Great Chapter Books to Read Aloud
After writing the post about getting my read-aloud mojo back, quite a few of you asked me for a list of read-alouds that our family has really enjoyed over the years. Lists like these are helpful, aren't they? There are truly so many books out there and it's nice to have someone recommend some that really stand out.
Many of our read-aloud choices are made to correlate with the period of history we're studying each year, and I'm always considering the ages and personalities I'll be reading to. I'll annotate the list where possible. If you want a brief list, here are our top ten read-aloud choices. {affiliate links below}
The list is in alphabetical order. Where books correlate with a 4-year history cycle such as The Mystery of History or Story of the World, I will make a note.
This really is a list of every chapter book we've read aloud!
Across Five Aprils - A moving story of the Civil War. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Adam of the Road - Minstrels, journeys, and a young boy in Medieval Europe. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 2
All of a Kind Family - A large family of Jewish sisters at the turn of the century. Beautiful and sweet. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Augustine - Farmer's Boy of Tagaste - I have only read this one aloud once over the years, but the faithfulness of Augustine's mother has stuck with me. My kids were about 1st and 3rd grade when we read this, but I think a little older would retain it better. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 1
Baby Island - Stranded on a deserted island after their ship wrecks, these young girls must care for the babies stranded with them. Even my younger boys loved this adventure!
Bambi - My kids enjoyed the movie version better because the book tends to heavily moralize animal rights, but if your family feels strongly about that topic, this might be a good read for you.
Bartholomew’s Passage - Book two in the Jotham's Journey Christmas series.
A Bear Called Paddington - The classic tale of the Peruvian bear found in Paddington Station.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - A classic Christmas story of terrible kids and a town where redemption takes center stage.
The Bird’s Christmas Carol - A sweet Christmas story of a sickly girl and her generous heart for others.
Blue Ridge Billy - Written by Lois Lenski who wrote so many endearing children's chapter books with beautiful snapshots into the lives of ordinary people. The father in this story makes moonshine and there is discussion of alcohol, in case that is a subject your family does not want to discuss. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Blue Willow - One of my personal favorites, Blue Willow tells the story of a young girl moved west from Texas during the depression and the friendships and life lessons she picks up in her new California home. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
The Boxcar Children - My mother was a great reader to us and I remember spending afternoons on the couch as she read The Boxcar Children to me. My kids have read through the series after reading the first.
The Boxcar Children, Snowbound Mystery
The Boxcar Children, Mystery Behind the Wall
The Bronze Bow - A firey Jewish boy, the Romans he hates, and a life-changing encounter with Jesus of Nazareth. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 1
Bruchko - True missionary account of a young American man and his life with the Motilone Indians.
By the Great Horn Spoon! - California Gold Rush fun! 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
The Cabin Faced West - Quick historical read with very accurate descriptions of life in the pioneer period of America. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Caddie Woodlawn - On my girls' favorite list. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Captain’s Courageous - A spoiled boy falls overboard and is rescued in more ways than one. The story is excellent, but I found the sailor's verbiage difficult to read aloud.
Cast Two Shadows - A story of the American Revolution that still sticks in my mind. For an older audience. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
The Cat of Bubastes - G.A. Henty classic adventure storytelling set in Ancient Egypt. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 1
Charlotte’s Web - Charlotte's Web is the first book I ever read aloud, and our oldest was 4 years old. It was 1997!
Children of the New Forest - An adventurous tale of the English Civil War told from the eyes of Catholic children who lost their parents in the frenzied fighting. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Christmas Stories of George MacDonald - A collection by one of the greatest storytellers.
Clean Your Boots, Sir? - A boy with a humble job and how God uses his willing heart.
The Collected Tales of Nurse Matilda - The original Nanny McPhee.
Coral Island - Islands, boys, mystery, adventure.
Cruise of the Arctic Star - Written by the author of Island of the Blue Dolphins, this sailing story up the coast of California will likely bore younger children but is quite interesting for a high school study of California or sailing history. 4-Year History Cycle, Years 2, 3
The Curse of the Viking Grave - Sequel to Lost in the Barrens. My boys loved these books.
Dangerous Journey - The Pilgrim's Progress retold for children. Illustrations in this edition are rather dark so be prepared if you have sensitive children.
The Door in the Wall - A lovely tale of medieval times and compassion. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 2
Emily’s Runaway Imagination - Silly good fun. A great summertime read!
Farmer Boy - The chapter about the ornery boy and the bee stings is worth the book. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Freddy the Detective - Talking animals!
Ginger Pye - A boy. A dog. Every kid should read Ginger Pye.
