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Read Out Loud

Read Out Loud

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This series brings authors' voices into the classroom and includes an array of titles featuring diverse people and cultures. Students will enjoy story time with authors of well-known children's books.

Book cover shows an illustrated small red panda sitting on a rooftop talking with a giant panda, who appears to look and listen with care. Text reads, "Ping Meets Pang. A story of otherness, differences, and friendship. Written and illustrated by Mary Jane Begin."
Read Out Loud
Episode 1
3 minutes 5 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Author Matthew Van Fleet holds up his book titled "Tails," which is illustrated with a tiger pawing at another animal's tail. The letters of the title are each made up of different animal tails.
Read Out Loud
Episode 2
2 minutes 32 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Person holds up a book called "Bubblegum Princess," with an illustration of a brown-haired girl dressed in pink and red and a yellow crown in the foreground.
Read Out Loud
Episode 3
7 minutes 35 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Author Aram Kim holds up her book titled "No Kimchi for Me!" whose cover illustration depicts three cats standing behind a tabletop that holds dishes and chopsticks.
Read Out Loud
Episode 4
10 minutes 22 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Author Robin Newman wears a black sweatshirt with a white spider web illustration on it, with orange text that says "Hildie." She holds up a book called "Hildie Bitterpickles Needs Her Sleep." The cover illustration features a small orange-haired witch reading a book by candlelight.
Read Out Loud
Episode 5
5 minutes 26 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Man holds up a book titled "The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!" The cover design resembles the front page of a newspaper called the Daily Wolf, with the title as the headline, the byline "by A Wolf," and a column of the article's text next to an illustration of a suited-up wolf blowing hard. Text at the bottom, "As told to Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith."
Read Out Loud
Episode 6
7 minutes 15 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Author Kate Hosford holds open her book, "Mama's Belly," to a page showing a young girl running down a grassy hill with a bouquet of flowers, as her mother waits for her at the bottom.
Read Out Loud
Episode 7
3 minutes 33 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Book cover shows an illustrated tabletop with a huge bowl of mac and cheese, a dish of green peas, and a carton of milk. In the background, we see three birds peeking from behind a wall, where a bulletin board has the book's title: "No Peacocks!" Written by Robin Newman and illustrated by Chris Ewald.
Read Out Loud
Episode 8
4 minutes 51 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Book cover shows an illustration of a little girl holding a pink parasol, dressed in a pink cloak and a fluffy skirt, with a little lamb accessory at her waist, who looks excitedly toward us as she stands outside of a shop. Text reads, "Mary Had a Little Glam. By Tammi Sauer, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton."
Read Out Loud
Episode 9
2 minutes 40 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Book cover shows an illustration of a little girl who smiles and waves as she carries a large, colorful, patchwork purse with ribbons of red, yellow, pink, and blue unfurling around it. Text reads, "Grandma's Purse. Vanessa Brantley Newton."
Read Out Loud
Episode 10
3 minutes 27 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Author Gina Perry holds up her book titled "Too Much! Not Enough!" Cover illustration shows one blue character building a structure with colorful blocks, while a smaller orange character soars through the air while holding a purple airplane.
Read Out Loud
Episode 11
2 minutes 44 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Book cover shows an illustration of a multigenerational family sitting together at a table, where an older woman sits at the head. Everyone has their eyes closed and hands together in prayer, but two young kids are peeking out. Text reads, "Don't Let Auntie Mabel Bless the Table. Vanessa Brantley Newton."
Read Out Loud
Episode 12
2 minutes 58 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Person holds a book titled "Bear Snores On" by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. Cover illustration shows a big sleeping brown bear with a crow, a rabbit, and other animals gathered around him.
Read Out Loud
Episode 13
5 minutes 36 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Mac Barnett holds up his book "Paolo, Emperor of Rome." The cover illustration by Claire Keane shows a small brown dachshund looking noble as he stands on all four legs with his snout pointed up, in the foreground of an old city.
Read Out Loud
Episode 14
9 minutes 9 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an illustration of a shy, smiling cello who stands in a spotlight, wearing a backpack and holding a lunchbox. Text reads, "Bello the Cello. Written by Dennis Mathew, illustrated by Samantha Kickingbird and Justin Stier."
Read Out Loud
Episode 15
4 minutes 24 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an illustration of a gray dog swimming underwater, in front of a school of yellow fish, among other creatures, seemingly reaching for a rubber duck.
Read Out Loud
Episode 16
7 minutes 27 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an Illustration of a man with an apronful and hands full holding crayons, with more crayons flying around him and the crowds of people gathered around him. Text reads, "The Crayon Man, the True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons. By Natascha Biebow, illustrated by Steven Salerno."
