Do You Know What Your Kid Is Reading Today?

Today is the 17th Annual Read Aloud Day, a long-running program that was created by the and funded by the Village Market. Members from the community will be dropping into classrooms at Miller-Driscoll and Cider Mill to read aloud to children, inspiring conversation and maybe even a new most-loved book (this year’s selections can be found below).

“We just thought it was a great way to give back to the children in our community, and it’s a very fun event. We’ve always enjoyed going into the classrooms –I’m sure I can speak for our readers—the kids and adults get a charge out of,” said Nancy Dohnier, the General Manager of the. The Village Market is Read Aloud Day’s sole sponsor, donating $1,000 annually to the event.

All sorts of community members contribute to Read Aloud Day, including local merchants and municipal workers. Dohnier will be reading to Mrs. Hussey’s first grade class today.

“The concept is to share the book, share time with kids and have the readers share their regular –life perspectives in class too,” said Heidi von Hoffmann, who helps with publicity for the event. Hoffmann said that this is in line with WEF’s mission statement, which is bringing a learning experience from “beyond the classroom. “

“We want to thank the Village Market for their contributions. We couldn’t do it without them. Their philosophy has always been to give back to the community in as many ways as possible, and we thank them for their part in this effort,” said Hoffman. She also said that the event’s main coordinators have been Laura Martins and Jacqueline Guglielmo, two Wilton residents who have worked on the event this year for the first time.

Below is a list of the books to be read for grades K-5, used with permission from the WEF’s website. Why not take one out at the library and have something to talk with your child about?

• Kindergarten: Duck at the Door by Jackie Urbanovic

“Knock, Knock, Knock!! Someone’s outside the door…. But who??
Meet Max – a duck for all seasons. Max visits a special family and drives them crazy while he’s there. But, when he leaves in search of his own family, will they miss him when he’s gone?”

• First Grade: Toot and Puddle: Charming Opal by Holly Hobby

“It’s summertime, and Toot and Puddle’s little cousin, Opal, is visiting Woodcock Pocket when she discovers that she has a loose tooth. Opal places it under her pillow and worries the Tooth Fairy won’t be able to find her. Puddle puts on a special costume so that Opal won’t be disappointed. But will the Tooth Fairy show up after all?”

• Second Grade: Horace and Morris Join the Chorus by James Howe

“Best friends Horace and Morris, and Dolores do everything together, so when they try out for the chorus and Dolores (who sings notes no one has ever heard before) doesn’t get in, she feels hurt and angry and – not like Dolores at all – sorry for herself. But mostly she feels lonely, with her friends too busy rehearsing to have time to share adventures with her. So Dolores does what she does best and takes matters into her own hands. But can she prove to Moustro Provolone that there’s a place for every kind of voice in the chorus??”

• Third Grade: I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child

“Charlie has this little sister, Lola. Sometimes Charlie has to give Lola her dinner. This is difficult because she is a very fussy eater. Can Charlie use creative thinking to get his sister to eat her food?”

• Fourth Grade: The Princess and the Pizza by Mary Jane and Herm Auch

“Princess Paulina is down on her luck. When she sees that Prince Drupert is in search of a bride, she is among the first in line. Paulina passes all of mean Queen Zelda’s tests, but for her final one she must prepare a feast worthy of royal approval …. or else be beheaded!! A hilarious take on traditional fairy tales.”

• Fifth Grade: Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen

“Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about rules in the library, but when a lion comes in one day, no one is sure what to do. There aren’t any rules about lions in the library. It turns out though, that the lion is very well suited for the library. But when something terrible happens, the lion helps in the only way he knows how. Could there ever be a good reason to break the rules? Even in the library??”