One of my absolute favorite things to do with my girls is read to them. We have been on many adventures from the comfort of our couch, the backseat of our car, or cuddled up with blankets on a stormy day. I love getting ideas for great books to read out loud from other parents, so I thought I’d start by sharing favorites from me and my team! These are books we have loved reading with our kids. So if you’re hunting for the best read-aloud books for families, this list should help!
This curated list shares 20 tried-and-true read-aloud picks, from classics to contemporary gems. Our selections span gentle WWII introductions, mysteries, animal adventures, fantasy, and survival tales, with notes on humor, empathy, resilience, and age fit. Use it to spark conversation, broaden perspectives, and find reliable, engaging reads for cozy nights, road trips, and family time.
Ralphie’s Favorite Read-Aloud Books
- Sarah Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachan- Oh how I love the feeling of this book. The language is simple and charming and the story is sweet. A grieving widowed farmer advertises in the newspaper for a mail-order bride. Sarah comes and falls in love with the children and the land. The movie is just as beautiful.
- Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery – I love Anne’s spirit in this book so much that Sybil’s middle name is Anne with an E. I have the best memories of reading this book in the big chair in the girls’ room and crying when Matthew died because he reminds me so much of my Dad. It’s a classic for a reason, and of course the movie deserves all the heart eyes.
- Front Desk, by Kelly Yang – Mia is a 10 year-old Chinese immigrant. She works at the front desk of the hotel that her parents manage. She secretly hides and helps other immigrants and is a beautiful writer. I love books that open my girls’ eyes in a gentle way. This book has major themes of perseverance and hard work as well as social justice.
- Letters From Rifka, by Karen Hesse – This book is a gentle introduction to WWII. It’s a short and very engaging story of a 12 year-old Jewish girl and her journey from Russia to America. It’s told through letters written in an old poetry book. And if you are ever visiting Ellis Island sometime soon, her experience there helps your kiddos visualize the experiences that many immigrants had. And it has a happy ending.
- From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler, by E L Konigsburg – This is a story of siblings who run away from home to live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where they get involved in a mystery around a statue by Michelangelo! There is a scene where they get into the fountain at the food court and gather coins for the vending machines and my girls STILL talk about it 10 years later.
Ashley’s Favorite Read-Aloud Books
- A Place to Hang the Moon, by Kate Albus – This historical fiction novel follows three orphaned siblings evacuated from London during World War II, searching for a permanent home together in the English countryside. It has a classic, almost Narnia-without-the-magic feel, but never drags. It’s such a good introduction to WWII for kids: it’s honest about the hard parts without being too graphic or heavy to stomach. It’s also genuinely funny, with beautiful themes of resilience and loyalty to family. The ending left me believing there’s good in the world. It’s so good.
- Summer of the Monkeys, by Wilson Rawls (who also wrote Where the Red Fern Grows) – This one has an older, classic feel—longer chapters, slower pace—but it’s such a sweet story. Some monkeys escape from a circus onto a boy’s family land, and there’s a reward for capturing them. He ends up befriending them instead, which leads him to a really hard choice later on. My kids laughed out loud through so much of it, and honestly, the main character is the kind of kid I hope mine grow up to be like. I full-on bawled at the ending. My kids didn’t cry like I did, but they loved every bit of it.
- Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate – This one is narrated by an old oak tree that serves as the neighborhood “wish tree,” where people tie their wishes to its branches. Through the tree’s perspective, we follow a young Muslim girl and watch a story of kindness, friendship, and standing up to bullying unfold. It’s beautifully done—I cried during this one too. Such a gentle, powerful way to talk about acceptance with kids.
- The One and Only Ivan, also by Katherine Applegate – This one is perfect for younger kids. It has short chapters, it’s easy to follow, and it’s genuinely funny. It’s about a shopping-mall circus and a baby elephant named Ruby, and the animals’ effort to save her. My kids loved this one so much. It’s part of a series that follows a whole cast of animals who essentially become each other’s family and it’s so sweet.
