Favorite Read Alouds

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Once I discovered Sarah MacKenzie of The Read Aloud Revival, I was absolutely hooked with the notion of reading aloud to my kids every single day. It has become one of my most favorite things to do.

Sitting around eating a snack? Let’s read aloud.

Drawing in your art journal? Let’s read aloud.

Working on some copywork or handwriting? Let’s read aloud.

Need to take a break and refocus? LET’S READ ALOUD!

We started our favorite pastime when the kids were small. Mostly we’d read picture books. If I’m being honest, we repeated A LOT of the same books. Kids get their favorite titles and just like to hear what’s familiar sometimes. A good book can be like a comfort food or a favorite stuffed animal in that way.

Where to start?

Start with what you have. You don’t need to order any book I’m about to share with you. I am not the master of reading aloud. You most definitely have wonderful books already!

Create an account with your local library. Most (during the time of COVID) are offering a reservation and pick up option if you can’t browse the shelves yourself. I used to do this pre-COVID so that I’d ensure I was getting a handful of titles I really wanted to read with the kids.

Check out Thriftbooks! I’ve gotten so many wonderful titles from there recently, and they are so affordable. If you click through and create an account you’ll receive a 15% off coupon once you make your first purchase.

Amazon is a great place to shop for books if you can’t get to a local bookstore.

What if my kids are too young?

Toddlers and preschoolers adore books. With young ones, you may need to stick to picture books for a while until they’re in the habit of listening to stories. Once you feel they’ve gotten adjusted to sitting and listening for a good chunk of time, attempt a short chapter book. Maybe let them color while you read. Give them a quiet item to keep them occupied such as play dough or soft blocks. Give them a small snack or treat. Teach them it’s okay to quietly keep their hands busy while listening to a story.

Another great way to practice is to listen to an audio book in the car on the way to practice or the park. My kids and I listened to the first four Harry Potter books in the car just doing our usual running errands and things around town. Audio books are wonderful way to accomplish read alouds during mealtimes or snacks if you need a little break too!

What if my kids are too old?

They aren’t.

Your child that is now independently reading chapter books on their own still wants to be read to. I’m an adult, and I still enjoy listening to a story whether on an audio book or listening to my husband read aloud to our children.

Don’t stop reading to your kids just because they know how to do it!

We Don’t Have the Time

Short answer.

Yes, you do.

You’re taking the time to read this blog post, you can certainly take 10 minutes to begin reading a book aloud. Start with 10 minutes. Set a timer. Make yourself a cup of coffee, give your kids their breakfast, and just start reading.

If you’re anything like me, you have MANY moments throughout the day that you absentmindedly begin scrolling through social media on your phone. You know you do it. Try to consciously stop. Pick up the chapter book. Read it before you allow you AND your child to have “screen time”.

I know many of us aren’t really going out as much without a purpose for our errands. But if you have appointments or things you must accomplish throughout the day with your kids in tow, bring the book with you! Have a copy of it as an audio book so you can listen on the go too. Find small moments to make the reading happen, and those small moments will turn into longer moments of time. Before you know it, you’ll have kids begging you to read “just one more chapter” again and again.

Favorite Read Aloud Chapter Books

Here are several books we have read aloud over the past few years. A couple of titles on this list are slated for my upcoming school year, but I’ve read wonderful things about our new selections. I bet you’ve already read some of them too!

Charlotte’s Web
Little House on the Prairie series
The Trumpet of the Swan
Stuart Little
The Indian in the Cupboard
Ginger Pye
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Shiloh
The Boxcar Children
The Wild Robot
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
The Secret Garden
Sideways Stories from Wayside School
Frindle
Freckle Juice
The Whipping Boy
Bunnicula
Harry Potter (the audio books for HP are phenomenal)

Favorite Picture Books

I can pinpoint probably 3-5 favorite picture books for each of my kids. Of course there were many they all liked, but some most certainly stick out to me as a specific child’s “book”. We have well-loved copies of every title listed below, plus many more! We read picture books often during school time as well as before bed. It gives each child a chance to hear a book they chose.

Again, don’t feel like you must load up your Amazon cart! See what you already have, check your local library, maybe browse Facebook Marketplace or your own neighborhood Facebook page to see if anyone is giving away books. I found our entire Little House series on FB Marketplace and purchased all seven books for $15. Thriftbooks.com and used bookstores are such a great way to find these books cheaply.

I tend to gift my kids books for holidays, birthdays, beginning of school celebrations, or maybe just a nice surprise “just because”. You could also share the list with grandparents, aunts, and uncles for gift ideas.

Resources for Parents

Here are a couple of books I have read and taken tons of notes on as well. I love the knowledge of Sarah MacKenzie and Julie Bogart. They are both homeschool veterans, successful bloggers, authors, and podcasters. Even if you aren’t a homeschooling family, or maybe you’re just temporarily homeschooling until your child can return face-to-face, their insight will help you create a reading culture in your home for many years to come!

The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful Connections with your Kids by Sarah MacKenzie
Teaching from Rest by Sarah MacKenzie
The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart
The Read-Aloud Revival Book Recommendations