UPDATED 2023
Most of our read alouds are picture books. I love them and so do the kids so its a perfect fit. Young children benefit from this type of reading because it keeps their minds sparked and encourages a love of stories. Last fall when my kids were 3 & 5 I decided I wanted introduce some chapter books to our morning basket (be looking for a post all about morning baskets soon). I felt like they were ready so I started looking online and in books for good recommendations for books to start reading. I feel like I discovered a gap in reading resources. Sarah Mackenzie and Read Aloud Revival are a fantastic resource and I love listening to her podcast and checking out what audible deals she recommends. She has some great lists for older kids but I couldn’t find what I was looking for.
Here was my criteria:
- good lessons
- not scary (my then 3 year old is very sensitive)
- fun characters that my kids could easily follow
- plot that would keep my kids attention
- bonus if it had the occasional picture since my kids always ask “can you please show me the picture?”
I have since listened to a RAR podcast that talked about read alouds for this age and she mentioned that her new book Read Aloud Family has some recommendations so maybe the gap is disappearing. I hope so! Either way, since last fall I couldn’t find a list online I decided to create my own. I don’t think you can have too many resources on the subject!
Jill Tomlinson Books – these are delightful stories about animals. Many of the animals are babies which makes the characters endearing to children. The plot in each book kept both my kids attention and they often wanted to read multiple chapters! The chapters are short and bonus -there are a few pictures throughout! These aren’t specifically Christian in nature but the stories are funny and innocent without being sappy or ridiculous, perfect for young children and their parents. You can also find these on audible! My children especially love the Hen, owl, & otter. There is an aardvark story not pictured that we enjoyed as well. According to my son “It is hard to say, they are really all my favorite.”
Farmer Boy – All the Little House on the Prairie books are wonderful but in my opinion Farmer Boy is especially suited for 3-6 year olds. The book is all about a little boy (Almanzo) and his life on the farm. The stories of how his family lived and what they did during each season are interesting and my kids refer to them as we work around the house or yard. This has sparked interesting conversations about how people lived in times gone by – a history & sociology discussion! My favorite part of the book is all the FOOD! The descriptions are just yummy! You can make your own versions or purchase the Little House Cookbook. There are a few pictures throughout the book which is nice too. S (my son) says his favorite thing is “that he gets to learn about his training and all the cool things they did back in those olden days”. NOTE: If your child is newly 3, wait a little before reading this one or maybe read 1/2 a chapter at a time.
Stuart Little – this is a classic and I particularly like the read aloud edition. It is almost a hybrid between a picture and a chapter book. The little mouse has some fun adventures and the plot is active which is very helpful to children new to chapter books. I recommend this for an older 3 year old since some of the vocabulary may be a little hard to understand- that being said, it might be a good teaching opportunity. The pictures by Garth Williams are beautiful and very nostalgic for me.
The Miller Family Series – I discovered these books while at the THSC conference. Light of Faith resources sell them as do several other companies. These stories are about a Mennonite family and the lessons learned are perfect for 3-6 year olds. My kids love hearing about the Miller children because many of the temptations and struggles in the stories are the same my kids are struggling with in their day to day. Wisdom and the Millers is especially suited for even a young 3 year old. I have very much enjoyed these storied and they go well with our morning routine. NOTE: Because these books are very conservative, if you are not a Mennonite there may be a few stories you choose to skip. I have done this twice so far – one about Veterans Day and one about women’s head coverings. If you read these to an older child, even a 6 year old, it may be a good opportunity to discuss these subjects and your families beliefs. Skipping the story does not effect the enjoyment of the book as each chapter is independent.
Lassie Come-Home – This is another read-aloud edition that is well suited for an older 3 year old and up. The story does have some sad elements such as poverty, sickness, lost pet but it ends well and in my opinion there is some benefit in children being exposed to sadness in a protected way. These elements of the plot made my children more interested and sympathetic to the characters. You may need to explain some of the vocabulary but it is worth it. Such a sweet story! The illustrations are gorgeous too!
Your family may not like all of these books but I hope that you find at least a few that are helpful. You know your child so if you start any of these and they don’t want to listen, stop and try again when they are a little older or try it as an audio book at nap time. I find that children with older siblings can often listen longer than those who have no siblings. Feel free to comment with any other books your 3-6 year olds have enjoyed.
We have only read the first book in the Geraldine series but we love what we have read and plan to read more. The first book follows the mouse family through the seasons of the year and ends with Christmas. Throughout the book, Geraldine and her brother Button learn lessons about obedience, selfishness, etc. There are a few suspenseful parts when they get into danger but it is resolved quickly and there are good lessons to be learned. We loved the pictures at the beginning of each chapter.
The tag line is a great description. These stories are a perfect read-aloud for the younger crowd. The chapters are long enough that they encourage the habit of attention but include pictures and aren’t so long that they are exhausting. If you have an animal lover this will be an extra treat. These are the kinds of stories I can see myself reading to my grandchildren.
The Mercy Watson series is another perfect beginner read-aloud for those who want pictures. The series is all about a pet pig named Mercy who loves “toast with a great deal of butter”. My children started using this phrase after reading the book and still use it now, years later when asking for toast at breakfast. Some ideas just stick. Funny and endearing these books are also pretty short so no worries about long chapters.
I would suggest this classic for the 5-6 year olds more than the 3-4 year olds but don’t underestimate your kids. If the 3-4 year olds have older siblings they can usually handle read-alouds above their level with ease. My kids listened to this as an audio book so many times I lost count. Audio books are not a total replacement for a loving adult’s reading but they can and should be used in your child’s education. I use audio books especially at nap, during lunch, and at bedtime.
Do you have any other chapter books to add to the list? I would love to hear about them in the comments.
