41. Why Read Aloud? Benefits of Using Read Alouds in the Classroom

Molly Lou Melon is a young girl who stands out due to her unique appearance and voice. Despite moving to a new school and facing bullying from a classmate named Ronald Durkin, Molly Lou follows her grandmother's advice to walk proud, smile big, and sing loud. She shows Ronald and her classmates that her differences are actually talents, ultimately winning over Ronald and proving that confidence and self-acceptance can lead to remarkable achievements.

The Elephant and Piggie series, created by Mo Willems, follows the lives of two contrasting best friends: Gerald, an antsy and serious elephant, and Piggie, an exuberant and lively pig. The series aims to teach early readers about the importance of friendship, how to deal with life's problems, and basic emotional intelligence. The books use simple vocabulary, repetition of phrases, and basic mathematical concepts to facilitate early reading. The illustrations help readers interpret emotions through character expressions and font sizes, making it easy for young readers to understand how the characters are feeling.