Classic Read Alouds for Elementary Kids Ages 5-10

Last week, I shared some “must read” classic picture books to read aloud to young children. (And I missed a few...Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things that Go was one of them!)

This week, I’d like to share some classic chapter book read alouds for kids and parents to enjoy.

Are you ready for a little longer reading aloud experience for your kids? Perhaps you love picture books but are interested in something with continuity that will keep your kids coming back for more every afternoon or for a bedtime routine.

Reading aloud was one of my favorite parts of homeschooling my kids. We connected and bonded as a family as we journeyed together through the lives of favorite book characters and traveled to places and times beyond our own experiences.  Reading aloud developed kids’ empathy and increased their understanding of people different from us. It grew our vocabulary, widened the scope of their vision of what they were capable of, and prepared them for life. It is impossible to overemphasize what reading aloud did for our kids in forming their character. 

Remember that a great read aloud is a story that keeps you listening; it is a story that you may find yourself thinking about long after you close the book. For kids who are in elementary school, ages 5-10 years old, look for chapter books that:

• Are written well, with a reading level slightly above what the child can read independently. (if kids keep interrupting to ask "what does that mean?" or their attention wanders, put the book down and try another one)
• Have good illustrations, if it has any illustrations ( but now the illustrations are secondary to the text-the story needs to still be great without any pictures)
• Are enjoyed by both the children and the parents
• Have staying power; they've delighted more than one generation of kids 

Given those guidelines, here are a few books/authors I recommend for children ages 5-10 and their parents to enjoy.  I believe every child should grow up hearing these. They are fun to read aloud for parents, a good length, and will help begin forming kids’ character (without being too preachy.)  I'll share more books next week for kids ages 10-13. Of course, these books can be enjoyed by all ages!

1. Classic Fairy Tales by Scott Gustafson (and others by same author)
2. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
3. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
4. All of a Kind Family by Sidney Taylor
5. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
6. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
7. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLaughlan
8. The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
9. Little Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen Taylor (or read another version of Pilgrim’s Progress)
10. Hind's Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard (love the story, dislike the illustrations)
11. Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
12. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
13. The Secret Garden and A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
14. The Penderwicks Series by Jeanne Birdsall
15. A Wrinkle in Time Trilogy  by Madeleine L'Engle
16. The Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
17. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis 
18. By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleishman

Enjoy making memories with your kids as you read aloud together!

Looking for creative projects to pair with your family read alouds? Join our free 5-Day Creation Art Challenge!

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