5 Books Read Aloud on YouTube for Read Across America

Happy Read Across America Day!

Celebrate with these five diverse books read aloud on YouTube to celebrate Read Across America or for any day of the year.

What is Read Across America?

NEA continues to host this important holiday and you can find a lot of resources on their website. I especially enjoy their themed reading calendar. March's theme? Celebrate Diversity.

This post contains affiliate links.

The Value of Listening to Read Alouds

I wanted to do a post with slightly different resources for Read Across America and thought it would be great to focus on listening to stories and how they help improve literacy. 

In fact, read-aloud videos play a crucial role in promoting literacy among children. Here are just a few ways they help:

• Read-aloud videos provide a dynamic and engaging platform for storytelling, allowing children to immerse themselves in the narrative while simultaneously improving their language skills.
• Hearing stories read aloud helps children develop essential literacy skills such as vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency. 
• Additionally, read-aloud videos can serve as valuable modeling tools, showcasing proper pronunciation, intonation, and expression, which are fundamental aspects of effective reading.
• These videos can foster a love for reading by making storytelling a pleasurable and interactive experience. 
• They also offer accessibility to a wide range of literature, including diverse voices and perspectives, thereby promoting inclusivity and cultural understanding. 

Overall, read-aloud videos are a powerful educational resource that contributes significantly to children's literacy development and overall academic success.

5 Video Read Alouds for Read Across America

Here are 5 videos that I've selected for their diversity and inclusivity, starting, of course, with one that highlights a Latina legend: Rita Moreno!

A Girl Named Rosita 💃🏻 The Story of Rita Moreno for Kids (Parents, don't be put off by the puppets at the beginning. The actual read aloud is excellent!)

Get the book here in English and in Spanish.



The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi - Video by Read Aloud Adventure (Excellent channel to follow!)

Get the book here!

Senator Cory Booker Reads "Freedom Soup" for Read Across America

Get the book here!

Jacqueline Woodson Reads "The Day You Begin" | Bookmarks | Netflix Jr

Get the book here in English and in Spanish!

Astronaut Nick Hague reads Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover on Storytime from Space.

Get the book here!

What are your kids reading today?

Other Posts You May Enjoy

If you'd like to find more (bilingual) resources for Read Across America Day, check out these posts here on MommyMaestra:

• Dr. Seuss Books in Spanish
  
  
• Read Across America Books, Ideas, & Printable
  
  
• Read for America: 3 Books that Inspire
  
  
• Diverse Books: reviews and features

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Story Time from Space

I can't think of anything much more exciting for a young child who is crazy about reading, space, and astronauts than to be read to by an astronaut who is in space!

Did you know that's a thing? Because I didn't. So I'm pretty excited about the new website, Story Time from Space, from the Global Space Education Foundation. They send STEM-related children's books (most of them about space) to the International Space Station (ISS), where astronauts film themselves reading the books. Those videos are then edited and uploaded to the Story Time from Space website for everyone to enjoy! So far, I've counted 20 books that have been read aloud and uploaded.


The astronauts on the ISS are also conducting experiments that reflect or reinforce the concepts in these books. You can find some of the ones that they've already completed under the Science Time Videos tab in the menu bar.

The Global Space Education Foundation is also working on curricula and activity guides to complement these books. The first one - Newton's Law of Motion - is available for sale on the website.


They've even posted their first video in Spanish with astonaut Joseph Acaba (the first Puerto Rican astronaut!) reading Max viaja a Marte from the Japanese laboratory in the International Space Station.


Another Hispanic reading in space is Serena Maria Auñón-Chancellor (a Cuban-American astronaut) reading Luciana, Braving the Deep. What I enjoyed most about this particular video was how she paused here and there to give commentary about something in the story and how it relates to the work that the astronauts do on the space station.

If you want to learn more, follow Story Time from Space on Facebook. I just did!

I mean, really, how is this not the most fantastic thing? It's perfect for families, educators, or both (homeschoolers).

The Night of Las Posadas Read Aloud

Today is December 16th and the official beginning of Las Posadas. I started looking around to see what new resources were available for celebrating this nine-day tradition, and was DELIGHTED to find a read aloud on YouTube of Tomie dePaola's excellent children's picture book, The Night of Las Posadas (aff). It's one of my favorite stories about this holiday event.

So I thought I would share it with you here. It was uploaded for the St. Helen School music class. It's very much an English-speaker production, but a great read for Spanish immersion classrooms anyway. I love that they have different voice actors representing the different characters.

I hope you enjoy it!!

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I Didn't Stop Reading to My Kids After They Learned to Read

When my children were little, I read to them all the time: in the car, on the couch, after breakfast, before bedtime. I read short stories and nursery rhymes, bilingual books and poetry. (I imagine many MommyMaestra parents can relate to this!) And then my children learned to read.

I began having them read to me instead, and the amount of time I spent reading to my kids slowed down. But I stubbornly held on to those read-aloud moments. Because even though they were able to read on their own, I knew that listening to stories was a crucial part of their literacy development. It refines their listening skills and helps to build reading comprehension. When they struggle to understand what they are reading, storytelling can actually improve their ability to remember what the story is about, and help them internalize the meaning. Listening to stories helps children learn the rhythm of a well-written story. By listening, they learn about inflection and intonation. It trains their ear, and encourages them to look ahead as they read so that they, too, can read aloud in a similar manner.

