Read Me a Story
By Susan Ekhoff
When I look back on 23 years of “married with kids,” one thing that strikes me as priceless is the time we invested in reading out loud as a family. On most school days, after lunch is cleared away, the children and I settle into a restful and unifying hour. I will never be sorry I wasted perfectly good math time – the memories are too sweet, the opportunities to teach into real life and fiction narratives too valuable.
Below is a list of our favorites. Every book has passed the “Mommy Test.” If I didn’t enjoy reading it as much as the children enjoyed hearing it, the book does not appear on the list. Enjoy!
Family Read Aloud Book Ideas
Young Children – 4 to 6 years
A New Coat for Anna
The Story of Ferdinand
Make way for Ducklings
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Follow the Drinking Gourd
When I was Young in the Mountains
The Story about Ping
Cranberry Thanksgiving
Clown of God
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Lintel
Madeline
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
Elementary – Jr. High
Wisdom and the Millers
Storytime with the Millers
Prudence and the Millers
School Days with the Millers
Missionary Stories with the Millers
The Treasure Tree
George Washington, D’Aulaires’
Leif the Lucky, D’Aulaires’
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Books, The Little House Series
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Hero Tales, I, II, III, IV
Stories of the Pilgrims
Boys and Girls of the Colonies
Number the Stars
Everyday Graces
Christian Heritage Series by Nancy Rue
Whispering Brook Series by Carrie Bender
Gladys Aylward, Christian Heroes: Then & Now Series
My Side of the Mountain
Charlotte’s Web
The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
All of a Kind Family series
Little Pilgrim’s Progress
The Secret Garden
The Little Princess
The Penderwicks
The Mysterious Benedict Society series
The Underland Chronicles series
Patty Fairfield
So Dear to My Heart
Laddie, a True Blue Story
The Girl of the Limberlost
Freckles
Little Women
A Daughter of the Rich
The Five Little Peppers and How they Grew
Concord Cunningham series
The Pineapple Story
The Bronze Bow
Anne of Green Gables
Cheaper by the Dozen
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Book Thief
Heidi
Babe
Peter and the Star Catcher’s series
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Johnny Tremain
The Story Girl
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Strawberry Girl
Twenty and Ten
Tree in the Trail
Making Brother’s and Sisters Best Friends
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Our Family’s All Time Favorites – often read more than once
Many of these books have descriptions persecution and suffering. Several contain accounts of torture endured by the church in other lands. I read ahead and reword or delete some sections when younger children are listening.
Bruchko
Evidence Not Seen
Appointment in Jerusalem
The Heavenly Man
The Hiding Place
Imprisoned in Iran
Hinds Feet on High Places
The Chronicles of Narnia
Within Heaven’s Gates
The Cross and the Switchblade
God Knows My Size
Visions Beyond the Veil, H. A. Baker
Always Enough, Roland and Heidi Baker
A Thousand Shall Fall, Susi Hasel Mundy
I Dared to Call Him Father, Bilquis Sheikh
Out of the Far Corners, Peter Iliyn
NOTE: Please check out the 3-part series, Reading Aloud, for more information about how to make this part of your family.
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