Are you looking for fun and engaging books for retelling? Many picture books can be used for retelling, but the best choices have a clear sequence of events, memorable characters, and vivid details. Find out 10 books for retelling to practice this skill with elementary students.
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Books for Retelling
Students can use these books to retell stories orally or in writing during literacy centers. To enhance your instruction you may want to check out these retelling story activities and these books for sequencing for more hands on retelling.
Chalk
Chalk by Bill Thomson is a book kids love since it sparks their imaginations. Three children find a bag of chalk at the playground and the most magical adventures occur. Wordless picture books are an easy way for early readers to practice retelling a story using illustrations.
Can I Be Your Dog?
Arfy wants to find a home, so he sends letters to his neighbors telling them why he’d make a great pet – but no one seems to want him. Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings is perfect for retelling as students can list the ways that Arfy tries to find a home.
The Stray Dog
The Stray Dog by Marc Simont is another story that will tug at animal lovers’ heart strings. A young family plays with a stray dog at their picnic but says goodbye at the end of the day. They come back to look for him the following week, but the dog catcher is looking for him too! Young readers will enjoy retelling this sweet story.
The Sandwich Swap
Two best friends love doing the same things, but will their different preferences for sandwiches come between their friendship? The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah is fun to retell – especially the part about the epic food fight!
Knuffle Bunny
Trixie loves Knuffle Bunny, but one day she accidentally loses him at the laundromat. She tries to tell her Dad but he doesn’t seem to understand. Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems will have students laughing as they retell how things all went wrong for Trixie.
The Little House
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton is a classic picture book about the passage of time and how things change that works well for retelling. Throughout the story, readers watch as things are built up around the little house. But the little house misses being in the country where she can watch the seasons pass.
The Smart Cookie
The Smart Cookie doesn’t always feel smart. She’s not confident raising her hand in class and is always the last one done on tests. But will a class assignment finally allow her to feel smart in her own way? All of the engaging books in Jory John’s Food Group Series are fun to retell!
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum has always loved her name, that is until she started school. The other kids teased her about her name, until an unexpected discovery helps her love her name again. Chrysanthemum and other Kevin Henkes’ books all work well for retelling as they have simple stories that mirror young readers’ own experiences.
The Other Side
Clover, a young African American girl, and Annie, a white girl, form a friendship but the grown-ups in their lives advise them to stay apart. Despite this, they manage to find a way to get around these rules and strengthen their bond. The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson is a beautiful story for upper elementary students to retell.
Thunder Cake
In Thunder Cake, a young girl conquers her fear of thunderstorms with the help of her grandmother, who wants her help baking a special cake. She ends up learning about bravery and the comforting power of family. All of Patricia Polacco’s books are ideal for upper elementary students to retell with their rich stories and vivid details.
What other retelling picture books do you love using? Share in the comments!
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