Plus, I treasured those times. And I still do. My children are now 10 and 12 years old. But sharing great storytelling with my children is a special part of our lives. Most of the time our read alouds happen during our school time, but occasionally, when we have a great book, I'll grab it, plop down on the couch, and they'll sit and listen.

That's why I've joined Moms Rising's MomsReading initiative. I believe that reading with and to your children is important. And I want to encourage you, as a parent, to read aloud to your child... even when they are old enough to read on their own.

A few years ago I shared 5 bilingual books that make perfect read alouds. I still stand behind these books.

But there are many wonderful titles to share as a family. I look for:

• meaty books with storylines that I know will capture my child's attention
• books that help me raise world citizens
• a variety of stories: classics, bilingual books, folktales, mysteries, fiction, nonfiction
• a great story

We've been reading Don Quixote. We have laughed our way through one ridiculous adventure after another. And our trip to Spain has only made my kids even more eager to finish this huge book. Next on our list is Spanish-American folktales.

I'm excited about this book, which I bought when I was in my 20s and have never read. I bought it to read to my future children, then forgot I had it until I discovered it the other day in an old chest.

I'm looking forward to our next storytelling journey. They are moments that my children will remember long after they've grown.

I encourage you to make reading aloud a routine in your home, if you don't already. You'll be glad you did.

Disclosure: I am participating in this MomsRising campaign, however, I am not compensated for doing so. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read Across America with Spanish Read Alouds

Teachers and parents! Grab these Read Across America Day Spanish resources to use in your classroom. Choose from books, videos, and printables for K-5th.

Every year, on Dr. Seuss' birthday, the NEA (National Education Association) commemorates it with their Read Across America initiative. Anyone and everyone can participate. All you have to do is pick up a book and read to your child, student, niece, nephew, cousin, grandchild... or even volunteer to read aloud at your local bookstore or library.

Bilingual families will find this a fun opportunity to nurture your children's biliteracy. Let's delve deeper into the world of Dr. Seuss with a special focus on Spanish translations and diverse books.

This post contains affiliate links.

Exploring Spanish Videos of Dr. Seuss Read Alouds

Today, as we celebrate the richness of diverse literature, it's essential to acknowledge the availability of Dr. Seuss' timeless classics in Spanish. While we revel in the magic of these stories, did you know that many of them are beautifully translated into Spanish, too?

Here are a few that I found on YouTube. I think you will love using them at home or in class:

The first is El Gato Ensombrerado | Dr. Seuss | Spanish Story Time for Kids from Miami Children's Museum.

The next is Oh, cuán lejos llegarás!: Cuento de niño leído en voz alta read aloud by Amigos Bilingües Company.

And finally, here's Huevos Verdes con Jamón (En Español) | Episodio Nuevo Completo | Lectura Animada Oficial | Dr. Seuss read aloud on the official Dr. Seuss channel!

The Art of Translation: Capturing the Spirit

If you're discerning about translations like me, you understand the importance of capturing the essence of a story while transposing it into another language. A good translation goes beyond mere words; it breathes life into the narrative in a new linguistic realm. Fortunately, translators like Yanitzia Canetti excel in this craft.

Yanitzia Canetti: A Master Translator

If you are like me, you may be highly particular, though, about translations. Too often literal translations leave a sour taste in my mouth. A truly good translation, however, is one that captures the spirit of the story and brings it to life in another language. It's hard to find good translations, I think. But one of the best translators, in my opinion, is Yanitzia Canetti.

And lucky for us, she has translated quite a few of Dr. Seuss' wonderful tales for children including: (affiliate links below)

• One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish - Un pez, dos peces, pez rojo, pez azul
• The Cat in the Hat Comes Back - El gato con sombrero viene de nuevo
• Horton Hears a Who! - ¡Horton escucha a quién!
• Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories - Yoruga la tortuga y otros cuentos
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas - ¡Cómo el Grinch robó la Navidad!
• There's a Wocket in My Pocket - ¡Hay un molillo en mi bolsillo!

Where to Find Spanish Translations

If you're eager to introduce your children to Dr. Seuss' enchanting world in Spanish, head over to Amazon.com and search for Yanitzia's translations. She stands out as one of the finest translators, particularly known for her exceptional renditions of Dr. Seuss' beloved tales for children.  With her expert touch, these stories come alive in a whole new language.

Explore More from Yanitzia Canetti

Don't stop at Dr. Seuss! Delve into Yanitzia Canetti's other works and translations to discover more captivating tales to share with your little ones. Let the magic of storytelling transcend linguistic boundaries.

My Spanish Printable Activity Sheets

And just for fun, you can also download my free bilingual worksheet to get your little ones rhyming. It's available with both English and Spanish text.

If you have older kids, you may prefer to download my Seuss-inspired bilingual word searches instead.  

Other Posts You May Enjoy

If you'd like to find more resources to celebrate diverse books and Read Across America Day, check out these posts on MommyMaestra:

• 5 Books Read Aloud on YouTube for Read Across America
  
  
• Read Across America Books, Ideas, & Printable
  
  
• Read for America: 3 Books that Inspire
  
  
• Diverse Books: reviews and features