Read-Aloud List
I have arranged this in gently ascending age level (my own term!) in each category, and very loosely, at that. Read-alouds often apply to a broader audience, incorporating both younger children who are not able to read the book independently, as well as older children who could read it themselves but still enjoy the read-aloud experience. I would encourage families not to exclude a book automatically because they consider it too young or too old. Similarly, don't assume boys will reject a "girl" book, or vice versa.
You might be surprised!
Animal Adventures
Capyboppy Bill Peet
Dolphin Adventure Wayne Grover
Winnie the Pooh A.A. Milne
The Cricket in Times Square George Selden
Ginger Pye Eleanor Estes
Trumpet of the Swan E.B. White
The Story of Doctor Dolittle Hugh Lofting
(note: this otherwise wonderful book and charming story has very outdated racial ideas in some parts that may be surprising to some! It can be a good history lesson and family discussion, but if you think that's too tricky a topic for your family, you might want to skip this one.)
Redwall Brian Jacques
Contemporary/Realistic Fiction
Gooney Bird Greene Lois Lowry
Everything on a Waffle Polly Horvath
Here's a Penny
Adventures with Waffles Maria Parr
Captain Nobody Dean Pitchford
The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart
The Vanderbeekers of 141st St. Karina Yan Glaser
Fairy Tales and Myths
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus Aliki
Random House Book of Fairy Tales
The Blue Fairy Book Andrew Lang
Fantasy and Science Fiction
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
The Princess and the Goblin George MacDonald
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness Andrew Peterson
A Wrinkle in Time
Historical Fiction
(These are arranged roughly in chronological order; reading/listening abilities may vary)
A Grain of Rice Helena Clare Pittman
The Apple and the Arrow Conrad Buff
The Light at Tern Rock Julia Sauer
The Railway Children E. Nesbit
In Grandma's Attic Arleta Richardson
The Hundred Dresses Eleanor Estes
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Missionary Stories
Missionary Stories with the Millers Mildred Martin
Catching Their Talk in a Box Betty M. Hockett
A Question of Yams Gloria Repp
This doesn't include a number of classcs that OF COURSE are wonderful to read aloud. (The Chronicles of Narnia, Peter Pan, Little House on the Prairie, The Hobbit, etc). Also not included, books typically read-aloud in our lower school classrooms. In short, this is far from a comprehensive list!
The Candymakers Wendy Mass
The Mysterious Benedict Society Trenton Lee Stewart
The Vanderbeekers of 141st St. Karina Yan Glaser
Fairy Tales and Myths
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus Aliki
Random House Book of Fairy Tales
The Blue Fairy Book Andrew Lang
Fantasy and Science Fiction
My Father's Dragon Ruth Stiles Gannet
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
The Princess and the Goblin George MacDonald
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness Andrew Peterson
A Wrinkle in Time
Historical Fiction
(These are arranged roughly in chronological order; reading/listening abilities may vary)
A Grain of Rice Helena Clare Pittman
The Apple and the Arrow Conrad Buff
Johnny Appleseed Will Moses
The Twenty-One Balloons William Pene du bois
The Light at Tern Rock Julia Sauer
In Grandma's Attic Arleta Richardson
The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook Joyce Lankester Brisley
The Hundred Dresses Eleanor Estes
The Family Under the Bridge Natalie Savage Carlson
Mary on Horseback Rosemary Wells
Least of All Carol Purdy
Baby Island Carol Ryrie Brink
Happy Times in Noisy Village Astrid Lindgren
No Children, No Pets Marion Holland
Echo Pam Munoz Ryan
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Missionary Stories
Missionary Stories with the Millers Mildred Martin
Catching Their Talk in a Box Betty M. Hockett
A Question of Yams Gloria Repp
This doesn't include a number of classcs that OF COURSE are wonderful to read aloud. (The Chronicles of Narnia, Peter Pan, Little House on the Prairie, The Hobbit, etc). Also not included, books typically read-aloud in our lower school classrooms. In short, this is far from a comprehensive list!
