Reading with your little ones before they go off to school is a double win: you spend time building memories with your children AND you teach them to love books and stories long before they can read them for themselves. Reading books aloud with your children builds a strong foundation of literacy and in a world of instant gratification, reading a chapter book with your kids will teach them patience in a positive way.
Here are a few classics that we’ve loved reading together:
Who can resist Pippi? My boys still occasionally put their heads at the feet of their beds and their feet on their pillows and say they want to sleep like Pippi! This is such a fun book. Yes, the setting is in a bygone era, but I think it makes it all the more wondrous for our children who can’t imagine doing the outrageous things Pippi does in this beloved classic.
We read the first three books in this series together back-to-back before they were ready to read something else! I was so surprised at how engaged they were with these stories. My son has gone on to read more on his own and just the other day at the library was looking to see if they had the sixth book so he could read it. The movies are very well-done, though a bit on the violent side, so you may want to preview them before you decide if they are right for your kids.
I was first introduced to this book by my own 3rd grade teacher. When we moved away, she gave me my very own copy (that I still have, by the way). The author of The Wizard of Oz wrote this fantastically fun, imaginative book about a beautiful land where no one ever dies and everything they could ever want grows on trees! Each chapter is another tale and is a great introduction to longer works of fiction since once you get the concept of this imaginary place, each story could stand on its own, so it is a great introduction to longer books because they don’t have to remember too much to enjoy each story.
My kids loved Stuart! The book is far more exciting than the movie, in my opinion (and my boys’ opinions, too). Stuart’s even existence is magical and grabs young imaginations right away as suddenly anything is possible! One of my boys even chose to dress as Stuart for Halloween (they do “Climb into the Classics”) at school.
6-A Series of Unfortunate Events
My kids thoroughly enjoyed these books. Much like the Narnia books, we read the first three before they were ready to move on to something else. They were very engaged in the reading, but like James and the Giant Peach, I had a child who did not enjoy the movie–the movie contains elements from all the books.
I am at a loss for something to write here. This book is one of those stories all children need in their lives! It is so full of compassion, empathy, acceptance, and teaches what it means to be a true friend. If you have not read this book before (and even if you have), be warned that there is a very excellent chance you will cry before it’s over.
No book of fun read-alouds is complete without Shel Silverstein. One of my all-time favorites is the story/poem entitled PEANUT-BUTTER SANDWICH. I read this to my boys and they were hooked! They then willingly listened to any and all of the other poems in this treasure trove of poetry.
The first day I taught 8th grade middle school, I began in December, taking over for a teacher who was leaving at the break. When I started each class on my own in January, I read aloud the title poem THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK. I still occasionally share the poem HOMEWORK! OH, HOMEWORK! with my kids.
I adore this book. A lot. Each page is an inspiring story about a trailblazing Black woman from history. My daughter and I read one page each before we read another book at nap time each day. I want her to see and be inspired by these amazing women. The stories focus on the positive and I am amazed by the tenacity of these women who overcame incredible odds.
+ If you have some older kids and some younger kids and you want them all to enjoy a book that is fun but not too “babyish”, I highly recommend A Wrinkle in Time! All of my boys (ages 9, 9, 8, and 5) were engaged in this story.
If my list sparked some memories of books from your past that you think your kids would enjoy hearing you read aloud, extend the list by adding to the comments below!
Thanks for the reminder to read aloud great children’s books! I remember James and the Giant Peach was my favorite in 4th grade. Our language arts teacher, Mrs. Hicks, read it to us every day. She also read other good ones, but that’s still one of the best. We also like BFG. Both books inspired good movies, and then there’s Matilda! Roald Dahl is a genius.
Pippi was one of my favorite movies when I was a girl. I think it would be awesome to dress up like her for Halloween or Book Character Day.