Harold and Hog Pretend for Real by Mo Willems and Dan Santat*

In Mo Willems' series, Elephant and Piggie Like Reading!, Harold the elephant and Hog the pig decide to pretend to be like Elephant and Piggie. . . .except it is really difficult to pretend to be like someone else.  Friendship, however, does not require pretending!
A fun book for beginning or transitional readers (especially reluctant readers). 
Perfect book for building stamina and practicing fluency.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Unlimited Squirrels in I Lost My Tooth! by Mo Willems

Mo Willems has created a new series for beginning readers/reluctant readers with squirrels!
Zoom Squirrel has lost his baby tooth and his squirrel friends panic.  Very humorous!
He also includes "acorny" jokes, facts about teeth, and quizzes. 
Readers may find the different squirrel names confusing.
-Borrowed from the library.

Fox and Chick-The Party by Sergio Ruzzier

Beginning readers will delight in Fox and Chick's antics and reading the comic strip format.
Fox is the sensible one while Chick is a bit more emotional and selfish.
Three separate stories are included-Chick has a party in Fox's bathroom (does not invite Fox and is destructive), Chick criticizes Fox for making vegetable soup (but decides it is better Fox likes vegetables better than small birds!) and lastly, Chick unsuccessfully poses for Fox while he paints.
My eight year old read this book to himself and made the comment, "I don't like Chick!" and after reading it, I agree!
Parents may not like the example Chick offers in these stories.
-Borrowed from the library.

Come Home Already by Jory John and Benji Davies

The third book about Bear and Duck
Bear ventures out into the woods to fish at a lake for peace and quiet (away from Duck).  He discovers that he misses Duck and even needs his companionship! 
Humorous and sweet!
A great book to create into a Reader's Theater (for two -three children).  Also could be used to build fluency with a beginning reader (parent reads either Duck or Bear's lines while the child reads the other character's lines).
-Borrowed from the library.

Yak and Dove by Kylo Maclear illustrated by Esme Shapiro

Yak and Dove part ways when they realize they are so different.  Yak holds an audition for a friend but discovers that even though he and Dove are completely opposite, they can still be friends.
The writing is set up perfectly for Reader's Theater (each character's words are different font and there is no narration).
-Borrowed from the library.

I Am Phoenix by Paul Fleischmann illustrated by Ken Nutt*

Poems for Two Voices
These poems feature different types of birds.  The poem order is clever as the first poem is about  dawn and the last one is about owls.
To perform these poems, the readers would need to practice often.  I read these aloud with my sons in the mornings.  They were reluctant to read them aloud with me as the lines could be confusing when read at the same time (different words at the same time). 
But, I loved the cleverness and thoughtfulness Mr. Fleischmann utilized to create these poems and think when practiced, they would sound incredible.
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.

Ancient History Readers' Theater by Robert W. Smith*

Grades 5-8th
Bringing the past to life!
These twelve Readers' Theaters really bring the "past to life".  Each one has a brief historical overview before it and also offers extensions.
Which people/events are featured: Hammurabi, Hatsheput, Queen Esther, Socrates, Alexander the Great, Archimedes, Eratosthenes, Qin Shi Huangdi, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, Pompeii, and Hypatia
-Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.
Warning: The scripts do not shy away from the reality of the times.  In Hammurabi's Readers' Theater, women/men chasing/adultery, drinking and gambling are mentioned.

Terrible Storm by Carol Otis Hurst illustrated by S. D. Schindler*

Currently I am reading Quiet Power by Susan Cain and have been sharing the strengths of introverts with my boys.  So this book that features an introvert and an extrovert was apropos.
Two childhood gentlemen reminisce about the Blizzard of 1888.  The introvert is snowed in a the tavern with lots of people while the extrovert is snowed in a barn with only animals to keep him company!  Each page features two illustrations, one of the introvert and another of extrovert along with their point of view.  When I read this book aloud, my fourth grader read aloud the one grandfather's comments while I read aloud the other grandfather's point of view.
The men in this story are the author's grandfathers so the story is true.
I love this book for many reasons.
First, the illustrations depict that time well and are, at times,  humorous.
It is a perfect book for a mini Reader's Theater and/or for children to read aloud to practice fluency (two different grandfathers plus a narrator).
Lends itself to comparing/contrasting and point of view.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat*

Mo Willems has collaborated with Mr. Santat to create a new series called Elephant and Piggie Like Reading!.  Elephant and Piggie pick up a favorite book and invite the reader to read along with them (the book they are reading is by Dan Santat).
My first grader loved this book!  This is his review.
"I liked when the hippo split up the cookies and made it equal among the friends.  I also liked at the end when the cow brought milk because there were only three glasses of milk to share with four friends.  Now there is a milk fiasco!!".
A delightful new series for beginning readers.  Perfect for Reader's theater.
-Borrowed from the library.
*Highly recommend.

