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15 Children’s Books Perfect for Reading Aloud
Whether your child is old enough to read a longer book on their own or still flipping through picture books with glee, reading out loud is a family pastime that will never get old. I have incredibly fond memories of my mom switching on my bedside lamp to read to me, even when I was well past the age of being able to read, and I can’t wait to share the same experiences with my daughter. My child is only two, but her dad and I have started to discuss books that would be great to read out loud now, just so she can hear a wonderful story or two while she’s playing blocks, coloring, or snuggled on the couch between us.
But the struggle to find the perfect book to read out loud is not lost on me. You want a book that has adventure, but you also want one that has characters you will fall madly in love with. It needs to not have too many boring passages so your kids don’t lose steam, but it also can’t bounce from plot point to plot point, leaving everyone confused. You want enough characters so it’s interesting, but you don’t want so many that you’re having to do a role call with every chapter to remind everybody of who is who.
That’s what makes these 15 chapter books perfect to read out loud. Age doesn’t matter, they are all classic, timeless stories that will start plenty of discussion in your family, but will also make up the memories your children will have of you and story time.
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Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White
If you’ve ever wanted to perfect your voice talents, Charlotte’s Web is the perfect place to start. A heartwarming story that everybody knows, it also has plenty of characters for your children to become invested in and even the youngest ones in the family will love hearing the story about a farm, a sensational spider, and a pretty great pig.
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James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl
It’s hard to choose just one Roald Dahl book, but James and the Giant Peach is one of my favorites and is so perfect for any read aloud session. The fanciful adventures James finds himself on are lovely enough, but the characters are what make this book so perfect for voices and speaking out loud. Centipede, Ladybug, Miss Spider—all of them deserve to be brought to life when you’re sharing a perfect Dahl book with your children.
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A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
You can’t talk about read-out-loud classics without mentioning A Wrinkle in Time. Anything in the science and fantasy genre deserves to be read out loud, but the story of Meg, her brother, and the supernatural adventures they encounter will leave your children wide-eyed and speechless.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (Newbery Medal Winner)
E. L. Konigsburg
5
Paperback
$8.99
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From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, by E. L. Konigsburg
The idea of living in the Met is sensational enough, but From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler deserves to be heard out loud to fully appreciate the adventures of Claudia, Jamie, and Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
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The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis
Some voices just speak right off the page and in The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963, the voice of Kenny is so loud, so strong, and so rich, that it begs to be heard rather than read. This beautiful slice of history tells the story of Kenny and his trip to live in Birmingham with his grandmother after he continues to get in trouble. But when he and his family experience racism at a magnitude Kenny has never seen before, it’s time to head back to Michigan. Kenny, however, is struggling heavily with what he saw, including a little girl who was killed in the racist act, and has to learn what it means to be a part of the world while still being terrified. It is gripping, it is raw, and it is a story every family should read.
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by J. K. Rowling
I mean, you knew I had to mention this, right? The first installment of the series is a must for your read-aloud sessions, especially when you’re describing Hogwarts and all the magic that lies within. Take your children on a journey when you read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone out loud.
Peter Pan and Wendy, by J. M. Barrie
Because Neverland has to be heard, right? Peter Pan and Wendy was also an incredible play, so reading it out loud seems even more lovely. With such wild adventures and dastardly characters like Captain Hook, it begs to get the character voice treatment from you for your little ones.
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Anne of Green Gables, by L. M. Montgomery
Does anyone else’s heart go all pitter-patter when you mention Anne of Green Gables? As far as reading it out loud, Anne is talkative, imaginative, and her conversations should be heard. Plus, who doesn’t want to lend a voice to nasty Gilbert Blythe when he’s bullying Anne? The story of a girl making a home for herself is touching anyway, but when read out loud, it’s more like hearing an old friend speak than anything else.
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The War That Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
A recent Newbury Medal winner, The War That Saved My Life is an incredible story of courage, triumph, and hope. The book follows Ada, a little girl living in London who has never left her apartment because her mother is humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot. When the war comes, Ada’s little brother is shipped out of London to safety and Ada decides it’s now or never. Trusting the woman that’s taken both she and her brother in, Ada wonders if they’ll all make it through the war or if she’ll be sent back to her cruel mother. Ada’s voice lights up the book and it begs to be heard, especially with such chilling and heartbreaking accounts of the war and her mother.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, by Lewis Carroll
Like Neverland, Wonderland is a place everyone needs to hear about. In Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, readers are taken on an incredibly whimsical journey, full of fanciful, wild things—hearing the story? It makes it that much better.
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The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster
The Phantom Tollbooth is one of those books teachers love to read out loud and thank goodness for that. I still remember my fourth grade teacher reading this story to us and being mesmerized by Milo, the tollbooth, and Tock. It’s been called a modern version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and you know what, I couldn’t agree more. Read it out loud, okay?
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The Borrowers, by Mary Norton
Oh how I love The Borrowers. It’s magical, it’s charming, and I guarantee that as you read it out loud, your children will be looking for evidence of their own Borrowers living right there in the house. There’s also some great underlying themes of feminism, trust, and hope that your children will pick up on as you read and fall in love with.
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Coraline, by Neil Gaiman
Coraline is one of my favorite Neil Gaiman books and for good reason—it is quirky, it is imaginative, and it’s creepy. Scary stories should always be read out loud, I think, and Coraline is no different. The story of a little girl entering an alternate world where her Other Mother and Other Father are waiting for her is spine-tingling, but her courage and determination are just as compelling.
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The Indian in the Cupboard, by Lynne Reid Banks
Everybody remembers reading The Indian in the Cupboard which makes it perfect to read out loud to your own children. Such a tiny gift becomes a larger-than-life character when the little plastic toy comes alive in Omri’s cupboard and it most definitely deserves to be heard out loud.
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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis
Arguably the best book of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is everything you could want from an adventure and fantasy novel. There are so many characters that reading them all out loud will be fun for the entire family, but you can also spin the tales to be even more exciting than they seem on paper.
What are your favorite books to read out loud?