Looking for read-alouds for kids in treatment center

[Dar]

I'm working at a residential treatment center this summer, and I've started "story time" every morning, to add something semi-educational and developmentally appropriate to their programming (which is most age-inappropriate stuff or cartoon network). I'm running out of good read-alouds, though...

The kids are 6-8, and have emotional or behavioral issues. Books need to be fairly short and high-interest, and it helps if there's a way for them to participate. For example, we read "Abiyoyo" and they sang the Abiyoyo song, and we read Tikki Tikki Tembo and their job was to say the older son's long name. Goofy humor also works well. Lovely pictures and thoughtful stories do not. Anything very centered on parents and family tends to upset them as well. Books with illustrations of children of color would be good as well, because many of the kids are.

So far, we're enjoyed (in addition to those above) some of the shorter Seuss books, some of The Stupids books, Where the Wild Things Are, The Monster at the End of this Book (great one!), Are You My Mother?, and There's a Nightmare in My Closet. I tried Chrysanthemum and it didn't work so well - not enough action, I think.

TIA for any ideas!

Dar

[cathe]

Here are a few that come to mind:

Muncha, Muncha, Muncha
Seaweed Soup
A Bad Case of STripes
The Paper Bag Princess
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon
Marsupial Sue
Stregga Nona

There's a couple more I am thinking of but I can't remember the names . . . I'll post more if I think if them.

[Wilhemina]

I browsed through my storytime plans and found these that might work:

How To Make Apple Pie And See The World by Marjorie Priceman
Mrs. Biddlebox by Linda Smith
Elmer by David McKee
Mouse Mess by Linnea Riley
Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar by Bonnie Lass and Philemon Sturges
Big Momma Makes the World by Phillis Root
The Trek by Ann Jonas (though the illustrations are essential here, difficult for a large group)
The Wolf's Chicken Stew by Keiko Kasza
Where's My Teddy by Jez Alborough
the Dragon books by Dav Pilkny
Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash by Sarah Weeks