We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen

This third book by Jon Klassen continues the hat theme.
Two turtles in a desert find a hat lying on the sand.  They both want it.  How can they solve this predicament? Although the text is simple (perfect for beginning readers), the text offers older readers the chance to infer and to think.
Strategies: fluency (two readers could read the two different parts); inferring
-Borrowed from the library.

Puddle by Hyewon Yum*

A young boy throws a bit of a tantrum when the rain threatens his fun for the day.  His creative, clever mother engages him in drawing a story and the day turns "sunny".
Strategy: fluency-**The entire story is told via dialogue between the mother and son.  Her words are written in read and his words are written in black.
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

Snappsy the Alligator by Julie Falatko illustrated by Tim Miller

(Did Not Ask to Be in This Book!)
A narrator shares with the reader what Snappsy is doing with Snappsy himself  interjecting his comments/opinions.
At the end the reader discovers who the narrator is.
My kindergartner really liked this book!
A great book to use with partner reading.
Strategy: fluency (partner reading and could be made into a Reader's Theater)
*Borrowed from the library.

Violet and Victor Write the Best-Ever Bookworm Book by Alice Kuipers illustrated by Bethanie Deeney Murguia

Twins, Victor and Violet, collaborate to write a worm book.  Violet is determined (but never, ever bossy!!) to write the best book ever but needs Victor's ideas.  Victor, however, would rather count his pet worms.  Amusing interactions.
The entire  book  is told via dialogue so it can be used to build fluency and for partner reading.  Violet's words are in "violet" and Victor's words are in "orange".
Sequel-Violet and Victor Write the Most Fabulous Fairy Tale.
*Borrowed from the library.
Strategy: fluency (Reader's Theater for 2-3 people or partner reading)

I Love You Already! by Jory John illustrated by Benji Davies*

Duck and Bear return after their debut in Good Night Already!
Bear is looking forward to a lazy day at home while Duck is aspiring to take a stroll with Bear.  Once again the two spar with their ideals with humorous results!
Reading Strategy: fluency (one person could be bear and one person could be duck-take turns reading-**It is set up perfectly for a two person reader's theater!); accuracy 
*Highly recommend.
*Borrowed from the library.

That's (Not) Mine by Anna Kang illustrated by Christopher Weyant*

This husband-wife team has created another wonderful book for beginning readers.  Their first book You Are (Not) Small won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award in 2015.
The same two bears are in this story and find themselves arguing over a comfy chair.
This team has captured younger children's frustration over sharing and also their ability to forgive and be friends again very well.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.
My kindergartner was eager to read this book aloud to me!
I would highly recommend this book for preschool rooms and K-1st grade rooms.
Strategy: fluency  Perfect for a Reader's Theater for two people.

Turk and Runt by Lisa Wheeler illustrated by Frank Ansley*

"A Thanksgiving Comedy"
Runt's parents are so proud of his brother Turk.  He is huge and plump.  The parents have huge aspirations for Turk.  But Runt knows better.  Turk's destiny is on a platter on a Thanksgiving Day table.  But no one listens to Runt until one day when an elderly comes for Runt.
Funny!
*Highly recommend.
Grade Level Equivalent: 2.8
**I saw online a Reader's Theater made for this book. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Theater-Turk-and-Runt-A-Thanksgiving-Comedy-863762   It costs over $6.00.
Strategy: fluency, expanding vocab. 

The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt illustrated by Oliver Jeffers*

The much anticipated sequel to The Day the Crayons Quit!
Duncan's crayons send him post cards sharing where they are located around the house and even the world.  All post cards included are retro and older.
Mr. Daywalt uses different color crayons (neon red, maroon, pea green, glow in the dark, a toddler crayon!,  plus more) and also includes our friends yellow and orange crayon from the first book.
Lots of clever humor which will delight readers of all ages!
A book we are purchasing!
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: fluency (have various students be a different crayon and turn story into a Reader's Theater), connections 
Mentor text for creative writing: Have students select a crayon and describe where its owner left, following Mr. Daywalt's example.  Also a mentor text for point of view.

Master Man by Aaron Shepard illustrated by David Wisniewski*

"A Tall Tale of Nigeria"
My boys were spellbound while I read this book aloud to them (and so was I!).
Shadusa is quite proud of his bulging muscles and declares himself "Master Man" since he thinks he is the strongest man in the world.  His wise wife, Shettu,  admonishes him about his boosting and states, "No matter how strong you are, there will always be someone stronger."
The next day Shettu's warning becomes reality and some brawls ensue.
This Nigerian tall tale explains why it thunders.
This story lends itself to Reader's Theater.  In fact, the author, Aaron Shepard, is a big time Reader's Theater guru and a professional story teller!  Here is a link to his home page where teachers and educators can print off scripts and other wonderful tools:
http://www.aaronshep.com/
Strategies: fluency/expression, connections (I connected it to Tomie dePaola's Finn M'Coul and the traditional Jack and the Bean Stalk.)
I loved the paper-cut illustrations by Caldecott Medalist Mr. Wisniewski  (pronounced wiz-NESS-key).  The are bold and well . . .STRONG!
*Highly recommend.
This is a book I am considering purchasing.