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So you’re heading out on a family road trip, your kids are on summer vacation or you’re all currently home stayed due to a snow day or pandemic (for example). Beat the “I’m bored!” blues by taking your kids on an adventure through the pages of a great book.
Here are 10 titles I highly recommend for your whole family to enjoy. Some of these titles are available on Audible so you can listen to someone else read the book to you and your family, or you can borrow or buy the book and snuggle up to read together. You can sign up for a 30 day free trial for Audible on Amazon.
10 Titles for Family Read Alouds
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
This is probably one of the most beautiful books ever written. A boy meets a mole and they set out on an adventure. A fox and a horse join them. It sounds like your run of the mill children’s adventure story but you are wrong. This is a lovely story about life, friendship, and kindness. Every human should read this book.
A Series of Unfortunate Events 1: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
My son loved this series when he was young. This series tells the story of three children, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, who become orphans following a fire and are sent to live with Count Olaf, who attempts to steal their inheritance.
Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
Carl Hiaasen has written several novels for young readers that are full of suspense, humour, and lessons to be learned about the environment. An unlikely group of middle schoolers come together to halt the construction of a Pancake house in order to save a colony of burrowing owls.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
This classic novel is a must-read for all children, in my opinion. It’s a heartwarming story of Wilbur the pig and his friendship with Charlotte the spider who sets out to save Wilbur from slaughter. I actually think I’m going to read this book again!
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
Red is an old oak tree who serves as the neighbourhood’s “wish tree”. You could say Red has seen it all until a new family moves into the neighbourhood and doesn’t receive a warm welcome. Red teaches us valuable lessons about respect, belonging and community.
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The City of Ember is an underground community built to save the human race but its people living there don’t know they are living underground. As they face failing infrastructure, two 12-year-olds find an ancient message that might be the key to saving their community.
A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
Bat’s mom is a veterinarian and has brought home a baby skunk to care for until she can hand it over to the animal shelter. Bat, of course, falls in love with the skunk and has one month to prove to his mom that a skunk can make the perfect pet. I love this book starring an irresistibly funny young boy with autism.
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
Roz the robot opens her eyes to find herself alone on a remote island. She isn’t sure how she got there but she knows she wants to survive. She befriends the wildlife on the island and over time learns to adapt and survive. But one day, all of this changes and Roz’s past comes back to haunt her.
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
A definite read-aloud classic! When Claudia decides to run away, she takes her brother Jamie with her and they escape to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Once there, they find themselves caught up in a mystery involving an angel statue. It’s the original night at the museum adventure!
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
I love penguins and I love this book. I always read this book and Charlotte’s Web to my third graders and they loved them both. While it’s a bit old-fashioned, it’s still a humorous and enjoyable adventure for all ages.
Personally, I don’t think there is a better way to spend some family time together than reading a good book. I hope you will choose one of the titles to enjoy with your family and that it sparks a desire for your children to keep reading. Leave a review if you happen to read one of these books.
Happy reading!