God King - An adventurous story of life in the time of Hezekiah. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 1
God’s Mountain Man - The life and times of Jedediah Strong Smith. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
The Golden Goblet - Adventure! Revenge! And a heart softened by Jesus in the era of Roman occupation. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 1
Gone Away Lake - Finding a hidden town that transcends time and place? It's a kid's dream!
Goodbye, Vietnam - A Vietnamese family's plight as they escape from their war-torn country. Gripping. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Grandpa’s Box - Grandpa keeps a box of treasures that tell a redemptive story.
The Great Turkey Walk - Drive a herd of turkeys from Missouri to Denver? It makes for one fun story.
The Great Wheel - The story of the first Ferris Wheel. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates - Hans Brinker lives with his poor parents and sister in Amsterdam where he dreams of winning the annual skating race. Excellent Dutch history and culture.
The Hardy Boys, Tower Treasure - Everyone needs to read a Hardy Boys mystery once, right?
The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day - The story of William Tyndale told in a way that gives his daring story justice. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Heidi - Classic tale with a beautiful witness for God.
The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom's gripping tale of Nazi occupation and her life in a concentration camp. Mature themes. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Hittite Warrior - More excellent reading aloud for the Ancient time period. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 1
The Holy War - John Bunyan's other classic work.
Homer Price - Another gem that gets reluctant boys interested in read-alouds.
House of Sixty Fathers - A young Chinese boy finds refuge with American soldiers during the Second Sino-Japanese war. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
I, Juan de Pareja - The riveting tale of a slave to a Renaissance artist. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
In the Year of the Boar & Jackie Robinson - Young Shirley Temple Wong leaves China for a new life in post-World War II America. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Indian Captive - My kids were riveted by this tale of the pioneer girl abducted by Native Americans. True story. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Island of the Blue Dolphins -Adventure, history, and California geography. A must-read for West Coasters. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Jo’s Boys - Sequel to Little Men. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Jotham’s Journey - The first in a Christmas trilogy that will have you hanging on the edge of your seat.
Jungle Doctor on the Hop - Paul White's missionary tales of his time in Africa are well-written, fun, and meaningful.
Jungle Doctor and the Whirlwind
King Solomon’s Mines - The original Indiana Jones!
A Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt - A young girl writes a letter to Eleanor Roosevelt, hoping for help during the Great Depression. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Life With Father - Father is a financier who tries with great humor to rule his family. This was hard to read in places for me - father is rather a grump. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Little Britches -Boy, ranch, coming of age tear-jerker. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Little House on the Prairie - The classic. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Little Men - Jo, of Little Women fame, and her husband open a school for boys. We just loved it! 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Lost in the Barrens - Another by Farley Mowat, Lost in the Barrens is an adventure tale of a white boy without parents and the Cree boy he teams up with in the harshest of elements.
Madeleine Takes Command - Young Madeleine is pressed into service to protect her fort and home in Canada. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Man of the House - Second in the Little Britches series. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Mary Poppins - We enjoyed Mary Poppins but like The Collected Tales of Nurse Matilda even better; she's the original Nanny McPhee.
The Matchlock Gun - This is also a good read for an emerging reader to try on their own. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Men of Iron - An excellent coming of age tale set in Medieval England. My boys were riveted. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 2
Milly Molly Mandy - Sweet little tales of a sweet little English girl. But don't tell anyone - my little boys loved these stories, too.
The Minstrel in the Tower - Of towers and maidens and medieval times. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 2
Misty of Chincoteague - Horses. Girls. Horses.
More Milly Molly Mandy - Sequel to Milly Molly Mandy.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle - This is a great one to start with if you have younger boys (ages 4-8) who don't think they like being read to.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins - Penguins? In North America? 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
My Escape From the Auto de Fe - Reformation intrigue and escape from the Spanish Inquisition. Edge-of-your-seat storytelling. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
On the Banks of Plum Creek - 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Once Upon a Marigold - One of my girls' favorites, this is a very fun tale of a princess across the wall and the young man who seeks to correspond with her.
The One Bad Thing About Father - Teddy Roosevelt (and the one "bad thing" is not what you would expect!) 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
One Wintry Night - One of our very favorite Christmas books to read aloud.
Owls In the Family - One of our favorite Farley Mowatt tales!
Patty Reed’s Doll - A perennial favorite for our kids. Patty Reed was a little girl when her family came to California with the Donner family, and the rest is history. You can visit Sutter's Fort in Sacramento and see the actual doll Patty carried in her pocket on their ill-fated journey. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Paula the Waldensian - A young Christian girl finds herself living in her uncle's home where her faith is not welcome. Another tear jerker!
