Reading aloud as a family is one of our absolute favorite past times. It’s a great way to wind down at the end of the day or to build in some quiet time in the middle of a school day. Now that it’s summer, it’s also a great way to have a little structure in our mostly unstructured days.
Recently, we’ve also been adding audiobooks to our days when we spend a lot of time in the car.
Not only is reading aloud a great (screen free!) way to entertain, it also has the benefit of expanding vocabulary, teaching proper sentence structure, and developing kids’ imaginations.
With four kids between ages 4-11, though, it can be tricky to find books that appeal to everyone. Sometimes books that my older two want to read (like Harry Potter) can be hard to follow or not appropriate for my younger two.
Likewise, my younger two have books that they want to read that are two simplistic for my older kids to really get into.
So when we find books that everyone loves, it’s like magic!
Below are the family read aloud books that we’ve read during the past school year that have been winners for the whole family.
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1. The Black Stallion
Filled with adventure, The Black Stallion kept my kids on the edge of their seats and always asking for ‘just one more page!’ Although the story moves at a fast pace, my 4 and 6 year olds had no problem following along.
And although the first few chapters include some tough scenes (animal mistreatment and shipwreck), it really wasn’t too much for the younger ones.
If your kids love animals or are as horse crazy as mine are, the story of a boy and his special bond with a horse is sure to be a winner. This has definitely been the favorite family read aloud book for us this year!
2. The Boxcar Children
The Boxcar Children series has been a favorite for everyone this year. We listened to the audiobook version of the first book in the series. Everyone loved it so much that we went on to read several other books in the series.
You really can’t go wrong with picking any of the books, but I recommend at least reading the first book before jumping into other books in the series.
These are great for all ages. Unlike some books that might have difficult or inappropriate content for the youngest listeners, you can be sure that the Boxcar Children will be wholesome and suitable for everyone in the family.
3. A Bear Called Paddington
A Bear Called Paddington follows the story of Paddington, a bear from Peru who finds himself in England. Adjusting to his new life with the Brown family leads to all kinds of silly misadventures.
The book is such a classic, and my kids laughed through the whole thing. Out of all the books we read this year, this is the one my kids asked to read all over again.
It’s a lovely book that any kid will love to listen to, but it would also make a great book for kids who are looking for early chapter books to read themselves.
>>> I’ve included this book in my list of chapter books for preschoolers. If you’re on the hunt for read aloud chapter books that are great for kids 5 and under, check out this post.
4. The Railway Children
The Railway Children follows the story of four siblings whose lives are upended when their father is taken away by the police under mysterious circumstances. Their happy, comfortable life in London is swapped for a life of meager means in the English countryside.
The children experience all kinds of adventures that ultimately lead them to solve the mystery of their father’s arrest.
My kids were kept on the edge of their seats throughout the story as they tried to figure out what had happened to the children’s father. The ending had them overjoyed, making it a great feel good book for all ages.
5. Five Children and It
Be careful what you wish for! Another book by E. Nesbit, Five Children and It is the story of four siblings who find a Psammead (think genie) who can grant them all of their wishes.
However, the kids find out that sometimes what they wish for can end up in disaster!
Although the book was written In the early 1900s, the story is very accessible and the language easy to follow. There were some times that we would have to pause and talk about what a word or concept meant, but overall even my four year old became engrossed in the book.
The kids’ wishes and hilarious situations they end up in had my kids laughing hysterically. Throughout the book, my kids tried to think how they would wish differently and what they would do if they had their own Psammead.
Although the Railway Children was a huge hit, Five Children and It was probably my kids’ favorite E. Nesbit book.
6. Fantastic Mr. Fox
There isn’t a Roald Dahl book we don’t like.
As a favorite author from my own childhood, we’ve already read Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The Enormous Crocodile, and The BFG- all huge hits!
Fantastic Mr. Fox was enjoyed as much as the other books by the author. Roald Dahl has a knack for writing for kids of all ages, and this one was just as engaging for my 4 year old as it was for my 11 year old.
This is classic Roald Dahl, with quirky characters, adventure, a sprinkling in of crude humor, and a happy ending.
7. Mr Popper’s Penguins
Mr. Popper’s Penguins is a silly, feel good story about a man who finds himself with a house full of penguins.
It’s a sweet, old fashioned book that my kids loved to listen to. While some of the family read aloud books we read this year had themes or events that might be tough for some sensitive kids, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, is great for everyone.
The story is quick moving and light with a heartwarming ending- a great bedtime story for all ages!
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