Free Read-Aloud Story for Kids Ages 5-8: The Story We Told

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: The Story We Told

Adventures with Rocky number 10 number 10 the story we told we told chapter 1 chapter 1 the part I left out the part I left out by Monday by Monday everyone at North Coast high knew that I had saved the dog that was the easy part of the story part with a photograph with a photograph in it I stood outside I stood outside the old boat somebody else's sweatshirt my hair was wet my hair was wet hands were shaking and rocky leaned against my knee behind us carried through the open doors through the open door the school reposted the picture then the local news account did then a man who sold protein powder put it above the words more young men like this nobody asked why the dog had been inside I told myself that was different from lying on Monday after Monday I found Rocky a golden retriever a lab mix waiting beside the golden coat golden coat his tongue out just hung up to show the two black spots on it as if he'd been interrupted while licking a paintbrush he had turned up at the harbor rolling club the fall I turned 14 the year we moved here and he'd been around ever since nobody ever found out where he'd come from you're famous you're famous I said I was already well regarded by three postal workers I unlocked my bike I unlocked my bike have you come to have you come to congratulate me no no rocky looked through the fence at the water engraving flat in November sky in November sky I came because I came because what the wrong sweatshirt I look down I look down the sleeves were too long sleeves were too long across the front across the white letters white letters said Harbor crew Harbor crew it belongs to Tessa my stomach tight my stomach tightened I know I know she wants it back she wants it back she could text me she could text me she did she did my phone felt heavy in my pocket rocky sat rocky sat I stayed I stayed on the bike one foot one foot against the ground against the ground as a forward movement a possibility how much do you remember asked I asked he took a long time time to answer all of it all of it Owen and I and be telling it for you telling it for you it's yours to tell it's yours to tell chapter 2 chapter 2 before the photo before the photo Friday had started with an invitation I had spent two months pretending not to want you coming tonight you coming tonight Callum texted Callum texted he sent a pin he sent a pin to the old rowing boat house bring your camera bring your camera something something sick I was good when I was good with a camera not good enough to be good enough to be interesting by itself apparently at lunch people passed my videos around without learning my name Callum Callum now my name now my mother worked late on Friday my little brother was staying with his dad I told mom I told mom I was meeting friends at the pier which was close enough to the boat house to the boat house I could tell myself it counted at seven at seven I found Callum Callum and Tessa outside the chain link fence Tessa held a bag of take out fries she was the only person she was the only person who looked pleased to see me rather than the camera hope you've got enough battery to make us a little less cold she said she said Rocky appeared from the direction of the harbor office walking beside mr.

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.