How to Choose a Great Picture Book to Read Aloud

There is nothing better than a pile of picture books to create interest and engage kids in learning. My favorite way to grab kids' attention and pique their curiosity is to simply start reading a book aloud. It can be a picture book or a chapter book, but once you start reading aloud, if it's a good book, they will inevitably be drawn in, like I am these days, to the sight of a red tulip or yellow daffodil or purple hyacinth.

Today I'm going to share:

• three characteristics to look for in a good read aloud picture book
• a booklist of ten of my favorite read aloud flower books for you to print out
• some of my favorite resources for finding good  picture books.

As you head out to look for ways to inspire your kids this month, I hope you find some of these tips helpful to spark their love of reading! 

What separates the good books from the duds? When I look for a good read aloud, there are some that clearly make the cut, and some that I immediately reject. Here are three easy ways to choose a good read aloud, whether it is a picture book or a chapter book:

1. A good read aloud DELIGHTS. It holds both your attention and your child's. If it has pictures, they are good ones--no poor illustrations that detract from the story. If either you or your child are bored, it's not a good read aloud--time to move on! Sometimes I think it's a good book, but then when I read it aloud, I see kids' eyes glazing over. I choose a different one the next time. So this is a little bit of an experiment sometimes. I do not force a book to continue if kids are bored-there is no point, and there are other books out there! 
2. A good read aloud ENLIGHTENS. It opens our eyes to another way of looking at something, without promoting an idea that you are not ready to discuss. Does the book stretch or expand  thinking without indoctrinating or feeling preachy? Is there truth in the story? If there is something hard in the story, is it age appropriate?  Is the story told in a meaningful way, or does it feel patronizing or silly? 
3. A good read aloud IGNITES. It impacts listeners' hearts and minds. The story itself should be written in a way that leads you along, and by the end, either the story has made you think in a little bit of a new way, or the beauty of it has touched your emotions. The story sparks creativity or empathy or something inside you and you don't forget it, perhaps through the beauty of the language or pictures. It may encourage you to change the way you see the world or the way you act.   

Now that you know what makes a good read aloud, I've gathered up a list of a few of my favorites to start you off. Download my free Flower picture booklist right here:  Send me the list! 

Last, here are some other places I like to look for good books: Sonlight booklists (which I used for my own kids),  and Readaloud Revival.

There is no better way to teach children to love reading and spark their interest in art and the world around them, than to read them a good picture book. I hope these tips help you choose some great picture books next time you are looking for a good read aloud to share with some children you love!