The Ultimate Read-Aloud Resource: Making Every Moment Intentional and Instructional With Best Friend Books

In this book, award-winning children’s author and acclaimed educator Lester L. Laminack provides guidelines, lessons, and resources for making every read-aloud experience intentional and instructional. Central to Laminack’s message is his breakthrough thinking about the value and importance of “Best Friend Books” – a small, carefully curated collection that you turn to repeatedly for specific teaching purposes.
You’ll also find:
- Step by step lessons for “first visits” and “return visits” with recommended Best Friend Books—clear guidelines for digging deeply into the books and enriching students’ understanding of content and craft.
- Links to an online resource bank that contains “Spotlight on Lester” videos and graphic organizers for you and downloadables for your students.
- “What the Research Says” boxes that point to studies supporting Laminack’s professional advice.
- A list of Laminack’s favorite Best Friend Books to date, annotated and alphabetically organized.
- “Home Visit” boxes that contain tips and tools for welcoming families into the work

Award-winning children’s author and acclaimed educator, Lester L. Laminack, provides guidelines, lessons, and resources for making every read-aloud experience intentional and instructional. Central to Laminack’s message is his breakthrough thinking about the value and importance of “Best Friend Books” —a small, carefully curated collection that you turn to repeatedly for specific teaching purposes.