Read Aloud Books For Families
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How To Build A Love Of Reading
Welcome - I hope you will enjoy reading this lens about the fun (and importance) of reading aloud with your family. I'll discuss why reading together is so great for families, what kinds of books make good read-aloud material, what ages to read to, and of course you'll find a list of wonderful books to start with plus links to other articles and suggestions that will get you off on the right track. Whether you're just starting out or are a reading aloud pro, this lens is for you. Please feel free to add your favorite books and comments in my guestbook. With so many books to choose from in libraries and bookstores, your recommendations mean a lot.
Family Members Who Read Together Stay Together
or, it's the book that binds
The Hobbit, Black Beauty, The Secret Garden, A Wrinkle In Time... do any of these books bring back great childhood memories? They do for me. You see, I am an avid reader (okay, you really wouldn't want to know how many books I can devour in a week's time). The summer between grades 3 and 4, I read 103 children's novels. Unfortunately, the weren't read aloud with my family. You see, my parents stopped reading aloud after I started school. And so we never shared together all the lovely stories I cherish from my childhood.I vowed I would not let that happen when I had children. These stories of adventure, love, friendship, family togetherness, fantasy and more are meant to be shared with someone you love.
If you have older children, you probably already know that the last offering in the Harry Potter series came out last July. It's a fun addition to your list of books to read or talk about.
Many parents and grandparents are busy with Christmas shopping. Be sure to add great books to your list of christmas gifts this year. I still have signed copies of books given me by a favorite aunt as I grew up. They have become cherished memories of her now that she has passed away. Especially in this day of computer and video games, a beautifully bound book with a special message from you is something to be treasured.
Reading Aloud In The News
Timely articles about the importance of reading aloud to kids.
Reading aloud is certainly newsworthy. Just check out these great articles about how families and communities are supporting and making it work.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byOur Family Read-Aloud Favorites
Just had to share our favorite books.
Here is a list of our top favorites for reading aloud. Many are older books, not all are in print but check on Amazon.com or Abe's books to find used copies. Well worth the hunt!
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A Little Princess
My Father's Dragon
The Harry Potter series
The Mouse That Roared
The Wonderful Flight To The Mushroom Planet
Calling On Dragons
A Walk Into The Woods
Chin Ling The Chinese Cricket -
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Henry Reed's Journey by Keith Robertson
Henry Reed's Babysitting Service by Keith Robertson
Rascal by Sterling North
101 Dalmations by Dodie Smith
The Phantom Tollbooth
San Francisco Boy by Lois Lenski -
Little Britches by Ralph Moody
Man of the Family by Ralph Moody
The Home Ranch by Ralph Moody
Mary Emma and Company by Ralph Moody
The Fields of Home by Ralph Moody -
What's For Lunch, Charley?
The Narrow Escapes Of Solomon Smart
Misty of Chincoteague
The House At Pooh Corner
Tico And The Golden Wings
Frog And Toad Together -
Horton Hears A Who - Dr. Seuss
C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles Of Narnia
The Happy Hollisters (large series)
Mrs. McFig And The Very Big Wig
The Red Balloon -
NOT IN PRINT BUT CHECK ON EBAY OR AMAZON:
Old Black Witch by Wende & Harry Devlin
Venus Boy (great story; very hard to find)
Reading T-shirts And Gifts For Book Lovers
Looking for great gifts for book lovers, or a way to promote reading? Check out these great reading t-shirts and bumper stickers.
Love Books Tote Bag
Price: 
Links to Reading Aloud Resources
articles, other blogs, where to buy books and more
Still not convinced reading aloud is worth the time? Click & read some of the articles linked here. When you're ready, check out the links for where to buy books and what other families experiences have been.
- RIF Makes A Case for Reading Aloud
- RIF - Reading is FUNdamental, makes it case for the importance of reading aloud.
- English Children's Laureate Adds Her Stamp of Approval
- The Children's Laureate for 2005-2007, Jacqueline Wilson, offers sounds words of advice about not missing out on the reading experience with the over 5 crowd.
- Do's and Dont's For Reading Aloud from Jim Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook
- Jim Trelease offers great ideas for every family to make reading aloud a natural part of your family life.
- Great Reading T-shirts And Gifts For The Whole Family
- Want to promote the love of reading? Here's a great website that offers tons and tons of fun reading designs on t-shirts in sizes for the whole family. Book tote bags, reading buttons, kids reading shirts and baby book designs on onesies and bibs, plus tons more.
- Publish Your Own Children's Book!
- Children love to hear stories their parents have made up. Do you think your stories could appeal to others too? Why not take it a step further, and publish your own children's book? Here is a link to one company... if you pursue it let others know what your experience is like in our guestbook.