- The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown – I know the movie just came out, so this one might not feel like a “new” recommendation, but my kids loved it just the same. And honestly, the book is so much better than the movie! It follows a robot stranded on an island with wild animals, who has to learn to adapt, and in the process becomes more empathetic and feeling—even becoming a mother figure to an orphaned gosling. It’s also great for younger kids, with short chapters, some illustrations, and simpler language.
Brittany’s Favorite Read-Aloud Books
- Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo– I’ve found that a great way to get my kids interested in reading is to read them a book that has been made into a movie. It gives them something to look forward to, and they love finding the differences between the two. Because of Winn-Dixie is the story of a 10-year old girl named Opal who moves to a new town with her preacher father. She finds a stray dog in a grocery store and claims him as her own, naming him Winn-Dixie. He helps her cope with her sadness and build a new community to include many unlikely friends. This was so heart-warming that we’ve read it twice!
- Babe: The Gallant Pig, by Dick King Smith – When Mr. Hogget wins a piglet at a fair, all Mrs. Hogget can think about is eating pork chops and ham for Christmas dinner. But Babe starts to show skills for sheepherding—even better than the sheepdogs. Could this “sheep-pig” actually do well at the Grand Challenge Sheepdog Trials? This was a great book to start conversations about standing up for what you know is right and not being afraid of what others think.
- The Sherlock Holmes Children’s Collection, by Easy Classics – We got a small set of these books for Christmas a few years ago, and we loved them so much that we expanded to buy the whole set! There are 30 chapter books in all, and each one contains a simplified version of a Sherlock Holmes mystery with fun illustrations. This was their first real introduction to mysteries, and it was so fun hearing them piece together the clues to try to solve each mystery. I had way too much fun doing different voices for each character, and my kids learned so many words! I knew our reading was really sinking in when I overheard them playing one day, pretending that one of their stuffies was riding in a “hansom cab.” Some of our favorite mysteries were The Speckled Band, The Blue Carbuncle, The Copper Beeches, The Lion’s Mane, The Veiled Lodger, The Six Napoleons, and The Sign of the Four. I loved giving my kids such a fun introduction to some classics, and I can’t wait to read them all over again with my younger two.
- Holes, by Louis Sachar – I’m convinced this book should be on the classics list for decades to come. Stanley Yelnats believes his family curse is the reason he is sent to a juvenile detention camp for something he didn’t do. Once he gets to Camp Greenlake, he is required to dig a hole every single day. Amidst the monotony, he starts to make some friends and solve an old mystery that could change the course of his life forever. We laughed out loud, cringed, and cheered for the characters. In addition, the movie adaptation with Shia LeBouf is so great. A must-read, in my opinion!
- Wonder, by R.J. Palacio – I wanted a book that would give my kids more perspective and empathy for others, and this was perfect. Auggie Pullman was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, which makes his face look very different from a “normal” face. He plans to start fifth grade at Beecher Prep after being home-schooled his whole life. This book describes his experiences through his first year of school: rejection, happy moments, betrayal, unlikely friends, and overall growth. We laughed a lot, and I cried at parts while reading it to the kids. This is a great book to teach inclusion and empathy for anyone who is different from you in any way. (And it goes without saying, but the movie adaptation was perfect for a family movie night!)
Stephanie’s Favorite Read-Aloud Books
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle series, by Beverly Cleary – This series follows a boy whose family moves into a motel, where he meets a cuddly, clever mouse named Ralph who has a bit of magic in him. Ralph and the boy’s toy motorcycle end up having a whole series of small, amusing adventures—some silly stunts, some situations that get a little dicey, but never anything truly scary. We’ve read these aloud even when our kids were as young as five, and they laughed the whole way through, every single bedtime! It’s sweet, funny, and just adventurous enough to keep everyone hooked.
- The BFG, by Roald Dahl – Most of the giants in this book are big and genuinely scary, but the BFG (Big Friendly Giant) is different—he’s a vegetarian, he’s loveable, and he teams up with a young girl and the Queen of England to save a group of children from the other giants. There’s a dream tree, plenty of Dahl’s signature playful made-up words, and such a creative, imaginary world built around it all. It has just enough adventure and a touch of scary to keep things exciting, without tipping into too much. Such a fun, imaginative one to read aloud.
- Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen – This is a survival story about a young teenage boy whose plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness, leaving him to survive on his own (with nothing but a hatchet!) until he’s rescued. It’s based off true stories from the author’s life, including building fires, foraging for food, and fending off wildlife, all while learning real grit and resilience. We read this one as a family in preparation for a trip to Alaska, and even though my kids were a range of ages at the time, it stuck with all of them—my daughter still brings it up years later. It’s intense in parts and better suited for slightly older kids (I’d say 4th–5th grade and up), but it’s such a riveting, rewarding story of survival.
- Tress of the Emerald Sea, by Brandon Sanderson – This is a fantasy novel, but a much lighter, funnier one than Sanderson’s usual work—perfect for the tween range, though younger kids can enjoy it too. Tress is an ordinary girl who sets off on a wild adventure after the boy she loves is captured by a sorceress and taken aboard a pirate ship. There’s magic, humor, a talking rat, and just enough peril to keep it exciting without being heavy or dark. My fantasy-loving son adores Brandon Sanderson, and this one is such a fun, entertaining entry point for kids into his world.
- As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, by Cary Elwes – This one is best experienced as an audiobook—Cary Elwes narrates most of it, joined by much of the original cast sharing behind-the-scenes stories from making the movie. It’s a fun listen for the whole family, especially if your kids already love The Princess Bride the way mine do (my son has watched it more times than I can count). Hearing the stories behind the scenes made the movie even more special to them.
Q&A
Question: Which books on this list are gentle introductions to World War II for kids?
Short answer: Letters From Rifka by Karen Hesse and A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus. Letters From Rifka follows a 12-year-old Jewish girl’s journey from Russia to America, told through letters in a poetry book—engaging, age-appropriate, and with a happy ending that helps kids visualize immigrant experiences (including Ellis Island). A Place to Hang the Moon tracks three London orphans evacuated to the countryside; it’s honest about hard parts without being too heavy, with a classic feel and powerful themes of resilience and family loyalty.
Question: What are the best picks for younger listeners or first chapter-book read-alouds?
Short answer: Try The One and Only Ivan (short chapters, funny, easy to follow), The Wild Robot (short chapters, some illustrations, simple language), and The Mouse and the Motorcycle series (read-aloud hits even with kids as young as five—sweet, funny, and not truly scary). The BFG also works well aloud: it’s imaginative and playful with just a touch of scary that stays kid-friendly.
Question: We love pairing books with movies. Which titles here have great film tie-ins or extras?
Short answer: Several do. Sarah, Plain and Tall and Anne of Green Gables both have beloved film versions. Because of Winn-Dixie, Babe, Holes (with Shia LeBouf), Wonder, and The Wild Robot all have movies—great for comparing book-to-film. For a fun twist, As You Wish is an audiobook of behind-the-scenes stories from The Princess Bride cast, perfect if your family loves that movie.
Question: My kids are into mysteries. Which recommendations fit that interest?
Short answer: Start with From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, where siblings hide out in the Met and unravel a statue mystery—clever, memorable, and endlessly discussable. The Sherlock Holmes Children’s Collection offers 30 simplified, illustrated classics (like The Speckled Band and The Blue Carbuncle) that invite kids to piece together clues. Holes also brings a layered mystery that unfolds at Camp Greenlake and keeps listeners guessing.
Question: Which books best spark conversations about empathy, resilience, and inclusion?
Short answer: Front Desk opens gentle, meaningful conversations about perseverance, hard work, and social justice through a young immigrant’s experience. Wishtree (narrated by an oak!) invites talks about kindness, friendship, and standing up to bullying. Wonder builds empathy and inclusion around difference, while A Place to Hang the Moon highlights resilience and family loyalty. The One and Only Ivan and The Wild Robot both foster empathy through found-family themes and caretaking.
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