As much as your kids may love it when you read their favorite books aloud, at some point you’ll probably grow tired of reading the same old titles. Instead of giving up reading aloud to your children, try picking up a more challenging classic. Many classic authors were masterful storytellers, and a good story has appeal for all ages.
Why read books to your kids that they aren’t ready to complete on their own? For one thing, it’s a great way to expose your children to new words. As you go along, ask questions like “Do you understand what that means?” Stories aimed at kids are often funny too, and your kids will love it when you end up laughing together.
Ten classic titles to consider:
- The BFG by Roald Dahl. Who can resist this softhearted giant who wants to save children from being eaten?
- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. A spider, a pig and one great friendship.
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. A mysterious story of courage and personal triumph.
- Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald. You’ll laugh out loud at the cures Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle prescribes for common childhood ailments. 5.
- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. Poetry, songs, riddles and drawings, too.
- Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. There’s almost nothing this positive-thinking spunky kid can’t do when she makes up her mind about it.
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. This mouse can really ride.
- Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Tales of a very low-tech past.
- Bed-Knob and Broomstick by Mary Norton. Travel through space and time with the help of a magical bed-knob.
- The Neverending Story by Michael Ende-Bastian. A quest to save the fantastical creatures that populate the world of Fantastica.
Add your own childhood favorites for even more books to choose from!.
Cindy Hudson is the author of Book by Book: The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs.
