Unlocking the door to new adventures
Here are my read-aloud recommendations for parents.
Originally published in the Moultrie News.
I loved your series on reading, especially your emphasis on parental responsibility. My husband and I resolved to read to our young children daily, but we’re struggling to find suitable chapter books. Many new ones feature characters that are too sassy for us, while classic books often go over our kids’ heads (and sometimes ours). Any suggestions?
Thank you for the kind words! I’ll return the compliment by applauding your commitment to reading to your kids every day. Something I really miss about my children is our nightly family ritual of snuggling on the sofa before bedtime, reading together.
The “read-to” ages fly by, so you’re wise to carefully consider your book selections. While I’m not an expert in contemporary children’s literature, I’m sure some new books avoid the trend of depicting kids as snarky wise-acres surrounded by dumb adults. Your local children’s librarian can help.
You’ll want books that exercise kids’ linguistic dexterity. While older classics like Alice in Wonderland are great, overly ornate language, as you suggest, can make it hard for parents to understand, detracting from the family experience.
Still, kids won’t spurn older books. Young children are blank slates, not yet jaded by modern trends and media. They’re still forming their conceptions about people and relationships. And they won’t turn up their nose at the deliberate pacing, formal interactions, and traditional values of older books — so don’t turn up yours at readable classics that still resonate like Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books.
Because of children’s unsullied ideals, daily read-alouds give you a once-in-their-lifetime opportunity to instill a love for reading and an appreciation for worlds and characters quite unlike those they see every day.
The following are some recommendations. They lie somewhere between the inscrutably old and the crudely modern. Most are series, so if you like one, you can eagerly anticipate another. They’re arranged by interest level, from younger children to older. I’ve tested them on my own family and vouch that they’re clever, challenging, and fun for all.
Note: Libraries don’t collect books like they used to, so you may need to request them through Interlibrary Loan. They’ll be worth the wait.
• Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik — An anthropomorphic cub and his family are the main characters in this warm, quiet series. These aren’t raucous, complex adventures. They’re stories of family love, friendship, play, and imagination.
• Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish — Kids enjoy how goofy maid Amelia misinterprets idioms. To her, “Dust the furniture” means to scatter dust on the sofa. The series is funny, smart, and delightful to read aloud.
• The Liza, Bill, and Jed books by Peggy Parish — Parish didn’t just write comic Amelia Bedelia stories. This series features young siblings who encounter light but intriguing mysteries. I love how Parish’s characters genuinely care for each other, rather than engaging in the sibling rivalry that many books often emphasize. Titles in the series include Key to the Treasure and Pirate Island Adventure.
• Encyclopedia Brown by Donald J. Sobol — Young Leroy Brown is a master of solving neighborhood misdeeds. Each book contains several mysteries that kids and parents can enjoy unraveling together.
• The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks — A boy discovers that placing toy figures in a magical cupboard brings them to life. Engrossing, adventurous, and imaginative, these books wonderfully explore themes like responsibility and friendship across cultures.
• Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls — Set in the Ozarks, this tender and exciting book follows a boy who trains two hunting dogs. It’s a marvelous work of fiction that can help introduce kids to grief and perseverance.
• Choose Your Own Adventure by Edward Packard, et. al. — Short on characterization, but high on plot, you’ll have fun deciding as a family whether you should open that door or hide as each book presents a unique scenario with dozens of possible endings.
Of course, these are just small drops in a huge bucket. I encourage you to visit your library and spend an afternoon finding something that excites the whole family.
Jody Stallings has been an award-winning teacher in Charleston since 1992 and is director of the Charleston Teacher Alliance. To submit a question, order his books, or follow him on social media, please visit JodyStallings.com.