A Collection of Great Read-Aloud's

Have you heard of #readaloudrevival by Sarah Mackenzie? If not, I encourage you to go check her out on Instagram and on her website. Not only does she have a fantastic selection of great read-aloud's for your children, but she also offers wonderful homeschool advice and support. You'll also find her rich and uplifting book called, "The Read Aloud Family" as well. If you're itching to bring some more depth and conversation to your homeschool curriculum, I highly recommend incorporating read-aloud's. Below, you'll find my own personal list (some old, some new) that we have either read or plan to read as a family. I hope you'll find a few that inspire you on your own read-aloud journey!

Toddler through 3rd Grade:

If you're just starting out, and your kids are younger (toddler age through Kindergarten), I'd encourage you to look for some wonderful picture books by any of the following authors: Mo Willems, Jane Yolen, Patricia Polacco, Karma Wilson, Philip C Stead, William Stieg or Eric Carle. They are tried and true writers with rich story lines and wonderful pictures. Of course there are many, many more that I could recommend; however, those are my absolute favorites!

If your children are accustomed to hearing you read out-loud for longer periods of time, then these are some of the ones we have enjoyed over the years:

• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

• My Father's Dragon Trilogy by Ruth Stiles Gannett

• Stuart Little by E.B. White

• The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame

• An Anthology of Aesop's Fables by Helen Ward

• The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

• The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

• Sarah Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (2nd-3rd grade)

• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

• Peter Pan by James Matthew Barrie (might be more in the 3rd/4th range)

• The Narnia Series by CS Lewis

• The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Kate DiCamillo (anything by Kate DiCamillo is a WIN in our book!)

• Mr. Popper's Penguins by Florence and Richard Atwater (completely different than the movie!)

• The Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder (great to start around 2nd grade)

• The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter

• Matilda by Roald Dahl

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

• The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

• The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren

• Princess Cora and the Crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz

• The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes

• The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (again, she's our FAVORITE!)

4th -7th Grade:

As our children get older, it's a little bit harder to find really good, quality literature (in my opinion). There are SO many books out there that are just full of fluff, rude language, inappropriate behavior, etc. The following books are ones that we have truly enjoyed over the years and are full of depth and rich in both language and plot.

• Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

• One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

• Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink (3rd graders might enjoy this as well)

• A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

• The Anne Frank Diary

• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

• The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan

• The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman

• Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

• Harlem: A Poem by Walter Dean Myers

• The Voyages of Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting

• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

• The Watson's Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

• The One and Only Ivan by K.A. Applegate

• The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson

• The Prince Warriors Series by Priscilla Shirer

• Inside Out and Back Again (poetry) by Thanhha Lai

• Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

• Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

• Wonder by R.J. Palacio

• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (6th/7th grade)

• The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Bradley

• The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

8th Grade and Older:

My oldest is in 6th grade, so I don't have personal book recommendations for the older ages; however, I would encourage you to reach out to people who DO have older children and ask them what has worked for their families. Sometimes, especially for readers who are a grade or two ahead as far as reading level, the story will makes sense and they'll be fine with the vocabulary, but the content might be too mature. I can tell you from experience that it is REALLY important to vet the books you choose before just diving in! Take the time to review, ask your friends, reach out to others in homeschool groups, and find the best fit for YOUR children. Here are some that I plan on reading when my own when they get a little bit older:

• Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

• The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien

• Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

This is definitely not an exhaustive list, but hopefully it will give you a jumping off point for your own read-aloud journey. And I would stress that it's not even always about which book you choose, but the time you spend, huddled in close with your kids. It gives everyone a chance to slow down, focus on really good literature, imagine lands and adventures far away from reality and simply be together. In a time of utter chaos in the world around us, reading together is a perfect reprieve!