Great Read Alouds: Family favorite chapter books
Reading aloud together is a fantastic way to slow down, relax and reconnect. For young readers hearing stories read aloud is a rich opportunity to learn new vocabulary or ideas. With chapter books you can read a single chapter after dinner or before bed.
Take a little time to talk about the story. What happened? What would YOU do? What do you think will happen next? Give everyone a chance to share their thoughts. Then read the next chapter tomorrow!
I've recommended some family favorites to share the magic of reading aloud!
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
The Mouse and the Motorcycle is the story of a feisty little mouse named Ralph and his friend, a human boy named Keith. Ralph is an adventurer at heart and Keith has a toy motorcycle. Keith lets him explore and watches Ralph “grow up” right before his eyes. As you read this story, draw comparisons between Ralph and Keith. Talk about the problems they encounter and how they solve them together. It’s what friends are for!
This book we only have the audiobook versions for check out. So you can hit play, listen together and then discuss.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle is the first of a trilogy, along with Runaway Ralph and Ralph S. Mouse, all inspired by the author's hope to create appealing books for boys and girls, and by the sight of her son playing with toy cars.
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
This is a zany twist on the King Midas myth. John Midas is a boy who loves chocolate so much that one day, everything he touches turns to chocolate! Young readers will love to fantasize about everything turning to chocolate. All readers will learn about “The Midas Touch” and how a wish come true isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
Mercy Watson is a sweet pet pig whose stories are simple and hilarious! In her first adventure she saves the day completely by accident while searching for her favorite treat, yummy toast. It’s so fun to read Mercy’s stories. To enrich the reading, I suggest you discuss the different characters. Compare their motivations and talk about cause and effect because Mercy Watson is often the cause of some pretty funny effects!
"DiCamillo's suspenseful yarn keeps readers turning the page, while the retro-folksy illustrations by Chris Van Dusen go for laughs and make for a gentle transition from picture books." —FamilyFun
Runny Babbit a Billy Sook by Shel Silverstein
Reading poetry is an acquired taste and, done well, can be sublime. That’s not the kind of poetry you’ll find if you read Runny Babbit aloud. What you WILL find is devilish tongue twisters and letter-flipping, laugh-out-loud word play. Although sometimes a challenge to read out loud, Runny Babbit is a hilarious way to develop a love of rhyming and poetry, especially since it often (wonderfully) takes a minute to figure out.
Silverstein is a master of silly poems. His other funny poetry books include Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light In the Attic. Regardless of which silly Silverstein book they start with, kids will love it and WANT to read it again and again.
