Free Read-Aloud Story for Kids Ages 5-8: Adventures with Rocky: Rocky 01 The Boot In The Dark
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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: Adventures with Rocky: Rocky 01 The Boot In The Dark
Hi friends, it's Dr. Nancy, and welcome to Story Time with Rocky! Today we're reading from Adventures with Rocky, book 1: Rocky, Jacob, and the Lost Duck Trail. This is the very beginning of the book!
Get comfy, and let's read together. Chapter 1. The Boot In The Dark. Something cold touched Jacob's ear.
He pulled the blanket over his head. The cold thing found his nose. “Rocky!” The golden retriever stood beside the bed.
Two black spots marked his furry face. His tail swept a sock off the chair. Jacob had found him at the marsh trail sign when he was five. A wet golden dog sat there as if he had been waiting, and he came home with them and stayed.
“Morning,” He whispered. “It is dark.” “Very early morning.”
Jacob sat up. Downstairs, a door clicked. Dad was packing the last bag. Today they were going luck hunting.
Rocky had made it up. Jacob had never been luck hunting before. He had drawn a picture of the marsh at school. In the picture, every duck was the same shape as a potato with wings.
Rocky had liked it very much. “Ducks are the best of friends,” Rocky said. “But only if you can catch them.”
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Quick & Easy Less Than 10 Min Assessment To Find Where Your Child May Be Falling Behind
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“Catch them?” “Not with paws. Catching means you get close, very quietly. The duck does not fly away.”
“That sounds hard.” “So you must be lucky. Ducks get scared of dogs sometimes.” Nobody would grab.
Nobody would chase. They would sit still and let the ducks decide. “Breakfast?” Rocky asked.
“Boots first.” Jacob put one foot into a boot. Something crunched. He pulled his foot out.
Inside the boot was a dog biscuit. Rocky looked surprised. “How fortunate.” “You put it there.”
“I was saving it for a special day.” Jacob held it out. Rocky took it gently. Downstairs, Dad spread a map on the kitchen table.
“Listen before we go,” He said. “You stay with me. Rocky stays with us.
We use the marked path and the wooden blind. If we lose sight of each other, stop. Stay in one place and use your whistle.” Jacob touched the orange whistle on his jacket.
“Three blasts.” “That's right.” Dad put a small pack on Jacob's shoulders. It held water, a snack, a warm hat, and a bright emergency blanket.
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.