Fractions can be a tricky concept for big kids to grasp, but with the right tools, they can be much easier to understand. Enter fraction read alouds! This is a great way to get your kids excited about fractions and help them to understand the concept more easily. We’ve compiled a list of our top 15 favorite fraction read alouds for big kids. From silly stories to clever rhymes, these books are sure to make fractions fun. So grab a snack and get ready for some fraction read alouds!
PLUS you can grab a FREE fun fraction activity to use with your kiddos.
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Why Should I Use Fraction Read-Alouds for Big Kids Anyway?
“Ok, scholars. Take out your math workbooks. We’re starting fractions today.”
“Ugghhhh. Nooo! See, this is why I hate math!” 😡
As my co-teacher told me this story about my homeroom students one day, my heart sank.
Even though I taught 4th Grade ELA and SS, she and I shared the same students and wanted them to succeed in all subjects.
To hear that they were rejecting fractions so quickly meant that struggle was right around the corner for them.
So, we put our heads together and I decided to whip out my favorite math read-alouds to use as lesson warm-ups.
Funny fraction stories are no longer just for little kids!
With the right read alouds, fractions can be a fun and engaging way to introduce big kids to the world of math.
From stories about fractional pizza pies to tales of fractional superheroes, there’s something for everyone.
Whether your students are just starting to learn fractions or are brushing up on their skills, these fraction read alouds will have them hooked in no time. So, get ready to explore the fascinating world of fractions with these top 15 fraction read alouds for big kids!
Books That Help Introduce Fractions
To jump start our list, let’s look at books that will help you introduce the concept of fractions.
Now, this doesn’t mean that your kiddos don’t anything about fractions. But maybe your upper elementary students need a refresher on the basics.
OR it could be the case that some students are new to you and for whatever reason, weren’t taught anything about fractions before.
Either way, I highly recommend any of the books in this section to get you started. 🤗
Visual Fractions: A Beginning Fractions Book
Although this is more of a workbook rather than a story, I love the visuals!
It shows fractions in all forms, which helps your visual learners grasp the idea of fractions easily.
Plus, the e-book version is FREE with Kindle Unlimited by Amazon. (More on this membership later in the post)
So, you can just rent it at no charge, then display it on your classroom projector for kids to see each fraction.
Fraction Fun
David Alder’s fraction-beginner friendly book makes it very easy to review the concept of this math skill.
The book offers examples of fractions from every day life. These examples are relatable to big kids because they have probably used them in their own lives.
If You Were a Fraction
Author Trisha Sue Speed Shaskan does a great job with this colorful picture book.
It explains fractional concepts by speaking in first-person and using everyday examples like pizzas and pies.
And I’m not the only teacher who thinks this makes a good book to introduce fractions. Here’s feedback from another teacher:
“Great book for introduction to fractions in 3rd grade! My students loved the book!” -Lauren
Give Me Half!
Stuart J. Murphy’s book about halves makes another great option for fraction read alouds. It introduces fractions by showing conflicts that a brother and sister are having about sharing certain foods and treats.
Since it covers the basics of HOW to divide wholes into halves and fourths, it gives background on WHY we need to learn about fractions.
Not only that, but I bet students with siblings can relate to disagreeing with their brother or sister!
Whole-y Cow! Fractions are Fun
Here’s another one of our fraction read alouds that you can snag for FREE using Kindle Unlimited.
And it just happens to be a funny way to introduce fractions. This summary tells us more:
Learning about fractions isn’t always easy, but who says it can’t be fun? Using one very entertaining cow, math teacher Taryn Souders (the author) has devised a very clever (and fun) way of explaining fractions to beginning learners.
Free Fractions E-Books For Your Classroom
Since I’ve mentioned two free book options, let’s continue our list with four more free fraction read alouds.
This adorable story shows a primary teacher with visuals explaining fractions to her students.
Brian Cleary writes amazing math books for kids! Not only have I read his other math topics, but this fraction book from him is one of my favorites.
In fact, he has a full math book series called Math Is CATegorical. ®
If you haven’t checked him out, you can do it at no cost by trying Kindle Unlimited on a 30-day trial.
How Are These Books “Free” and What is Kindle Unlimited?
Several of these fraction read-alouds don’t cost extra for each book.
You can save so much money on classroom books with the membership Kindle Unlimited. As a teacher and mom, I’ve used this reading program for years!
Instead of paying full price for each book, I pay a flat fee once a month for all the books included in the catalog.
