resounding “yes” if you were to ask me if they liked this particular titles. 

I know in the past that I’ve at least implied that my girls aren’t too fond of poetry.  Actually, I just came right out and said it in a recent post, didn’t I?  🙂  Well, that statement needs a few qualifiers.  The Bugliest Bug is a picture book that is written in verse form, and my girls actually “got” it and giggled over it!  Maybe it’s because Carol Diggory Shields’ verse tells a very exciting story about a buggy talent contest (beauty contest?)  which is almost sabatoged, but for the heroics of a young damselfly who is “neither clever nor frilly.”  Add to this the fact that “the stink bugs united, gave off their worst smells,” a detail sure to elicit giggles from any pint-sized audience.  (I personally like the fact that “the mantises prayed.” 🙂 )  Scott Nash‘s illustrations are cartoonish and clever, a perfect pairing with this fun story in rhyme.

Emily Arnold McCully is an author and illustrator who really needs no introduction, I’m sure.  (I’ve written about her books here and here and here.)  Her book Crossing the New Bridge is just plain fun, and it has really good message, to boot.  I like books with good messages, but I don’t like books with good messages that are delivered in a heavy-handed way.  This book is just the opposite–a message that could get ponderously heavy by the end of the story is actually turned on its ear by a surprise, very funny ending.  I like that.  This book is about happiness and the joy of a person doing what he’s good at.  If you can find a copy of this one, it’s worth buying. 

What’s in rotation at your house this week?  Share your current read-alouds by linking up your blog post below or by leaving a comment.