Read All About It!: Great Read-Aloud Stories, Poems, and Newspaper Pieces for Preteens and Teens

I ordered this book because I was looking for some short stories to prepare for a new curriculum we are going to have in HK and I am not disappointed. Not all the stories are "short stories" (some entries are excerpts from novels, poems, etc.) but I can still find a few which have potentials for my purpose. My favourites are "Aunt Millicent" (a comedy), "The Elevator" (a thriller), "An Object Lesson" (Detective story) and "Those 3 Wishes" (A modern fairy tale". If you're teaching in HK and are looking for some interesting short stories to prepare for the NSS Learning English through Short Stories elective, this is quite a good collection. It does not contain only stories of different genres, but every story begins with a short introduction of its author(s) or its background, which helps to boost the enjoyment in reading the stories.

I bought this book based on the great reviews, but most of the stories are about caucasians. That's fine, but I'm in an area where only 20% of the students are white.

However, the stories are good, and each is preceeded by information about the author.

I am a read aloud mom to 4th graders, and each and every story I have read from this book to the class has them CAPTIVATED! I was trying to decide on a favorite, but they are ALL so good!! The book has stories that truly touch your heart. It has fiction and nonfiction, humor, satire, tragedy, biography, short pieces; long pieces. Jim Trealease also does a great job introducing the authors which are stories within themselves. I can't say enough about this book. If you have anyone you wish would read more rather than watch TV, purchase this. It will definitely get their interest, and the students may purchase some of the books after reading one of the interesting chapters, and the life of the author Jim Trelease writes about. The 4th grade class I read to, are asking that very question (what is the name of that book and the author).

My students really enjoyed the selections I read to them from the book. It is great resource to have on hand when you've finished your lesson and there is still five minutes left in class. It is also terrific to have for those studyhall kids who never seem to have any work ... toss it to them and say, "Have a look at this." In two minutes, they are silent, usually for the rest of the period.

After reading the fabulous book, I feal like i'm ready to face the word. It is filled with great literature for you children.