Here’s how it works:
- You can digitally “check out” up to 10 books or magazines at once for $9.99 a month.
- There’s no need to get a Kindle reader to access these e-books, just a device with the free Kindle app.
- As soon as you finish an e-book, return it digitally and check out more.
That’s it! Easy-peasy-lemon squeezy. 🍋
When you want to read one of these fraction books to your students, just display it virtually and enjoy.
If you’re curious, try it free for 30 days using my referral code here 👉🏾 Kindle Unlimited Trial.
Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages Picture Book
For upper elementary students, it’s almost impossible to teach fractions without also teaching decimals. Many state standards have them closely connected. Which is why I recommend another one of David Adler’s fraction books.
It has a fun theme about going to the county fair showing different booths and events using fractions, decimals, and percentages.
This book works especially well with upper elementary students.
Fraction Books for 4th and 5th Grade
Speaking of upper elementary, this section covers fraction books that are really geared toward 4th and 5th grade learners.
The Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar Fractions Book by Jerry Palotta is honestly my favorite book on fractions!
Why? Because it involves two of my favorite things: hands on learning + chocolate!! 🍫
A Hershey’s bar is made up of 12 little rectangles, making it the perfect edible tool for teaching fractions!
But don’t just take my word for it. Check out this feedback about the book from a parent:
“My child came home from school excited about this book, the only time math has sparked this much enthusiasm. Ordered it immediately, received it in a timely fashion, and she sat down and started working on it within an hour. Must be something appealing about disguising math in a chocolate bar wrapper…” –Maryanne
If you have students with negative attitudes toward learning fractions, this book will snap them right out that!
Fractions = Trouble: A Chapter Book About Fractions
Since we’re on the subject of negative attitudes toward learning fractions, allow me to introduce Claudia Mills’ chapter book to you:
This longer book is about a boy who does not want to learn fractions. Even though it doesn’t help you teach this math skill like some of the other fraction read-alouds on this list, it does offer a great story about mindset.
Students need a growth-mindset when approaching new or challenging topics.
Just like my former students who complained to my co-teacher about learning fractions, you may have kiddos in your class who don’t want to learn fractions.
If so, they will learn a thing-or-two from the main character of this fraction story.
Fractions in Disguise: Multiplying Fractions with Like and Unlike Denominators
If I had to choose a second-favorite book about fractions, this one is definitely the one. 🙌🏾
It’s a mystery that’s funny with a cute math twist. It makes an excellent fractions book for 4th and 5th graders because it:
- shows equivalent fractions
- has several examples of like and unlike denominators
- multiples fractions–which is a skill older kids need to learn
Plus, it’s so funny! Your kids will like this book. 🤩
Books That Show Adding and Subtracting Fractions
The next two fraction read alouds that I recommend show examples of adding and subtracting fractions.
First up in this section is Fraction Action by Lisa Arias.
The ninja theme gives it an engaging vibe right from the cover.
And another fractions book that shows adding and subtracting is The Wishing Club: A Story About Fractions by Donna Jo Napoli.
In this adorable book, siblings wish on a star but only receive a part of their wish. So, they must figure out how to add up the parts (which are shown as fractions) to get their full wish.
The Lion’s Share: A Book with Excellent Fraction Visuals
As we near the end of this fun list of fraction books, I want to mention this beautifully illustrated one by Matthew McElligott.
The Lion’s Share shows a thoughtful ant who issues a challenge to other animals about dessert for the lion.
Of course, things need to be divided a certain way to make the challenge work.
I love ❤️ the visuals in this book and how they help students further understand the concept of dividing a whole into smaller parts.
A Funny Fraction Book for Kids
To conclude our list of 15 fractions read-alouds, I want to offer a fun bonus option by Doris Fisher and Dani Sneed.
My Half Day is such a funny book about going to Camp Fraction. The main character wakes up and everything seems wacky!
Several examples of fractions are shown with great illustrations to match. I think this would make a fun kick-off to a “Freaky Fractions” project where students must create their own wacky examples of fractions!
Your FREE Fraction Activity
Fractions can be a tricky concept for kids to understand, but they don’t have to be!
Hopefully one of these fraction read alouds appeal to you.
These books are a great way to help big kids learn and practice their fraction knowledge in an engaging way. From picture books to novels, there are a variety of books from this list that can help your kiddos understand the concept of fractions.
Especially when you add them with this free fractions resource:
Happy Fractions Teaching 🧮
