Favorite Books to Read Aloud

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March is Read Across America month! In honor of such a great program, I am sharing some of our family’s favorite books to read aloud. 

Reading a book to your child is a wonderful way to calm them down before bed, a great bonding experience, and a good source of entertainment other than the TV. Books also make great gifts for the child or family who already has everything. 

We have a wide range of readers in our house from adults who love to read, a first grader who’s just getting started, and a two-year-old who might love a story before bed but has a short attention span. So I have a variety of books we love and feel comfortable recommending. 

Baby and Toddler Books

Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton

Pajama Time by Sandra Boynton

I’m a fan of anything by Sandra Boynton. My husband and I both have Pajama Time memorized and I have fond memories of reading that to my first born over 6 years ago. She still laughs a little and reads along with me when we read it to my son at night. 

Children’s Books (Age 2-5)

Go Dog Go! by P.D. Eastman

How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long

My 4-year-old son’s favorite book is How I Became a Pirate. It’s full of adventure but short enough that you can read it before bed and not feel like you’re committing to a saga of a story. We even got to see a play of the show at Pope Joy in January which made the book come even more to life. 

The Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen

This book is fun to read and has a good ending! We often talk about not being the pout pout fish in our home, and I’ve been convicted a time or two of my pouty heart while reading it to my kids.

Read Aloud Books (Age 5 and Up)

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

The Box Car Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

I LOVED the Box Car Children series as a kid. My daughter is still a little young to dive into them on her own, but we all enjoyed reading the first book of the series together as a family. I would often catch my kids pretending to be some of the characters while playing outside.

And because reading is also beneficial for mommas too, here a few of the books that I always love to recommend:

Books for Mommas

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgsen Burnett

Spring is the best time of year to read this classic!

Loving the Little Years by Rachel Jankovic

Fit to Burst by Rachel Jankovic

Rachel Jankovic is one of my favorite authors and speakers. I’ve quoted her in blog posts several times and love to listen to her podcast, What Have You, which she does with her sister Rebekah Merkel.

The Life Giving Home by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Clarkson

This is another book that I quote often. This is one that I would read almost like a study since it is broken up by months. 

Now, please tell me. What are you reading? And what are you reading to your kids?