Read Alouds

I strongly feel that read alouds should be an integral part of family life, regardless of children's ages. I fondly remember my father lying in bed next to one of my younger sisters, reading Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking to her. I also remember how much I enjoyed listening. Several years later, I heard another good book. This time, my siblings and I sat on the floor, at my mom's feet, listening to her read Fatima in Lucia's Own Words edited by Fr. Louis Kondor, SVD.  Knowing how much listening to these books meant to me, I encouraged my husband to read chapter books to our children.

My husband began by reading picture books to our children.  As our first child grew, he added the bible to his read-aloud list.  Eventually, he started to also read chapter books to us.  We all really enjoy listening to the stories he reads.  Some of the chapter books that our children have heard over the years are listed below.

2013 Read Alouds

Bernadette: Our Lady's Little Servant by Hertha Pauli
My children enjoyed listening to the story of this wonderful saint and Our Blessed Mother.

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams
Theresa couldn't wait for her dad to finish reading this book. I remember being the same way when I was in second or third grade and heard my teacher reading this book out loud to my classmates and me. In fact, the copy that my husband read is the copy that I asked my mom to buy for me at the time. Needless to say, this book has been a long time favorite of mine. I think that Charlotte's Web belongs in every child's personal library.

Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book by Enid Blyton

I originally intended to read this book to my younger children, but I noticed that a couple of the older children migrated to the room as I read. My children in preschool through sixth grade are enjoying listening to the story. My two eldest children read this and The Burgess Bird Book for Children a few years ago.

Freddy Goes Camping by Walter R. Brooks
My husband and children thought this book was amusing. Brendan read these books when he was younger and enjoyed them. This was the rest of the family's first introduction to the Freddy books.

The Hobbit; or, There and Back Again by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald



The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
The book that we read was illustrated by Ursula K. Le Guin. I would like to see the copy of this book that is illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith.



The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill
Thanks go to Kimberlee for making us aware of this funny satire.



Sixty Saints for Boys by Joan Windham



Sixty Saints for Girls by Joan Windham
A friend gave me this book last spring after I told her about Sixty Saints for Boys. My children and I thoroughly enjoy the stories in both of these books.



The Wanderers by Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
Based on the author and illustrator, I expected this book to be a winner. I wasn't disappointed. My husband and children found the story and illustrations delightful.

2012 Read Alouds

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray

Around the Year Once upon a Time Saints by Ethel Pochocki

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare*

The Children's Saint Anthony by Catherine Beebe

My second son kept asking his father to read more.

The Christmas Anna Angel by Ruth Sawyer, illustrated by Kate Seredy

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Devotional Stories for Little Folks by Nancy Nicholson

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli*

First Communion Days by a Sister of Notre Dame

James Herriot's Treasury for Children by James Herriot

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder*

We gave the boxed set of books to our oldest daughter for her birthday one year and I read all of the books out loud to her and her sister at that time. It was nice to hear this childhood favorite again.

Men of Iron by Howard Pyle

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle*

Mossflower by Brian Jacques

Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle

Queen without a Crown by Madeleine Polland

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome*

Swallowdale by Arthur Ransome*

This Way to Christmas by Ruth Sawyer

True Stories of First Communicants by a Sister of Notre Dame

  

An * indicates that we listened to the audiobook.

2011 Read Alouds

The Tales of Olga Da Polgaby Michael Bond

Dog Training for Kidsby Carol Lea Benjamin

Petite Suzanneby Marguerite de Angeli 

Alvin Fernald, Foreign Trader by Clifford B. Hicks

Alvin Fernald, Mayor for a Day by Clifford B. Hicks

Once upon a Time Saintsand More Once Upon a Time Saintsby Ethel Pochocki

Secret Agents Fourby Donald J. Sobol

Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman

  

2010 Read Alouds

   

Redwall by Brian Jacques

The Cure of Ars: The Priest Who Out-Talked the Devil by Milton Lomask

Crossbows and Crucifixes: A Novel of the Priest Hunters and the Brave Young Men Who Fought Them by Henry Garnett

Red Falcons Of Tremoine by Hendry Peart

Beorn the Proud by Madeleine Polland

Previous Read Alouds

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla

Happy Little Family by Rebecca Caudill

Schoolhouse in the Woods by Rebecca Caudill

Up and Down the River by Rebecca Caudill

Schoolroom in the Parlor by Rebecca Caudill

The Black River Pirates: A Peter and Polly Story by Don Clark

Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi

The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds

The Lost Baron by Allen French



The Red Keep by Allen French

The Blood Red Crescent by Henry Garnett

Raggedy Ann and Andy books by Johnny Gruelle

Alvin's Secret Code by Clifford B. Hicks

Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls by Caryll Houselander

More Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls by Caryll Houselander

A Life of Our Lord for Children by Marigold Hunt

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis


King of the Golden City by Mother Mary Loyola

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald

Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan

The World of Pooh: The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Cornerby A.A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard

The World of Christopher Robin: The Complete When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Sixby A.A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard

Devotional Stories for Little Folks by Nancy Nicholson

First Farm in the Valley: Anna's Story by Anne Pellowski

Red Hugh: Prince of Donegal by Robert T. Reilly

The Mitchells: Five for Victory (Mitchell's Series) by Hilda Van Stockum

Canadian Summer (Mitchell's Series) by Hilda Van Stockum

Friendly Gables (Mitchell's Series) by Hilda Van Stockum

Outlaws of Ravenhurst by M. Imelda Wallace (This book is a favorite in our house.)

The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin

Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Little House in the Highlands (The Martha Years) by Melissa Wiley*

The Far Side Of The Loch (The Martha Years) by Melissa Wiley*

Down to the Bonny Glen (The Martha Years) by Melissa Wiley*

Beyond the Heather Hills (The Martha Years) by Melissa Wiley*

Little House by Boston Bay (The Charlotte Years) by Melissa Wiley*

On Tide Mill Lane (The Charlotte Years) by Melissa Wiley*

The Road from Roxbury (The Charlotte Years) by Melissa Wiley*

Across the Puddingstone Dam (The Charlotte Years) by Melissa Wiley*

Little House in Brookfield (The Caroline Years) by Maria D. Wilkes*

Little Town at the Crossroads (The Caroline Years)  by Maria D. Wilkes*

Little Clearing in the Woods: Little House (The Caroline Years) by Maria D. Wilkes*

On Top of Concord Hill (The Caroline Years) by Maria D. Wilkes*

*The unabridged versions of these books are out of print; however, they are definitely worth finding and reading.  My children and I are partial to unabridged books. I also prefer the illustrations in these books.