Read Alouds We’ve Enjoyed (By Year)

Here is a list of read-aloud books we’ve enjoyed, this is a partial booklist for my own records, and also serves as a recommended book list for those of you that are interested.   I am not including all of our read alouds, only those we’ve (at least partially) enjoyed, and I will be adding to this list as we go on. I will be including this button on the sidebar of the blog for easy referencing.
The list is sorted by year and includes a short description about what we thought (my children in particular)


Chapter Books (Second Grade) 
The Boxcar Children

Pagoo


Chapter Books (Kindergarten & First)
The Secret Soldier: The Story of Deborah Sampson by Ann McGovern - we read this book while studying the revolution. Treyton loves all war stories, and I really appreciated the fact that it was a true story of a woman during this time - a woman who secretly became a soldier. It's an amazing story!!

Squanto: Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla - we read this book over a span of 3 weeks and I was amazed by what Treyton (6 years old) remembered a week after we had finished. This book introduced us to the amazing man, Squato - I will admit, I cried. A lot. At the end of this book.

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald– my 5 year old son LOVED this book, and months later still uses examples and stories from it. This book was nice because each chapter was based on a different child and character issue, so it was easy to stop and start when you needed to.

Aesop’s Fables – Both my 5 year old and 2 year old enjoyed these. We read one everyday for nearly two months in school, repeating a few of our favorites. These are GREAT stories to start practicing narration and illustrations with.


Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater- I enjoyed this book, Treyton (5 y.o) was only so-so on it, at times he had a hard time keeping up with the storyline and I would have to tell him what happened at the end of the chapter. He enjoyed the story though and particularly enjoyed completing his own book to go along with it.

Paddle to the Sea by Holling Clancy Holling – Personally, I think we read this one a little early. I may try to read it again next year. Treyton didn’t get as much as he could have from it, it was a little over his head maybe. A cute story about a little wooden canoe that a young boy makes and it’s journey through the 5 Great Lakes to the Ocean. I think my son will get more out of it, in a year or two.


Phoebe the Spy by Judith Griffin – written from the viewpoint of a 13 year old girl who saves the life of General George Washington, I purchased this book after visiting Mount Vernon. We read it while we were driving on our vacation. Treyton (5 y.o.) not only enjoyed it but remembered what I read to him and even illustrated a picture of the story after we arrived home (a week later).

Charlotte’s Web by E.G. White – for some reason we did not finish this book last year, but Treyton really enjoyed it, I don’t remember why we stopped and didn’t pick it back up, but then again I was pregnant, no further explanation needed, right?

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren Treyton really enjoys this style of book (similar to Mrs. Piggle Wiggle), a far-fetched story about a feisty little girl, named Pippi. She lives alone, next door to a brother and sister about her age, the story includes some of their adventures together, and some of the oddities that makes Pippi, well, Pippi!

Andi’s Pony Trouble by Susan Marlow – Treyton would usually ask me to keep reading this book, he didn’t like ending a chapter. They were shorter chapters (which is nice I think) and the story was about a little girl his age, which always helps keep him interested. This is a story about a little girl who wants a horse of her own, but has yet learned how to take care of the hand-me-down pony she has, named Coco. A great story about responsibility and appreciating what one has.

A Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla -This book actually took us a little while to finish, only because we were reading a lot of books (maybe too many) at one time. This is a story of three children whose father left three years earlier to go to Jamestown in America. Their mother ends up getting sick and dying, so they find a way, themselves to get to America. Through trial after trial, their determination is honorable, their respect and faith is admirable, this book makes for a great read. Realistically portraying what it was like for the Pilgrims (and the family they may have left behind in England), I found myself reading through tears at several points throughout this book.

Sarah Whitcher's Story by Elizabeth Yates - A story of a little girl in Colonial times from New Hampshire who wanders away from her family's cabin and gets lost in the woods. I didn't think I was going to like this story when I first started it, but it was really good! And to learn at the end of it, that it was based off of a true story, made it even better. I will give you this warning though, there was not a single day that I did not cry while reading this one. I'm not sure how much Treyton got out of the reading because he was so busy laughing at me!

The Courage of Sarah Noble - a story of a girl who travels with her father from Massachusetts to Connecticut to build their new home. From traveling and sleep in the woods, to meeting Indians for the first time, Sarah's story reminds us of the courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability overcome in the face of fear.

Any of the Ingri d'Aulaire books - there is one on Pocahontas, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln. We read most of them during our study of the United States.

Sarah, Plain and Tall - a cute story that we read during our American History plains studies.
We also watched the movie, which was good. A shorter chapter book, very appropriate as a read-aloud at this age. 


The Hundred Dresses

  by Eleanor Estes - we actually read this book before we went and saw the show in the theater. The books offers a great message, and Treyton really enjoyed the characters, and I could tell he was really attached and concerned with what was happening and how everyone was feeling. At the show, we actually found out that this book was based on a situation that actually happened in Eleanor Estes' own life. 

Our Favorite Story Books (Preschool Age: 3-5 Years Old)
* I know that there are tons more of these, this is just what I could think of off the top of my head without seeing any of them. I will be sure to add to this list as well.


Let’s Play Rough by Lynne Jonell– Treyton’s favorite book (possibly of all time) when he was 3 &4. Treyton insisted on reading this book with Dad and afterwards having a little wrestling match of their own. After a few weeks, Treyton would say many of the lines on his own.

Go, Dog, Go by P.D. Eastman – this was Treyton’s favorite book when he was younger, we read it so many times the pages are practically falling out.


Fancy Nancy – Alexa (our 2 1/2 year old little princess) is just now getting into these books, and loves the concept of “fancy” nancy, more than the books themselves. But I absolutely LOVE these books.

3-in-1 by Joanna Marxhausen and excellent portrait of the trinity.

God Gave us You, God Gave us Two, God Gave us Love, God Gave us the World – and excellent series of children’s book. Easy to read, but full of big lessons.


Curious George Complete Collection – Tim and I both enjoyed curious george when we were kids, and Treyton has enjoyed him as well.


Chicka Chicka Boom Boom another classic, I read this one to Treyton, but it’s Lexie who really likes it. It’s rhythmic flow and words get her bouncing after just one page. What a great way to introduce and teach the alphabet.

Mouse Shapes a simple story but we still had fun making things from shapes just like the mice in the story did.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton- a book from Five in a Row, I shouldn't have judged this book based on it's cover, the kids LOVED this book and we had a really fun week rowing this book.

Tot School (12months – 3 Years)
8 Silly Monkeys, 10 Little Ladybugs (and the like) Lexie chose the monkey book as her favorite, Treyton enjoyed the ladybug one both around the age of 2, both of these books have nearly lost their bindings and have been read so many times by my hubby and I we could recite them in our sleep.


Goodnight Moon – a classic obviously, our kids really enjoy reading this book and it doesn’t take much time for them to memorize the lines as we read through it.

I’m Dirty – though it’s more of a “boy book” Lexie loves this one too. It’s a story about a backhoe loader cleaning up a city dump. We always read this story with lots of excitement and voices which the kids thought was hilarious.


Brown Bear, Brown Bear – we actually used this book to do our own five in a row type study with school and with a 3 year age difference between them (2 and 5) they both loved it!!



Books Used for Family Worship
* I highly recommend all of the following, we’ve used and loved each of them.

Big Truths for Little Kids by Susan & Richie Hunt - towards the end of the book there were a few differences in theology (like the baptism of babies), we just took the opportunity to explain to our kids why we don’t believe in those things. Otherwise, this was a great devotional tool.

 Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Mighty Acts of God by Starr Meade