The Best Upper Elementary Read-Aloud Books

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Reading aloud to students is so important. Even as students get older, and can read to themselves, they can still benefit from hearing someone read aloud to them. Jim Trelease wrote about this in The Read-Aloud Handbook.

Students can benefit from reading books that may be above their reading level. They can benefit from having proficient reading fluency modeled for them. It can expose them to more vocabulary. It gives the whole class something to have discussions on, among other things.

I gathered a list of my favorite read-aloud books for upper elementary students.

Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling

The Harry Potter Series is a personal favorite of mine. I read them on my own time. When you really love a book, and you share it with your classes, they can typically see your excitement. Modeling a love of books to students can help instill a love of books in them. Harry Potter books are also high-interest and have action-packed scenes that can help keep your students engaged in the story and begging you to read them the next chapter or book!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series

The Percy Jackson series is fantastic. I remember the first time I read the first book, it was being read as a read-aloud in a fifth grade classroom when I was working as a paraprofessional. Since I wasn’t going to be in the room for some chapters, I had to buy my copy so that I could read the rest of it. Rick Riordan has some great high-interest action books that are favorites for a lot of students. I also love his Egyptian themed series, The Kane Chronicles.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

This novel is a story about a little girl growing up during the Holocaust in Denmark. The main character, Annemarie’s family takes in her best friend who is Jewish and pretends that she is a member of their family to try and keep her safe. This novel could be used as a part of a larger unit on the Holocaust, or on any of the life lessons that can come from teaching kids to be kind and not spread hate. Or it can be read alone as just a story of bravery and love.

Holes by Louis Sachar

Holes is the story of a boy named Stanley who gets sent to a boys detention center where they are required to spend their days digging holes to improve their character. This novel then turns into a bit of a mystery when Stanley begins to think that there may be another reason why they are being required to dig these holes. Maybe the boss is looking for something… Holes is a fun story that would be a great read for your classroom.

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud, Not Buddy is a novel that your class will love. The main character, Bud, is a boy in Flint, Michigan who has no mother and doesn’t know his father. He thinks that he has fliers that are going to lead him to find his father so he goes to find him.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle

In A Wrinkle in Time Meg is a young girl who goes off to find her missing scientist father. This book has fantasy, mystery, and a lot of fun. I loved this book as a child and I love to share it with kids.