Discover new titles of favorite read aloud books for lengthening attention span and time together for a little one you know. These pair well with beginner readers, seasonal homeschooling units and creating activities for all age groups.
Skkkkrrrrt! Hold up! If you think that we are beyond picture books, you’re wrong, my friend – we’re just adding a few more hours of reading to our week with “read aloud books”!
I would kid about the extra hours of reading, but I think we’ve sold the book thing on our eldest. The guy is a consumer, a bottomless pit, a black hold for stories. While read alouds are the next natural step in reading to kids, it’s typical for it to be the thing to develop the imagination and stretch the attention span. In fact, most blogs for early readers model stretching a read aloud across an entire week or more, a chapter at a time. But not mine. I know that each one of these books (for the most part) represents 30 minutes on the couch with my buddy. The Lord knows I could use a little more sit down time, and also hold dear to those 30 minutes while he wants them…
A Wooden Spoon Filter
With these suggestions, don’t forget to know your kid and what’s best for them. For some, a few more picture books with more words on the page is really still your season. For others, they’re ready to advance. I’ve tried here to rank the books from easiest to most complicated. By easy, I mean simple content with words that are also simple or easy to explain. By complicated, I mean concepts beyond toddlerhood that are still interesting, and words that will need to be defined. The best thing about all of these books are the abundance of pictures on each page!
- “Henry & Mudge” series by Cynthia Rylant
These are short readers: one goofy kid with his large goofy dog. They get into mud, into trouble, into messes, into slobber and more. I appreciate that they are topical, about camping or a season etc. Adding these to our unit studies have expanded our learning time.
2. “Frog & Toad” series by Arnold Lobel
Classics, you can’t beat them! Many of us read these as children, and they have not outlived their space in the readership. The story plots are simple and silly, and they testify to unconditional friendship.
3. “Cowgirl Kate & Cocoa” series by Erica Silverman
Here, the stories begin to lengthen some, and we introduce chapters! This is nice to provide the listener with the option to “pause here”. Each chapter mostly stand alone as far as its plot, with the overarching themes of friendship and humor. There are six stories in this series.
4. “Racing Ace” series by Larry Dane Brimner
For our vehicle obsessed picture book readers, this can be an easy chapter book to animate. It is short and sweet, perfect for those race minded individuals. There are two additional stories in this mini series.
5. “Mercy Watson” series by Kate DiCamillo
Here for the pictures! The Mercy Watson series is a spin-off on the classic comic book. Full page illustrations bring the hilarious story to life. Please pair this book with a southern accent, and you yourself will laugh along with this sweet pig’s story. There are five stories in this series, and we have read them over and over. Find them on the Yoto Store!
6. “Good Dog” series by Cam Higgins
Once your reader is ready to stretch their imagination, a book like Good Dog is high on the list! These pages are littered with images, and Bo’s words are dynamic. There are many books in this series (currently 14), some which pair nicely with holiday’s and the changing in season!
7. “Mr. Putter & Tabby” series by Cynthia Rylant
I may love Mr. Putter more than my children do! These light and humorous short stories are precious, and bring a new delight for celebrating the older generations. I always give Mr. Putter a deep southern accent, Ms. Teaberry a high pitched British accent. Mr. Putter Picks the Pears makes my four year old laugh out loud, and pairs well with pie.
8. “The Adventure of Sophie Mouse” series by Piper Green
Sophie Mouse! To discover these stories was like finding treasure. Again, one for bringing to life the seasons. But, in truth, there are also homeschooling treasures inside and out. In “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring”, the students of Silverlake Elementary School talk about what shapes and materials promote floating versus sinking. In “Winter’s No Time to Sleep”, they introduce the concept of hibernation! Our favorite happens to be “The Maple Festival” because, well, there’s baking involved… There are 17 books in this series!
9. “Mrs. Noodlekugel” series by Daniel Pinkwater
90’s kids, this here is your “Mrs. Piggle Wiggle” for your little 21st century babies! The similarities are there, though I slightly miss the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory lessons on character that our old Mrs. Piggle Wiggle taught us. The stories are slightly more obscure but still a sill delight for a rainy day. There are 3 books in this series.
10. “The Lighthouse Family” series by Cynthia Rylant
The Lighthouse Family moves forward with the level of maturity for a simple, read aloud. There is more back story, more descriptions of the characters and environment, and slightly fewer pictures. The events that bring a seafaring dog to the shore of a feline maintained lighthouse are more dire than our sweet Mercy Watson. Not inappropriately so, but the reader does feel a sense of compassion and a strong sense of family throughout the tales. Definitely a favorite to work towards! There are 8 books in this series.
11. “Tumtum & Nutmeg” series by Emily Bearn
By far the LARGEST read aloud we have attempted with our growing toddler! Remember, he devours story time, and this book has been much slower to chew. 512 pages to be exact! Online, it is recommended for ages 5-10, so even older siblings would enjoy this story of two little mice helping their human hosts. There are 7 books in this series.
12. “The Little House Chapter Book” series by Laura Ingalls
Short stories, less pictures – are you ready?! The good thing is, these stories are exerpts from our favorite childhood stories. These stories bring alive life in the woods, on the train and in the prairie. Each book focuses on one aspect of Laura’s life – her ma, her pa, her dog Jack, Nellie, parties, etc. The stories may be the easiest to read, and tangibly apply! There are 14 books in this series.
13. “Brambley Hedge” series by Jill Barklem
I am on the cusp of redecorating my baby girl’s room, and the photos in this book are enough to inspire childhood whimsy. I want to take pages from these stories and frame them for her walls. The images are spectacular! The stories may float a bit above a toddler’s head, but are familiar images of home, friends and family, that make this a good read for many ages. There are 11 books in this series.
14. “The Adventure of Geraldine Wilkins” series by Karin Kaufman
We read Geraldine in the fall to winter, when the dark was long and cold and more time under blankets was well regarded. My mom read aloud many chapters, and I made sure I was at least in the room while she read. I would put them on parallel with Stuart Little in adventure and description. We love these stories most because these little mice are learning much about “Big Big Hands”, or God! Father mouse tells stories to grow his children in the history of the mice, in character, and knowledge of Big Big Hands. A delight! There are 5 books in this series.
15. “Tales from Maple Ridge” series by Grace Gilmore
Last but NOT least, a story with a male main character! Other than Henry, and Mr. Putter, I find many of these little chapter books have sweet girl characters. They are great, and there is still adventure and excitement, but there is something special about finding a good book for boys. Logan has relatable dynamics, like siblings, household changes, personal character, etc. My dad is trying to read these aloud so that he can keep up! There are 6 books in this series.
Toddlerhood Books to Childhood Books
Mama was here for the pictures books (and still is!), but is totally here for lingering longer in chapters of mice, dogs, pigs and elderly friends.
The nature of our Bunny Book Club, is this natural documentation of how our tastes and competencies have grown in literature. As the first born moves into new territories, the littles are coming up in the ranks right behind.
Depending on what season you are in, with weather or with children, there are many more stories to discover:
Fall Book List 1 & Fall Book List 2
Winter Book List
Christmas Book List
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