Free Read-Aloud Story for Kids Ages 5-8: Rocky, Hunter, and the Midnight Mitt
Quick & Easy Less Than 10 Min Assessment To Find Where Your Child May Be Falling Behind
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Looking for a read-aloud story that builds your child’s love of reading? Adventures with Rocky follows a golden retriever and his kids on gentle adventures written for Kindergarten through Grade 3.
How to use this story at home
- Read one page aloud, then let your child read the next sentence.
- Pause and ask, “What do you think happens next?”
- Point to tricky words and sound them out together.
Read the opening: Rocky, Hunter, and the Midnight Mitt
Adventures with Rocky, number two, number two, Rocky, Hunter, and the midnight mitt. Chapter one, the new teammate, Hunter's baseball glove had a hole, not a big hole, a small hole, just below the little finger where the lacing had broken. But a baseball was very good at finding it. Plop, plop, the ball fell onto the grass.
Rocky picked it up. Got it, got it. He set it around the ball. You used your mouth.
Rocky put the ball down. I brought the equipment I own. Hunter sat on the back step. His cap was new.
His shirt was new. His shoes were so white. He did not want to walk on anything. Only the glove was old.
It had belonged to his granddad. Today was Hunter's first practice. What if everyone is better than me? Rocky sat beside him.
Rocky was part golden retriever and part lab. When he panted, you could see two black spots on his tongue. Hunter had found him under the bleachers at the ball field. He turned six.
Rocky was holding an old baseball and he came home and stayed. They might be better at something. That is not helping. That is not helping.
You might be better at other things. Like dropping balls. Rocky looked at the glove. You are certainly getting practice.
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- 36 Step-by-Step Reading Lessons Three structured lessons each week (3 × 12 weeks), matched to the reading skills your child needs to strengthen.
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- Practice Activities & Progress Checks Fun, engaging activities reinforce each skill, with regular checks to see what’s improving and what still needs practice.
- Parent Teaching Guides Simple, step-by-step instructions show you exactly how to help — without needing teaching experience.
- Learn With Rocky or Learn Together Children who are ready can work more independently with Rocky, while parents who want to participate can follow Nancy’s guided approach.
- 12-Week Progress Reassessment & Report At the end of the program, your child completes a fresh assessment showing strengths, observed progress, remaining needs, and the recommended next learning step.
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Quick & Easy Less Than 10 Min Assessment To Find Where Your Child May Be Falling Behind
Fill out the form and we’ll send you a free assessment to help you identify your child’s strengths and possible areas for growth.
Hunter pushed his cap down from the gate. Mom called. Ready? Rocky sprang up.
Hunter followed more slowly. Children were throwing and running. Someone hit a ball that went almost as high as the backstop. Hunter's stomach dropped.
Then Coach Rosa blew a whistle. She looked at Rocky and our new four-legged teammate. Rocky's tail went so fast that Hunter's shirt fluttered. Hunter smiled despite himself.
Perhaps one of them was ready. Chapter two. The important job. Rocky was not allowed on the field during hitting practice.
Even with your excellent catching method, Coach Rosa told him. Rocky looked disappointed. Coach pointed to a shady spot beside the dugout. There was a bowl of water and a folded mat.
You're our team dog. You welcome players. You help us cheer. During breaks, with a grown up, you can collect the soft practice balls.
Rocky considered the job. Is there a hat? Coach took a blue bandana from her bag. Hunter tied it loosely around Rocky's neck.
Talk about it
- How did the characters feel at the start?
- What would you have done?
- Retell the story in three sentences.
Is your child reading on track? Take Dr. Nancy’s free reading assessment and get a simple plan in minutes.
About the author: Dr. Nancy Barker, Ed.D., has been a teacher for 49 years. Doctoral dissertation: Pepperdine University, 2011 — digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/173.
Quick & Easy Less Than 10 Min Assessment To Find Where Your Child May Be Falling Behind
Fill out the form and we’ll send you a free assessment to help you identify your child’s strengths and possible areas for growth.