Every year I have three books I read that make me cry.
They love it! :)
They are...
Stone Fox
I have read this every year to my class... even when I taught 1st/2nd grade. I love sharing this book, talking about the history, and asking students to take a stand to decide if Little Willie should win or if Stone Fox should win.
I love getting to the final race... reading fast... watching the kids literally sit on the edge of their seats.
And then, turning the page to the sad sad sad finale... but then the amazing kindness... and then just letting it all sink in.
I cry every single time. Even though I've read it for 8 years now... every time!
Tear jerker #2...
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
So beautiful! So perfect for talking about how characters can grow and change. Every time it makes me think of my Meggie Kay- my Cabbage Patch Doll who was my bestest friend when I was little.
Tear jerker #3...
Hachiko Waits
Last year is actually the first year I read this. And I made the mistake of doing it RIGHT after Stone Fox so we could draw comparisons... it's a fabulous story about friendship and loyalty, but also tugs at those heart strings!
I also have some books that make me LOL! This year I was laughing more than the kids were when we read Pippi Longstocking.
We just finished it and will be watching the movie later this year... you know the totally 80s Pippi movie... YES!
I also L-O-V-E Little House in the Big Woods. The chapter where the papa sees the "bear" in the woods only to realize that it's really a... oh, I won't ruin the hilarity for you. But it's pretty hilarious!
Every year after we read Little House we make butter... it's so fun and such a good connection to the book!
You just need small jars with lids, heavy cream, and a pinch of salt. The kids shake, shake, shake for about 20 minutes. We pair up and share a jar. Every two minutes or so, we switch and the other partner shakes. About halfway through, I always start dumping out the buttermilk that forms in the jars. It helps make the finished product more solid.
This is sooooo tasty! We slather it on bread and enjoy a delicious taste of life from the past!
What are your favorite read alouds? I'm always looking for new chapter books to add to my collection... do share in the comments!
The Chocolate Touch was a great one for us last year! We also read Freckle Juice in one of my Guided Reading groups- it was amazing how much they loved it. I haven't read this one, but my co-worker swears by Punished.
ReplyDelete-Maria
Everyone deServes to Learn
My most favorite ever is A Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo. The kids get so into it and I LOVE it. So much so that I was actually angry when the movie came out and had changed the storyline so much.
ReplyDeleteStephanie
Teaching in Room 6
I feel EXACTLY the same way, Stephanie!! I LOVED reading this one aloud to my kiddos! The movie destroyed the magic of the book.
Delete~Erin
Mrs. Beattie's Classroom
I agree the movie ruined it... we rented out a movie theatre when the movie came out and invited all of our kids and families to come and enjoy it together... even the kids were mad... there was constant talking throughout the whole movie because they kept saying... that didn't happen in the book... it was a good way to convince them that books are better than any movie!!! it was kinda funny to see them so mad that they changed it so much and the parents were clueless because they had NEVER read the book.
DeleteI love love love Stone Fox!!! We are actually about to start reading it when we return from these snow days! I also love doing something like a chocolate unit...Chocolate Fever, The Chocolate Touch, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily my favorite read aloud, but Martin's Big Words brought tears to one of my students this year and almost always does for me! It is definitely ONE of my favorites :)
ReplyDeleteDirt Road Teacher
Reading aloud to my class is my favorite part of the day too! Wonder by RJ Palacio had my kids in tears. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes too. We're reading The One and Only Ivan right now and it's got a couple good eye watering moments in it too!
ReplyDelete-Nick
Sweet Rhyme – Pure Reason
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I love Mr. Popper's Penguins and Dear Mr. Henshaw. Not sure they will make you cry though :)
ReplyDeleteTania
My Second Sense
Christina,
ReplyDeleteI just love reading your blog! You are such an inspiration :)
I have seen the movie about Hachiko - so sad - such devotion. Do you read any books by Andrew Clements? I haven't read Frindle yet to my second graders, but it is on my list of favorites.
ReplyDeleteThe City of Ember is a fun read, and my kids always loved hearing Holes - I was reading both to my class long before the movies, and as is typical both are way better than the movie. Holes was a hit with the boys, too! :)
ReplyDelete~Erin
Mrs. Beattie's Classroom
The Magic Finger by Raoul Dahl and Emily Eyefinger by ?? ( can't remember) are good for 8-9 year olds. I think Frindle is too long winded in the middle for 2nd graders. Even 3rd and 4th graders found it dragged.
ReplyDeleteI always call it chapter book time and it's my favorite part of the day too. I read Charlotte's Web and cry every single year. We love The BFG and just about anything else by Roald Dahl. The kids always get a kick out of the silliness of Sideways Stories From Wayside School. I usually read at least one of the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary and The Mouse and the Motorcycle. Thanks for the post and the comments with some new ones to try.
ReplyDeleteI have you to thank for making me cry last year!! I read a post where you talked about Stone Fox. I had it so I read it. Had no idea that it ended that way. I was crying like a baby!!! Loved the story though and plan on reading it this year to my kids :)
ReplyDeleteI love my read aloud time as well! The first book I read every year is There's a Boy in the Girls' Bathroom. Fabulous story about how a character can change over time - AND it makes me cry EVERY time. One of my other crying books is Where the Red Fern Grows. Great story!
ReplyDeleteThanks for always sharing so much of yourself
Awhile ago I found a book called "The Doll People" by Ann M. Martin and the kids loved it! I've read it every year since and even found the sequels. I love hearing them finding connections between the book and other things we learn about. Makes my heart sing!
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read aloud the picture book Christmas Tapestry? Get your tissues. It is a beautiful story!!!!! Thanks for sharing your favs!
ReplyDeleteRenee from Science School Yard
A big surprise for me was that I had 4th graders cry at the end of The Giving Tree! Also, Wonder and Patricia Polacco's Bully brought tears to our eyes.
ReplyDeleteWe also like Mr. Popper's Penguins in our room. I've read The Man who Loved Clowns when I taught fourth grade, it's a tear jerker for sure but teaches such great lessons about compassion and love!
ReplyDeleteMany great titles. All good hot reads that will ignite a love for readers in our students.
ReplyDeleteI just saw the movie Hachiko Waits and cried for hours... I was telling my hubs about it when he got home and started to cry again... and I agree... Edward Tulane is an amazing read aloud...probably my NUMBER ONE favorite book!!!
ReplyDeleteGooney Bird Greene is another good one (not a tearjerker, just a fun read aloud) by Lois Lowry
ReplyDeletePatricia Polacco's Betty Doll had me sobbing...My kids were just staring at me!!! LOVE THAT BOOK.
ReplyDeleteI got Hachiko Waits in one if those bundle boxes from Scholastic and fell in love. We just finished it. I'm loving these other ideas
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI love reading Charlotte's Web of course, and yes, I cry like a baby in front of the kids when the baby spiders fly away. I LOVE reading Toys Go Out and the kids love it too. Great series!