December is a great time to find some really engaging and rigorous read alouds for your students! Some of the read alouds can just be for fun and some can have some high-value teaching content in them. Today, I am going to share my top 10 read alouds for the month of December. Click on each book to grab an affiliate link to the book!
How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky
This story is the BEST. I love reading it every.single.year.
It follows how Santa tried out many jobs and none of them were the right fit for him until he found the job of Santa Claus. We do a really fun writing project to go with this book. The students fill out a real application (hello, real-life), and then they do a persuasive writing to apply for a job as Santa. We usually do this Santa-directed drawing to go with it too!
Celebrate Christmas by Deborah Heiligman
This nonfiction National Geographic is a great way to introduce many different multicultural looks at the holiday! Students are always fascinated by different cultures and what they do to celebrate the holiday! After reading this book, have students research another country and how they celebrate Christmas!
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaula
The Legend of the Poinsettia is a great read aloud to introduce students to how people in Mexico also celebrate the holiday. After reading the book, you can have kids compare how they celebrate to how Lucida celebrates in the book!Â
How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
You would be surprised how many students have never actually read this book, just watched the movie. It amazes me every year. This book is full of great figurative language and has tons of great vocabulary. You can head here to grab a FREE resource to use with the book!
Memoirs of an Elf by Devin Scillian
We love reading this book during Elf Week! The kids will then work on cause and effect while reading the book! Head here to check out Elf Week!Â
Turkey Claus by Wendi Silvano
Okay, this book is honestly just for fun. The kids laugh and enjoy it. December is a great time for that! So pick this one up for a great laugh and enjoyment read aloud!
Seven Spools of Thread by Angela Shelf Medearis
Are you doing any group projects in December? If so, read this book before you start! It is a great Kwanzaa picture book that is about brothers who are bickering and arguing. In the end, they learn to work together. This will bring up great discussions about what it means to work together and use teamwork.Â
Daddy Christmas & Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko
Do you have any families in your classroom that celebrate different holidays? I bet you do! This book talks about a boy who has two different celebrations at his house. It is an excellent discussion picture book and allows all students to feel seen and known. After reading, you can have kiddos do a writing piece about their holiday traditions to share with the class.
The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
This is a great read aloud or book club choice in December. It is about a student who has to take over the teacher’s job to prepare for the holiday concert. I would recommend it for book clubs with higher students or as a read aloud because it can be on the higher end.
Deck the Halls We’re Off the Walls by Dan Gutman
This is my favorite holiday read aloud. It is funny and engaging all the way through. The students will be hanging on your every word and it will get them interested in reading the My Weird School series books! They are kind of like Junie B. Jones for older kids! 😉
Hannah Wilde
I am so glad you’re here! I love helping 3rd-5th grade teachers by providing ideas, engaging resources, and professional development they need. I am a literacy coach who is here to help lessen the workload for teachers while making them more confident! I want students to be continually engaged in a rigorous environment!