- A Way To Publish Books On Demand
- Or, if you are interested in publishing your special family stories one book at a time, CafePress offers black and white (no color at this time) printing and binding services. You can create your own book, and buy just one copy, or let other family members buy them! Or, if you're ambitious, you can offer them to the public right on CafePress.
- What Makes A Good Young Picture Book ?
- WHAT MAKES A GOOD YOUNG PICTURE BOOK?
Marilyn Singer asked a group of authors, editors, and other book people this question. Here are their responses, along with some of their recommended titles...
A good picture book should also be a good read aloud book in my opinion. - Make Your Own Read Aloud Literacy T-shirts
It doesn't get any easier than this, a website that provides the tool to design your own book lover t-shirts! Add your own slogan, and/or your own photo, then click and purchase. You can see what you are making as you create it. Choose from many fonts and colors to express yourself with. Shirt styles for men, women and kids are offered, with several color choices. This is really a fun way to make unique shirts that say exactly what you want them to. Great for library staffs or reading specialists too.- What Books Do You Read Aloud?
What books do you read aloud to your kids and why?
Book Lover Shopping Websites For Families Who Read
Find Special Gifts for Readers
Looking for a great gift for a book lover, your favorite school or community librarian, or a child from a reading family? Here are some of our favorite shops that offer fun reading slogans on gift mugs, library tote bags, book lover t-shirts, personalized children's books and other gifts for readers.
- Biblio Gifts
- Great collection of reading t-shirts and gift items including book lover clocks, Kiss Me I'm A Librarian t-shirts, Encourage A Healthy Addiction - Read To Your Children t-shirts and other funny book lover slogans.
- The Reader's Shop
- The Reader's Shop offers gifts and apparel that showcase books, reading, librarians, well anything to do with the world of books. Find I Love My Library t-shirts, My Mommy Reads To Me tees, Born To Read and other fun bibliophile slogans.
- Main Street Book Lover T-shirts
From I Love Mr. Darcy to A Room Without Books Is Like A Body Without A Soul, you'll find many fun reading slogans on sweatshirts, book tees, canvas library totes, reading mugs, kids reading apparel and more. Stocking stuffers include reading magnets, book lover buttons and keepsake boxes and other items.- Melanie's Library Shop
- This fun shop is organized by the Dewey Decimal system! Look under 000-099 for books, librarianship, and under 800-899 for writing, poetry, drama, novels, literary theory & criticism, and Shakespeare. Find fun t-shirts, stocking stuffers for readers and other Christmas gifts for your favorite bibliophile.
- Homewise Shopper Book Lover Gifts and Apparel
- To help promote literacy wherever you go, check out our reading bumper stickers and t-shirts for librarians, volunteers, reading teachers, parents and of course children of all ages who are learning to read! 100's of designs to choose from, from Jane Austen to Sherlock Holmes, Mother Goose gifts to I Love Books library bags and Future Reader baby tees.
- Scholastic Children's Books
- Shop at The Scholastic Store! The Best Books for Kids of All Ages!
- Personalized Children's Books
This website offers wonderful personalized books for children ages 0-12, which include their name right in the story.
- Snoopy Store
- This shop carries all kinds of Snoopy and Peanuts Gang t-shirts, posters, mugs and gifts. I still remember reading many a Charlie Brown and Snoopy book out loud with friends in grade school.
Great Read Aloud Books On Amazon
buy and ship straight to your door
Here are some of our family favorites. We hope you'll add them to your own collection!
LANDMARK HOUSE LTD NATIONAL KIDS-IN-PRINT BOOKS
Great way for your child to develop their creativity.
Children who are interested in writing and illustrating their own children's book can enter the National Kids-In-Print book contest for child author/illustrators offered through Landmark House Ltd.
There is an entrance fee for sending in your book, but great how-tos are given for making sure your child's book is ready for consideration. Please visit their wonderful website to see the fantastic books the past winners have created!
There is an entrance fee for sending in your book, but great how-tos are given for making sure your child's book is ready for consideration. Please visit their wonderful website to see the fantastic books the past winners have created!
- Check out the books written by and for students!
- Stop by Landmark House' wonderful, whimsical world of creative children's literature! These books were both written and illustrated by talented young authors whose talents were nurtured through the publishing process by Landmark. Books from past contest winners are available for purchase. You will be amazed by the colorful illustrations and fantastic stories these children have brought to life in their very own books.
Book Lover T-shirts For Families Who Read
Share your love of reading aloud or promote literacy.
At Book Lover T-shirts, you will find fun gifts for Book Club members, Librarians, and Readers. Also browse our funny Shakespeare t-shirts and Jane Austen fan gifts.
