October is a great month for spooktacular read alouds! I find that it is more difficult to find chapter books that are geared toward upper elementary students. I use these books in my classroom and have found great success with each one!
Fantasy Read Alouds
My favorite genre of children’s books is fantasy. Kids love the imaginative power of magic (and so do I.) These books will not disappoint! You can incorporate some fun activities during and after reading.
The Witches by Roald Dahl
How do you spot a vitch (witch)? They wear gloves to cover up their claws. They have a bald head, and wear wigs to cover it up which also causes a rash. Witches have square feet with no toes and wear uncomfortable pointy shoes. Their eyes have pupils that change colors, blue spit, and large nostrils to sniff out children. A young boy learns all of this from his grandmother who encountered a witch in her childhood.
Your students are introduced to wonderful characters throughout the story. It helps bring the story to life if you use an accent when speaking as the Grand High Witch. My favorite part of this read aloud is at the beginning of the book. Your students will laugh and it hooks them for the rest of the story. As an added bonus, there are now two film adaptations that you could recommend for the students to watch (or show at school, if allowed).
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
“Harry — yer a wizard.” I am personally a huge fan of the Harry Potter series. I even used Hogwarts as a classroom theme. I loved using this book as a read aloud during that school year, but it can be used in any classroom. Another great reason to read this book is that it is part of a series. I find that reading aloud books in a series keeps students with ideas of additional books that they can read on their own.
It may seem that all children are familiar with this story, but when I read this book to my classes, I have found that there are only a few students that know about the series. I even implemented the Hogwarts houses (Griffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw) into my classroom that year. When we finished reading the book, we watched the movie and enjoyed some themed snacks during our classroom fall party. Yum!
Mystery Read Alouds
Mystery books are another favorite read aloud genre. The students enjoy trying to figure out what happened and want to keep listening all the way to the end.
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Who killed Sam Westing? In order to solve the mystery, sixteen heirs are challenged to find the solution based on puzzles from the will. The heirs are split into random pairs and are given $10,000 and a set of clues. The pair that solves the mystery will inherit Westing’s entire $200 million fortune and control of his company.
I find it helpful to keep track of clues and characters while reading the novel. The students share information they remember from the book and I write it on the board. We keep track of the clues throughout the story and try to determine what the most important parts are. We also discuss red herrings and why an author uses those in a novel.
Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery by James Howe
Vampire? Check! Rabbit? Check! Your students will love meeting Bunnicula and his veggie-sucking ways. Told from the perspective of a family’s dog, this book will have your students howling with delight from beginning to end.
If you are looking for a shorter read aloud, Bunnicula is a great choice. The book is only 144 pages. Your students will also be able to continue to read after you finish with other books in the series.
Scary/Horror Read Alouds
Most people love a scary movie or show. Books can elicit the same adrenaline rush! I read many books as an adult that get my blood pumping and fearing the bumps in the night. Your students will love these scary read alouds!
Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker
I discovered this book through The Book Wrangler. It is also a 2020 Newbery Honor Recipient. All I did was read the first chapter to my class and they were hooked! I chose to read the first two chapters of this book as part of First Chapter Friday. First Chapter Friday is a sneak-peek into a novel that gets students intrigued and wanting them to read more. After reading the first chapter aloud to my class, my library crew immediately created a waiting list and posted it in our classroom library.
In this book, two fox kits are separated from their litter and need to find a den to call home. Unfortunately, the haunted season has arrived and no fox kit is safe in the Antler Wood. The novel features eight interconnected stories and even includes beautiful illustrations.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
One of the great things about this book is that it is full of short stories. If you do not want to read aloud an entire book or are limited on time at the end of the month, then this short story collection will be perfect. Another book that is a part of a series and will keep kids wanting to read more. There is more mature content, so it would be best for fifth grade and up.