Read Out Loud
Episode 17
7 minutes 12 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Author Susan Verde looks at us attentively as she holds up her book titled "I Am Peace, a Book of Mindfulness."
Read Out Loud
Episode 18
2 minutes 32 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Author Kate Jerome holds a book called "The Wise Animal Handbook," whose cover features a big blue paw print, with circular photos of a dolphin, pigs, a frog, and a dog forming the toes.
Read Out Loud
Episode 19
3 minutes 35 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an illustrated little red dinosaur standing on grass with arms crossed, looking bothered, and saying "No" as four other dinosaurs circled around and look at him with concern and care. Text reads, "Noah Noasaurus. By Elaine Kiely Kearns, illustrated by Colin Jack."
Read Out Loud
Episode 20
3 minutes 53 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows watercolor illustrations of a sitting greyhound dog and a groundhog. Text reads, "A Greyhound, a Groundhog. Written by Emily Jenkins, Illustrated by Chris Appelhans."
Read Out Loud
Episode 21
1 minutes 50 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an illustration of seven chicks stacked in a pyramid formation, each with their own distinct style, dressed as an athlete, an artist, a punk rocker, and more. Text reads, "Chicks Rule! Story by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, pictures by Renee Kurilla."
Read Out Loud
Episode 22
2 minutes 44 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an illustration of a colorful, flowery, and sun-filled landscape with a horse following a goat, walking across a rural field. Text reads, "This way, Charlie. Inspired by a real animal friendship." By Caron Levis and Charles Santoso.
Read Out Loud
Episode 23
11 minutes 20 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Dressed in costumes, Zachariah OHora raises his hand, which resembles a fluffy white paw, as he sits behind a table near Anne Dyckman, who wears a red hat with fluffy white ears and paws as she holds their book titled "Read the Book, Lemmings!"
Read Out Loud
Episode 24
5 minutes 9 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Person holds up a book titled "Peg and Cat, the Penguin Problem," by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson. The cover illustration shows four penguins skiing down a snowy mountain, while Peg and Cat follow behind with a flag and a megaphone.
Read Out Loud
Episode 25
5 minutes 36 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows a painting of Venus and Serena Williams as they gaze toward the middle at each other. Text reads, "Game Changers. The Story of Venus and Serena Williams. Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome. Illustrated by James E Ransome."
Read Out Loud
Episode 26
9 minutes 29 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Person holds up a book called "Freddy the Frogcaster and the Huge Hurricane." The cover shows a green frog looking out at us and waving, standing in front of a map showing an enormous yellow and orange hurricane spiral.
Read Out Loud
Episode 27
10 minutes 29 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Person holds up a book titled "The Nutcracker in Harlem," whose cover illustration shows a girl wearing a pink dress, serenely holding a blue nutcracker, as she stands in front of a snowy cityscape, where people in white dresses and nutcracker costumes are dancing around.
Read Out Loud
Episode 28
6 minutes 34 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an illustration of a warm yellow hut surrounded by colorful tropical trees and plants, with a panda opening the door for us. Text reads, "Dinner at the Panda Palace. By Stephanie Calmenson, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott."
Read Out Loud
Episode 29
3 minutes 54 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Mike Curato holds a book titled "Little Elliot, Big City" by Mike Curato. Cover illustration depicts a small pink-spotted white elephant standing up on hind legs in front of the title text, which resembles an apartment building full of windows. A dense New York City skyline fills up the background.
Read Out Loud
Episode 30
4 minutes 41 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Author Steve Light holds up his book titled "Swap!" whose cover depicts a burly man on a dock trading steering wheels for piles of fabric to a pirate on a small boat. The other pirate holds up a large yellow sail cloth that floats in the air.
Read Out Loud
Episode 31
5 minutes 56 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an illustration of a bee standing up on one foot, smiling at us. In the forest background, a blue bird leans forward and stands on one leg, and a white rabbit squats. Text reads, "Bee Calm the Buzz on Yoga. By Frank J. SIleo, illustrated by Claire Keay."
Read Out Loud
Episode 32
4 minutes 30 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an illustration of Stephen Savage's "Supertruck," a blue gray snow plow smiling as it pushes a huge pile of white snow.
Read Out Loud
Episode 33
2 minutes 28 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Author holds up her book titled "Revolutionary Rogues: John Andre and Benedict Arnold," whose cover illustration both men looking away from each other while the American Revolutionary Arnold receives an envelope from the British Andre.
Read Out Loud
Episode 34
27 minutes 26 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Author Emma Otheguy smiles as she holds up her book titled "Marti's Song for Freedom," which depicts Jose Marti looking triumphant in front of a Cuban flag.
