11 Best Family Read-Aloud Books for Kids of All Ages!

Are you looking for a list of read aloud books for kids and family? Well, I’m here for you!

I love reading as a family.

As a storyteller, sharing stories is insane fun for me.  A trip to the bookstore is like a vacation.

(Ok. Ok. Sometimes, I’m all about scrolling through books on Amazon.)

Seriously, my Kindle Paperwhite is loaded with hundreds of titles of read aloud books for kids (and me)!

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.

Moms Who Love Books

Honestly, my greatest joy is when we are reading as a family.

1. Those days when my girls and I would read for hours while relaxing on the screened-in porch.
2. Or the freezing-cold winter snow days when we would all curl up on the couch and get lost in Narnia.
3. Exploring my son’s latest interest through books… think the anatomy of spiders and butterflies.
4. And with my girls, hanging out in one of their rooms late at night, reading devotions together.
5. Heck, even reading from our science book is amazing! 
   

Flexibility When Reading Aloud

Regardless of where we are or what season we’re in, we can always find a reading spot and a good story to share. 

During our read aloud time, the girls (and my son, who is now interested) draw or doodle.

My oldest went through a Rubik’s Cube phase as well. She would manipulate that Cube the entire time I read to them.

However, she was always engaged in the story line despite the “distraction.”  Ultimately, all of our children are wired differently.

Many children are made to move and are auditory learners.  They may learn best when engaging their hands and eyes in a mindless activity.

Benefits of Reading Aloud to Kids

By and large, reading aloud TO your kids provides many benefits. Those are:

1. Exposure to beautiful well-written language.
2. Offers kids ideas and principles that are common in higher-level literature.
3. Encourage our kids to develop a love for books as a form of entertainment (no screens!)
4. For those with language-based processing issues, reading aloud gives kids opportunities to develop the skill of listening and visualizing.
5. Family cohesion and bonding.
6. Much needed mental break after more laborious school tasks (math, reading, writing).
7. Sharing stories creates conversations that may not otherwise occur.
8. The list goes on.
   

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1. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

Undoubtedly, this is one of C.S. Lewis’s best books ever!

The story of Aslan, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy is a classic story that can be read over and over again.

2. The Magician’s Nephew, by C.S. Lewis

We love C.S. Lewis. Consequently, we believe the entire Narnia Series is phenomenal!

Every story of the land of Narnia is filled with rich concepts and language and yet so intriguing for all ages.

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3. The Ramona Quimby Series by Beverly Cleary

Who doesn’t love Ramona? The Ramona Quimby series is one of the best read aloud books for kids.

For one thing, she is hilarious and quirky! Her antics are always getting her into trouble and yet she’s lovable.

We love Ramona!

My middle daughter loves her so much that she falls asleep to the audiobooks every night. Stockard Channing narrates, and does a fantastic job!

Thank you, Beverly Cleary, for this heart-warming character!

4. The Henry Huggins Series by Beverly Cleary

If we talk about Ramona Quimby, we can’t forget Henry Huggins.  In our home, once we find an author we enjoy, we stick with them.

According to my 13 year-old, the Henry Huggins series,

“Is like Ramona Quimby except its Henry. Its fun to read about Henry and his adventures with his dog.” 

Without doubt, Beverly Cleary will always be a favorite author in our home.

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5. Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Three summers ago, I held a book club for my middle daughter and some of her friends.

We read Flora and Ulysses and had a blast. The illustrations made the book even more engaging.

K.G. Campbell did an amazing job of capturing the essence of this story through his comic-style illustrations.

The book is NOT a comic, but it is about a little girl who enjoys comics and squirrels. Fun!!

6. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

In addition to Flora and Ulysseys, Because of Winn Dixie is another favorite by Kate DiCamillo.

It is a sweet story about a girl who lives with her father. One morning, she befriends a precious mutt and takes him into her home.

She and her dog spend their summer on adventures in their tiny town.

There are many quirky characters in this story which makes this read aloud book perfect for kids.

This story sucked us all in and was an easy, relaxing read!

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7. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

This is an intriguing story about a gorilla living in a mall zoo.

Yes, you heard that correctly. There’s a gorilla living in a mall.

Given that the animals live in captivity, there are scenes that are pretty disheartening.

Thus, more tender-hearted children may want to skip this.

The relationship between Ivan and a baby elephant is precious. The complexity of the story offers parents and children an opportunity for great discussion.

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8. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

My oldest and I absolutely LOVED this book! There’s a major romance component that is simply magical.

For this reason, I recommend this read aloud book for older kids. (5th grade and up.) Historical fiction at its best!

This story follows the journey of a beautiful young lady who is suddenly living in Puritan New England.

She befriends a lovely woman whom the townspeople refer to as a “witch.”

In the long run, our protagonist shakes up the town. The story is amazing!

9. The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

As mentioned previously, Elizabeth George Spears is an amazing historical fiction writer. Accordingly, the Sign of the Beaver does not disappoint. 

The story follows a young boy left alone to fend for himself in early America. Despite this, he develops a friendship with a Native American teen and shows an incredible story of survival.

I cannot more highly recommend all of Elizabeth George Spears books and recommend them as complements to any history unit in your homeschool.

They’re so good!!

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10. Among the… People Series by Clara Dillingham Pierson

Clara Dillingham Pierson is not well-known in the culture at large, but she is a secret treasure in the Charlotte Mason homeschooling community. 

She wrote this series of children’s books each set in an animal-based settings. T

he characters include farm animals as well as creatures found in meadows, forests and bodies of water.

The titles in the Among The … People series are Among the…

1. Night People,
2. Meadow People,
3. Pond People,
4. Forest People, &
5. Farmyard People

Miss Pierson does an incredible job weaving in scientific fact into her personified characters.

They’re an excellent way to enhance science and nature study. These stories are highly engaging read aloud books for kids of all ages.

Read Aloud for Childhood Insomnia

From time to time, my oldest daughter has experienced insomnia. In fact, at the age of 7, it lasted for a year.

I couldn’t let her suffer alone in the dark of night. Because of this, I would lie on her floor and read aloud to her until she fell back asleep.

As horrible as the insomnia was, it’s now a sweet memory for us. In light of that, this series has a special place in my heart!   

I have just begun rereading Among the Farmyard People as a read aloud with my children now ages 14, 11 and 6.

We love it just as much now as we did then!!! Yay!

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11. Fifty Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin

This is a collection of classic stories told in a highly engaging format.

When short on time, Fifty Famous Stories Retold is a great choice. Load it on your Kindle. Then throw it in the car for the next time you end up stuck in traffic.

These are so good!

Each of the short stories has an historical element that makes these stories charming.

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This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a nominal fee from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. See my disclosure policy for more info.