Just One More Chapter! Six Read-Aloud Novels for Children

My oldest daughter is just starting to enter the stage where I can read aloud chapter books to her, and I’m relishing every minute.

Now is the perfect time to get into the habit of reading aloud to your child, as school starts back up. Not only is a great way to wind down at the end of the day, but it also helps them develop listening skills and vocabulary and associate reading with a happy time. For this age range, I really like books that have some illustrations because it helps them make the transition from picture books to chapter books.

Here are some great books to start with – perfect for kids somewhere between the ages of 3 and 8. You’ll be the best judge of what age is right to start reading aloud to your child.

Written by: JANSSEN BRADSHAW of Everyday Reading

1. My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett and Ruth Chrisman Gannett. One little boy’s adventure to rescue a baby dragon is the start of this delightful trilogy.
2. Charlotte’s Web by E.B.White and Garth Williams. This is a classic, and for good reason. There’s almost no better book to start out with.
3. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. Who can resist a book about a mouse riding a toy motorcyle and subsequently getting into all sorts of trouble? And a hotel has some nice long hallways for a motorcycle ride . . .
4. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake. This clever fox is stealing from the three meanest farmers you’ve ever met, but no matter how hard they try to catch him, Mr. Fox is too quick and smart for them.
5. B is for Betsy by Carolyn Haywood. Betsy is nervous about first grade, but it turns out to be more fun than she could have imagined. Her adventures will help calm any nervous school goers.
6. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread by Kate DiCamillo and Timothy Basil Ering. This fantastic story (and Newbery winner!) about a mouse who befriends the princess of the castle and gets himself banished to the rat-infested dungeon is full of heart and laughter.

What are your favorite read-aloud chapter books?