Are you looking for realistic fiction books for kids? This post shares popular realistic fiction picture books that elementary teachers often use as read alouds. Take a peek below to learn more about these realistic fiction books for kids!
6 Realistic Fiction Books for Kids
Below is a list of some of our favorite realistic fiction books for kids at the elementary level. Check them out below!
1. Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst
Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday by Judith Viorst tells the story of a young boy named Alexander. He really likes money and wants to buy a pair of walkie-talkies. One day, Alexander’s grandparents come to visit and they give him and his brothers a dollar each. Everyone in his family has suggestions for what Alexander should do with his money. He eventually starts spending his money little by little, instead of saving for the walkie-talkies. Alexander goes to the store to buy gum, makes bets with his family, and buys a one eyed bear at a garage sale. Before he knows it, Alexander is out of money and left trying to come up with a way to get more.
Check out these Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
2. Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan
Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan is told from the point of view of Rubina. Rubina receives her first invitation to a birthday party, and is overjoyed to go home and tell her family about it. However, she is met with disappointment when Ami tells her that in order for her to go to the birthday party, she has to bring her little sister, Sana. Rubina brings Sana to the birthday party and has a miserable time. They both get goodie bags from the party that have a big red lollipop in them. Sana eats hers right away, and Rubina hides hers away for the next day. When Rubina wakes up the next morning, she is furious when she discovers that Sana has eaten her lollipop! Eventually, Sana gets invited to a birthday party. She becomes devastated when Ami tells her she has to bring their littler sister Maryam. Instead of letting Sana be miserable at the party, Rubina tells Ami to not make Sana bring Maryam. Sana gets to have fun at the birthday party, and brings home a big green lollipop for Rubina.
Check out these Big Red Lollipop lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
3. Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats is a coming-of-age picture book that many children with siblings can connect to. Peter is constantly reminded of the new baby in his house, Susie. He has to play quietly, help his family, and even give his sister his old furniture. Peter sees his family painting the crib, cradle, and even the high chair pink for his sister. While they are not looking, he takes his old baby chair and his trusting dog to run away. Landing close to home, he sits in his baby chair and realizes he is much too big! His mom then makes something special for lunch and Peter returns, but not without playing a little trick! With this, he realizes that his baby sister is a new member of their family, and helps his dad to paint his last remaining piece of baby furniture pink.
Check out these Peter’s Chair lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
4. Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell
Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell is about how Adrian Simcox talks about his horse all the time. The horse has a golden mane and big brown eyes. But a little girl knows he is lying.
Told from the perspective of a peer, we see Chloe get more upset the more he talks about his horse. She complains to her mom, who brings her to Adrian’s house. His tiny house is half the size of hers! It even looks like it is trash day, but it is not. She then realizes that understanding is the key ingredient in friendship.
Check out these Adrian Simcox Does Not Have a Horse lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
5. Watercress by Andrea Wang
Watercress by Andrea Wang is about how a young girl and her family are traveling down a road in their old Pontiac. Suddenly, her parents get very excited- they see watercress growing off of the road! They all get out of the car to help gather this harvest of vegetables. As the family is deep in the muck, the child feels embarrassed and hopes no one she knows sees her.
Later that night, as they are sitting down for dinner, the young girl refuses to eat the watercress. She feels frustrated this food did not come from the grocery store. Her mother quickly goes to get a photo, where we learn that members of her family passed during the famine in her country.
Check out these Watercress lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
6. Saturday by Oge Mora
Saturday by Oge Mora is about a mother and daughter relationship. Ava could hardly wait. After her mother worked all week, it was finally Saturday! She looked forward to spending this time with her mom. They usually would go to the library for storytime, get their hair done, and picnic in the park. This Saturday was especially special because they were going to a puppet show!
Hopes started high that morning, but slowly, everything started to go wrong. Storytime was cancelled at the library, a splash from a car ruined their hairdos, and the park was too loud for a picnic. They rushed to the bus before they missed it for the puppet show. When they got to the front of the line, Ava’s mother realized she forgot the tickets in the kitchen! Ava’s mom broke down, but Ava reminded her that the most important thing about Saturday was that they were together. After, they went home and put on a puppet show of their own! After all, being together is really all that matters.
Check out these Saturday lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
Grab the Free Reading Resources!
In closing, we hope you found this list of realistic fiction books for kids helpful! They are part of our Starts With a Story collection. If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie. It includes read aloud books lists, reading logs, and reading challenges for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