How To Repair Books
When you have special books you want to preserve, it's important to use the right techniques. This lens offers some great info on how to take care of and repair your own favorites.
Read Aloud Favorites For Older Children
Pre-teen and Teenage Kids Can Love Read Aloud Family Circles
If you've established a tradition of reading aloud in your home don't give it up just because the family is getting a little older! Even busy pre-teen and teenage children can snuggle in and enjoy some relaxing time with parents and siblings while you share a favorite book together.
Here are a few of my personal favorites; add yours in the guestbook below!
Here are a few of my personal favorites; add yours in the guestbook below!
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Victory - Susan Cooper
Harry Potter Series later books - J.K. Rowling -
Shaking The Nickel Bush by Ralph Moody
The Dry Divide by Ralph Moody
Horse Of A Different Color by Ralph Moody
These are the final three books in the series that Ralph Moody wrote about his experiences growing up. The style is more grown up, with Ralph being a young adult and dealing with life on his own. Very family friendly! -
Three Cups Of Tea - Young Adult Version
This book tells about the experiences of Greg Mortenson, who tried to climb K-2 in the 1990's and found out about the need for schools in poverty stricken areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He now has an organization called Central Asia Institute that does just that! The Young Adult version just came out in Jan 2009. -
Dewey - The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched The World by Vicki Myron
Our Middle School aged son was enthralled with this book and the antics of Dewey the library cat. It is a wonderful book to read aloud.
Old Favorites Now On Amazon!
Find old favorite read aloud books from private sellers on amazon.com
Read Aloud Book Poll
take the poll and see how you measure up with other families
Every family is very busy, but taking a few minutes to read aloud can be so rewarding! How often does your family take time to read together? Find out what other families are saying.
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Vintage Children's Books On eBay
Find old favorites or discover a new read-aloud favorite when you browse these book offerings on eBay.
Children's Book Reviews On Favorite Blogs
Looking for a good book to add to your collection or for some read aloud fun? Here are some blog posts about books that look interesting to me.
- Joyce Anthony - Ghost For Rent by Penny Lockwood review
- Eleven-year-old Wendy feels like her world is falling apart when her parents discuss getting a divorce. She and her twelve-year-old brother pack up and move into a house that is reported to be haunted......
- How To Get Children To Read
- Memelynne's Blog includes wonderful articles on how to get children in your family to read all those wonderful books.
Read Aloud How-To Books
Learn about reading aloud from the experts.
Shop for Read Aloud manuals from experts like Jim Trelease.
Donate To Room To Read
Education and literacy bring hope to the world's children.
I don't often endorse the work of a non-profit in a public website that I run, but I was so taken with the Room To Read organization and it's mission to use education and reading to change the lives of children around the world. Truly literacy can change the world.
From the Room To Read website, here is their mission statement:
"We partner with local communities throughout the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by establishing libraries, creating local language children's literature, constructing schools, providing education to girls and establishing computer labs. We seek to intervene early in the lives of children in the belief that education empowers people to improve socioeconomic conditions for their families, communities, countries and future generations. Through the opportunities that only education can provide, we strive to break the cycle of poverty, one child at a time."
From the Room To Read website, here is their mission statement:
"We partner with local communities throughout the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by establishing libraries, creating local language children's literature, constructing schools, providing education to girls and establishing computer labs. We seek to intervene early in the lives of children in the belief that education empowers people to improve socioeconomic conditions for their families, communities, countries and future generations. Through the opportunities that only education can provide, we strive to break the cycle of poverty, one child at a time."
Room to Read partner with local communities throughout the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by establishing libraries, creating local language children's literature, constructing schools, providing education to girls and estab
Share your opinion about reading aloud.
Sound off about reading aloud to kids.
Here's your chance to tell how you feel about reading aloud to kids. Does it really make a difference? Answer in the poll, and you can also leave a note in the guestbook.
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Back To School With Great Books
New Read Aloud Favorites For The 2008-2009 School Year
Kids are heading back to school and some look forward to that daily read aloud story time with their teachers. Here are some books they might be hearing this year:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
The Very Busy Spider
The Giving Tree
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Little Red Hen
Tip - Since kids love repetition,consider purchasing some of these to continue reading aloud at home after the teacher has finished the book.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
The Very Busy Spider
The Giving Tree
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Little Red Hen
Tip - Since kids love repetition,consider purchasing some of these to continue reading aloud at home after the teacher has finished the book.
Children's Picture Books Reviewed at Kristi's Book Blog
Great read aloud picture books!
KRISTI'S BOOK NOOK is a wonderful place to visit if you love picture books for your family.
This blogger offers a wonderful look at many beautiful children's picture books, with nice reviews and a way to purchase the books your read about.
