“Reading nonfiction aloud requires a different approach. Instead of acting as a
performer who must come up with different voices for each character, adults
become co-discoverers. What a lovely thing—to explore together. It’s so
empowering for children to realize that adults don’t know everything and that
learning is a lifelong endeavor.”

If you read aloud to students
every day, I recommend selecting a nonfiction title twice a week. Because
narrative nonfiction has so much in common with fiction, I suggest focusing
more attention on expository titles.

If you’re like most
educators, you probably have a few questions zipping around your brain right
now:

—How do I locate appropriate
titles for nonfiction read alouds?

—How do I read nonfiction aloud
in a way that engages students?

—How do I encourage and
facilitate student responses to a nonfiction read aloud?

The resources on this page of my website
address these excellent questions. You’ll also find 50 recommended titles—25 have an expository writing
style, and 25 have a narrative writing
style. And the good news is . . . I update these lists about once a
year.

This webpage
also includes Read Alouds Guides that can assist you in sharing 20 of my books
with your students. 

You may also want to try the Sibert Smackdown and March Madness
Nonfiction, two fun read aloud activities that can be done with your class
or even with your whole school.