Peter Duck - Book 3 in the Swallows and Amazons series.
Phoebe the Spy - Young Phoebe spies for her country at the service of George Washington. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
The Prince and the Pauper - One of those classics that reads like a fresh tale and draws the listener in from the get-go! 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Rascal - A raccoon. A boy. A joy!
Red Hugh, Prince of Donegal - A teenager seized by the enemy and emerging triumphant! 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Redwall - Mice who fight (boys eat this stuff up).
Return to Gone Away Lake - Sequel to Gone Away Lake.
Rifles for Watie - Newbery winner about the Civil War. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Runaway Ralph - More Ralph S. Mouse goodness from Beverly Cleary.
Shadow Spinner - A definite favorite in our home, this retelling of Shahrazad from the Arabian Nights is gripping, fast-paced, and entertaining. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 2
Shhh . . . We’re Writing the Constitution - Another classic from Jean Fritz. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Shakespeare’s Scribe - Sequel to The Shakespeare Stealer 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
The Shakespeare Stealer - Who is stealing the famous playwright's works? 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
A Single Shard - A vase changes the life of a young Korean boy and his master. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 2
Soldier Fritz and the Enemies He Fought - Fritz follows in the footsteps of Martin Luther. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Stories of the Pilgrims - This one is worth a read every few years as you prepare for Thanksgiving. It's written right at an elementary student's level and is packed with facts woven into the engaging story. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Storytime With the Millers - Sweet stories with life lessons woven in. Some people don't like stories that moralize, so be apprised that Storytime With the Millers is packed with that!
Swallows and Amazons - YES! Favorite here. 4 siblings, a boat, an island, some friendly rivals. My kids played out the adventure each time I finished a chapter.
Swallowdale - Sequel to Swallows and Amazons.
The Swiss Family Robinson - There's a reason some books retain their reputation. Swiss Family Robinson is adventure-packed but can also get a little thick in the details. I'd wait until the kids were upper elementary/middle school, but they're likely going to enjoy the ride. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Tabitha’s Travels - The third in the Jotham's Journey Christmas series.
Teddy’s Button - A Christian classic.
Tirzah - The read-aloud choices for studying early history and the ancients can be slim. Tirzah is a beautiful and gripping tale of a young Hebrew girl who escapes Egypt during the Exodus. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 1
Toliver’s Secret - 10-year-old Toliver must replace his grandfather on a secret mission during the American Revolution. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Treasure Island - Pirates? Check. Adventure? Check. Skullduggerry? Check. Excellent writing? Check. Just be sure to use your best pirate voices.
The Trumpeter of Krakow - Medieval alchemy and mystery. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 2
The 21 Balloons - Fanciful fantasy and beautiful imagery. Lots of fun, too!
Twice Upon a Marigold - The sequel to Once Upon a Marigold
Vinegar Boy - Poignant. Vinegar Boy is a "must not miss" book about a boy who encounters Jesus. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 1
Voyage to Freedom - Two children's experience crossing the Atlantic on the Mayflower. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
The Westing Game - An exciting mystery, I found this one a little tricky to read aloud but would assign to a solid reader.
What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? - Jean Fritz books are engaging reading for historical events. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
The Wheel on the School - The book that helped me get my read-aloud mojo back! Dutch children try to lure the storks back to their village. A great adventure!
Where the Lilies Bloom - 4 orphan children learn to fend for themselves. Tender. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Where the Red Fern Grows - Just be prepared to cry! 4-Year History Cycle: Year 4
Wild Geese Flying - This sweet story of a struggling family began a love affair for me of Cornelia Meigs' writing.
The Willow Whistle - Another Cornelia Meigs gem about the Revolutionary War. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
The Wind in the Chimney - From England to America, a widow and her children try to find a way to keep the home they have found. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Winnie the Pooh - Even better than the movie.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Oh, the discussions of grace and religion. Great story for older elementary and junior high. High schoolers would be engaged, too. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
Wonder - My girls and I listened to this together and we all loved the tender tale of a boy born with a severe facial deformity.
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Their mother and father are lost at sea and the family home falls into treacherous hands.
The Year of Miss Agnes - Miss Agnes arrives in a remote Alaskan town and wins the heart of her pupils.
Young Carthaginian - G.A. Henty's retelling of Hannibal. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 1
Zia - The sequel to Island of the Blue Dolphins, with realistic telling of mission living and whaling culture. 4-Year History Cycle: Year 3
100 Cupboards - A 12-year-old boy finds a door to a mysterious world. Science fiction, for sure.