Read Out Loud
Episode 35
6 minutes 30 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an illustration of a school classroom, in which one girl standing by a desk looks at a globe with curiosity, while another girl wearing a captain's hat stands with her arms raised and her foot propped up on a chair. Text reads, "Piper Green and the Fairy Tree. Going Places. By Ellen Potter, illustrated by Qin Leng."
Read Out Loud
Episode 36
23 minutes 15 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Book cover shows an illustration of a small pink piano in the center of a big wooden stage, looking eager with an excited smiling face. Text reads, "The Little Piano. Written by Trinity Bursey, illustrated by John D Shull."
Read Out Loud
Episode 37
6 minutes 39 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Person holds up a book called "Peg and Cat, the Pizza Problem," by Jennifer Oxley and Billy Aronson. The cover illustration shows Peg and Cat in a restaurant, where Peg holds up four stacked pizzas and Cat, standing on a checkered tabletop, holds up three pizzas.
Read Out Loud
Episode 38
6 minutes 35 seconds
Grade Level: 4 - 8
Author Steve Light holds up his book titled "Have You Seen My Dragon?" The cover illustration is mostly black-and-white line drawing whose top half depicts a city street crowded with buildings, pedestrians, cyclists, and vendors. A cloud of smoke emerges from the open utility access hole in the middle of the street, and a boy peers down to look. The drawing's bottom half shows the network of pipes and tubes and the source of the smoke: a big green dragon.
Read Out Loud
Episode 39
10 minutes 23 seconds
Grade Level: 3 - 6
Author Anne Dyckman wears wolf ears while holding up her book titled "Wolfie the Bunny," as she sits between two adults dressed up like bunnies.
Read Out Loud
Episode 40
4 minutes 44 seconds
Grade Level: 3 - 6
Author Lesa Cline-Ransome looks at us with a kind and excited expression as she holds her book titled "Before She Was Harriet." Cover illustration shows the side of a young Black woman's face as she looks up toward a night sky.
Read Out Loud
Episode 41
3 minutes 17 seconds
Grade Level: 2 - 5
Book cover shows an illustration of a blue rabbit relaxing on a yellow inner tube floating on a bright blue pool. Text reads, "Ronnie's Pool. Written by Lindsay Ann Fink, illustrated by Michele N Tupper."
Read Out Loud
Episode 42
4 minutes 34 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Cover art for the book "My Wild First Day of School," written by Dennis Mathew, illustrated by Kosta Gregory. The letters of the word "wild" look like the furry, feathered, and spiky hides of animals. The backdrop is a blue sky with a yellow sun and tall green grass.
Read Out Loud
Episode 43
2 minutes 33 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Author Awilda Rivera Prigano sits behind a table, holding up a book titled "Loving Lulu," which is illustrated with a young girl smiling surrounded by red hearts, and shows her grandmother in the background. On the table is a Spanish-language version of the book titled "Lulu Amorosa."
Read Out Loud
Episode 44
6 minutes 23 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Book cover shows tall, teal-colored tree trunk illustrations surrounded by pink, blue, and purple leaves. Text reads, "How Grizzly Found Gratitude. Written by Dennis Mathew, illustrated by Taylor Barron."
Read Out Loud
Episode 45
8 minutes 37 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Author Todd Parr sits in a cozy room, showing us his book, "It's Okay to Make Mistakes," which he is holding upside-down.
Read Out Loud
Episode 46
2 minutes 17 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Author Todd Parr sits and speaks to us, holding his book titled "The Goodbye Book" on his lap. The cover illustration has an orange fish in a fishbowl, and a thought bubble shows the fish is thinking about a green fish.
Read Out Loud
Episode 47
2 minutes 27 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Book cover. Illustration of a brown-haired girl who cradles a fluffy white cat in her arms, as another family member stands close by and looks happy. Text reads, "Lost and Found Cat, the True Story of Kunkush's Incredible Journey. By Doug Kuntz & Amy Shrodes, illustrated by Sue Cornelison.
Read Out Loud
Episode 48
8 minutes 20 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Person holds up a book titled "Where's Prancer?" by Syd Hoff. Cover illustration shows Santa Claus searching for the missing reindeer, as the other reindeer glance around and look confused.
Read Out Loud
Episode 49
5 minutes 27 seconds
Grade Level: Ps - 4
Author Patricia Lakin sits in a white rocking chair in front of a fireplace, holding up the book she is about to read to us titled "Beach Day."
Read Out Loud
Episode 50
4 minutes
Grade Level: Ps - 4
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