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Rochester Local

Ace Your Special Appearance as a Guest Reader at School

being present, children's books, favorite books, guest reader, librarian, local library, mom life, read aloud, school visit, volunteer, volunteering at school, volunteering in the classroom

You’re invited into your child’s classroom to read aloud! Hooray! Having you there will absolutely make your child’s day/week/month. After you commit to going in, you may begin to, well, panic. This isn’t just your own kiddos’ bedtime story, it’s a whole classroom FULL of kids. How will you choose a book? How do you even hold the book when you are reading to a group of kids sitting on the rug in front of you? What should you wear? (Be honest, the thought crossed your mind)

My job as a school librarian means that I read aloud every day, so I have some tips from my experience on how to have a great guest reader visit:

  1. Choose a book about a topic you love. If you work as a biologist, bring in a book that has something to do with biology. Kids can tell when you are truly interested in something, and it ratchets up their own interest. Tell them about your personal connection to the book before you read, because that will help them frame their listening. If you can bring a related prop to show them after you read, they will eat it up (if you read a book about rock collecting, bring in a few of your favorite rocks to show them).
  2. Ask your child if they want to help you pick something to read, or if they want you to surprise them with your selection. You might also ask them about the books other guest readers have read, to try and avoid duplication. If, by some random chance, your book selection is something the class has already read together, it will be ok. Give them a specific focus for this reading, such as, “My favorite part of this book is the illustrations. So this time, definitely pay attention to those while I read.” Or, you can always bring a back up book to read in case they have already read your main title.
  3. The biggest recommendation I have for you: make sure that you have practiced reading the book aloud (and holding it for kids to see) before you go into the classroom. I hold the book in my right hand, with my arm partially outstretched (see image below). At the end of the two-page spread, I slowly show it closer to the audience, from my right to left side. Then I turn the page and repeat. I joked about your outfit earlier, but do make sure that you can sit comfortably with your arm outstretched in whatever clothing you pick (and cross your legs without showing the children any undergarments you would prefer to keep private).
being present, children's books, favorite books, guest reader, librarian, local library, mom life, read aloud, school visit, volunteer, volunteering at school, volunteering in the classroom
Wearing pants means you don’t have to worry about your skirt riding up, and a longer shirt keeps you from baring your belly accidentally.

And of course I have books to recommend for your read aloud! These titles should be readily available at your local library, but are a little less common than other favorites (such as Mo Willems).

All Ages:

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

Extremely Cute Animals Operating Heavy Machinery by David Gordon

I Yam a Donkey! by Cece Belle

I’m Trying to Love Spiders (It Isn’t Easy) by Bethany Barton

Penguin Problems by Jory John

This Book Just Ate My Dog! by Richard Byrne

Great for older elementary grades (2+):

Carnivores by Aaron Reynolds

Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown

Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds

I Want My Hat Back! by Jon Klassen

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O’Malley

Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival by Kirby Larson

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