This blogger offers a wonderful look at many beautiful children's picture books, with nice reviews and a way to purchase the books your read about.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byNew Additions To Favorite Book Series'
Read Aloud Series Books Are Great
Here are some new release additions to favorite kids' book series for 2008. Having a new story with familiar characters is a great way to keep kids interested in reading aloud.
Lenses By Children's Authors
Stop by these great reading lenses that feature books for children by some really creative authors.
Using Your Voice To Enhance The Story
I was talking with my next door neighbor's daughter a few years ago about reading aloud and she told me how much she always enjoyed her Dad's reading because he always added interesting voices to the characters in the books.
It's a simple thing to use your voice to make the book come alive! This video is a great example of how to do that. Whether you are reading to a single child, or your whole family, you can employ some of the techniques shown in this youtube video to make your reading time memorable.
It's a simple thing to use your voice to make the book come alive! This video is a great example of how to do that. Whether you are reading to a single child, or your whole family, you can employ some of the techniques shown in this youtube video to make your reading time memorable.
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Read About John Wood - The Founder Of Room To Read
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur's Odyssey to Educate the World's Children
Read the fascinating story of entrepreneur John Wood and the organization he founded. Room To Read has a four-star rating with Charity Navigator.
Reading Aloud On Twitter
What twitter folk are saying about reading aloud.
Keep up with the latest tweets about reading aloud on twitter.
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- pacrapacma
- World Read Aloud Day is March 7, 2012! Are you celebrating? http://t.co/iK1x8AQ4 #weteach #education #parenting #literacy #litworld
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- arbedeel
- @donyellarella LMAO it really happened even funnier when I read it aloud haha
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- GLAMdoesitWELL
- my mom wants to sit here and read the obituary aloud makin me sad all over again. thanks pam. -____- 😔
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- yudy_lakam
- RT @LallaRules: 1. Read Aloud. Parents and teachers who read aloud and talk often to young children (cont) http://t.co/icbSb26p
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- bprocessing
- Who's got a PS Vita?!! Do you dig it? Tell us! We may read your thoughts aloud on next week's waste of airwaves!
automatically generated by Twitter
Literacy Gifts And Apparel
Raise awareness about literacy.
Cute literacy t-shirts, book tote bags and literacy gifts.
powered by Zazzle.com
Love Our Read Aloud Lens?
If you are a StumbleUpon user, please stumble our lens so other parents can find it too. Thanks!
Please Visit My Other Book Related Lenses
Fun reading for families and parents too.
Share Your Favorite Books Too
Family reading favorites.
Does your family have a list of favorite books? Just add them here, so others can check them out! Don't have a lens? It's easy to make one...
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Bookbuyer1
Jun 11, 2011 @ 10:24 am | delete
- I enjoyed reading your lens and taking your poll. I hoped you could have a look at my lens (my 2nd) and give your opinion. http://www.squidoo.com/shop-4-books-the-online-library
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smithlights
May 27, 2011 @ 10:06 pm | delete
- Love the lens! Thanks for sharing!
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JoyfulPamela
May 23, 2011 @ 7:27 am | delete
- We have many read aloud favorites. There is something special about cuddling up together on the couch sharing a story or, as my kids also enjoy doing, watch them act out the story while I read to them. Such special memories! Thanks for the book list - there are some that we haven't read yet! Off to the library ... : )
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ZachariasO Nov 29, 2010 @ 7:12 pm | delete
- Read Aloud Books -- In my own family, as in yours, "The Hobbit" carries great prestige. My grandfather introduced me to the story in about 1966 when I was already a teenager, therefore ostensibly too old for the tale. Not so! I loved it. When I had children of my own in the seventies and eighties, The Hobbit became required (by my children) reading ... we knocked off a chapter per night, then started it all over again. Recently, when I became a full-time writer, it was my own goal to put something of a similar nature into the hands of today's parents and children. When Dr. P.D. Young (a literacy expert who conducts seminars in Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia) read "Spirit Thorn, A Tale of Parallel Worlds" she assured me I had done so ... although I personally don't believe it. Still that's when I went ahead and got it published as an eBook and began marketing it as "family read aloud."
Just to continue the chain: My own daughter asked me on the phone yesterday if I would please send some read-aloud books to her daughter for Christmas. The daughter is only 11 months old.
Thanks for the lens
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RuntFarmSeries
Oct 16, 2009 @ 11:48 am | delete
- Great lens! You've got a great collection of read aloud books and information here. I'd love for you to drop by my children's books lens and say hello. when you have the chance.
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by slotowngal
slotowngal
Hello everyone! My name is Nina, and I live in PA. Are you looking for books you can read aloud as a family? As a mom of seven, I have a lot... more »
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