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When I wake, coffee is perking and muffins are in the oven. My children are well-rested, greet each other with a smile, and gather calmly in the living room to begin their studies. I'm sure it is the same at your house, yes?
No. The coffee is day-old, there are no muffins anywhere (because my children eat everything good and leave me with only the heel of the bread loaf), and an all-out battle has commenced in front of the TV because everyone thinks it is their turn to choose the YouTube video first. It is not pretty, and I cannot deal.
So was born our read-aloud time (coffee and books per Cait at My Little Poppies). To be honest, I had great intentions from day one of our homeschooling endeavor, but it took me five years and a global pandemic to actually start reading chapter books to my kids as a routine. Sure, we listened to audio books in the car often, but there is something to be said for gathering together in a space to enjoy a book together. Naturally, the youngest generally ditches the rest of us and proceeds with some sort of battle training in the other room, and I have to hide the book every day or the oldest will steal it and retreat to his room to finish without us, but it has changed the tone of our homeschool. There is no need to yell at everyone to come start the lessons after they have scattered all over the house (or retreated to a single room to torment each other). Book time is a gentle signal that it is time to start our day. On the days that we skip this ritual, everything is harder.
Do we sometimes ditch a book because none of us enjoy it? Yep. Do we occasionally pause so that I can look up how to pronounce a name? Totally. Do we frantically purchase the audio book because we need to finish so that we can start the next one that aligns with a unit study we are starting (or because I'm just tired of reading out loud?) You betcha. The point is, we read this book together.
And I get to finish my coffee.
Check out some of our favorite read alouds, in no particular order, and ease into your homeschool day.
Full disclosure, this site contains affiliate links.
The Witch Family by Eleanor Estes was one of my absolute favorite books as a child. I repeatedly checked it out from the school library and have since purchased two copies for myself (pretty sure they are both still in my house, but I am one of those people who is either highly organized, or a complete disaster - packing and unpacking moving boxes falls in the complete disaster category).
I have read this book to my children, and we have listed to the audiobook (which I own on, GASP, CD). They love it, even though the main characters are six-year-old girls. It is cute, wholesome, and spooky without being scary. The illustrations are charming. A great October pick for the youngers!
From the cover:
"Go, live on the glass hill forever, and never come back!" Thus did Amy and Clarissa, who loved to draw pictures of witches, banish the wicked Old Witch. Before long there was Little Witch Girl and the Weeny Witch, the baby, on the glass hill as well. Perhaps Old Witch did try to be good, but she never succeeded. And in no time at all, Amy and Clarissa were involved -- sometimes dangerously -- in her schemes and "hurly-burlies."
Themes: witches, mermaids, Halloween, friends
Need to Know: [under review]
The Hobbit
The Hobbit
[coming soon]
Henry Huggins
Henry Huggins
What can I say, anything by Beverly Cleary is a classic!
From the cover: [coming soon]
Themes: [coming soon]
Need to Know: [coming soon]
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
[coming soon]
James and the Giant Peach
James and the Giant Peach
[coming soon]
My mom loves these books, I love these books, my boys love these books. Plus, what kid doesn't fantasize living inside a tree! Enough said.
From the cover:
Sam Gribley is terribly unhappy living in his family's crowded New York City apartment. So, armed with just the bare necessities -- a penknife, a ball of cord, some flint and steel, and the clothes on his back -- he runs away to the mountains. There, Sam must rely on his own ingenuity and the resources of the great outdoors to survive -- and he discovers a side of himself he never knew existed.
Themes: survival, mountains
Need to Know: [under review]
Related Resources:
Make sure to check out Pocket Guide to the Outdoors: Based on My Side of the Mountain.
A childhood favorite, partly because of the illustrations - make sure to get the edition illustrated by Garth Williams. The chapters are almost stand-alone following seasonal life in the Wisconsin woods and detailing daily tasks as well as celebrations
From the cover:
Wolves and panthers and bears roamed the deep Wisconsin woods in the 1860s. But Pa Ingalls preferred to live miles from his nearest neighbors. Pa built a snug log cabin for Ma and his three daughters, Mary and Laura and Baby Carrie. He hunted and trapped and farmed. Ma knew how to make her own cheese and sugar. At night the wind moaned lonesomely, but Pa played his fiddle and sang to his little girls.
Themes: seasons, family, homesteading
Need to Know: This series has racist themes, especially in subsequent books. Preread and be ready for discussion. I include this individual book because the tone is overall different from the others and focuses on seasonal activities and experiences.
Related Resources: [coming soon]
From the cover:
Now Tucker Mouse had heard almost all the sounds that can be heard in New York City...but in all his days, and on all his journeys through the greatest city in the world, Tucker had never heard a sound quite like this one.
The source of that sound is Chester Cricket, who has accidentally travelled by picnic basket form his home in Connecticut to the bustling Time Square subway station. Chester is luck to make three great friends right away: Ticker Mouse, Harry Cat, and Mario Bellini, a boy whose family owns a struggling newsstand in the station. These three introduce Chester to city life, from the blazing lights of Times Square to the delicacies of Chinatown to the pleasures of a party complete with candy, soft drinks, and music on the radio. And while listening to the radio's music, Chester discovers a talent he never knew he had -- a talent that just might bring fame and fortune to the Bellinis' newsstand, and joy to hundreds of New Yorkers.
Themes: New York City, music, animal friends
Need to Know: [coming soon]
From the cover:
Tommy and his sister Annika have a new neighbor, and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that live on her porch, and a pet monkey named Mr. Nilsson. whether Pippi's scrubbing her floors, doing arithmetic, or stirring things up at a fancy tea party, her flair for the outrageous always seems to lead to another adventure."
Themes: humor
Need to Know: [coming soon]
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Having remembered this book from when I was a child, we listened to this in the car when my children were young. They thought is was hilarious, I thought parts were a bit cringy. At any rate, it is entertaining, and the chapters are stand alone, so you can take a break in between and not be lost.
From the cover:
Themes: humor, misbehavior, overcoming bad habits
Need to Know: There are quite a few outdated parenting techniques in this book - preread and skip chapters as you see fit, they are generally stand alone with a different child/behavior challenge featured in each.
This book is great fun for bibliophiles of all ages!
From the cover: [coming soon]
Themes: friendship, games, library, Dewey decimal system
Need to Know: The TV miniseries is very different from the books!
From the cover:
Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a cloak of invisibility, befriende a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry know is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny closet at the foot of the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in eleven years.
But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sport, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him ...if Harry can survive the encounter.
Themes: magic, friendship, good vs evil
Need to Know: If magic isn't your thing, skip this one!
Related Resources:
Check out our book party ideas!
Don't forget to watch the movie!
From the cover:
I dream too hard.
In alternating chapters, Morning Girl, a twelve-year-old Taino, and her younger brother, Star Boy, vividly recreate life on a Bahamian island in 1492 -- a life that is rich, complex, and soon to be threatened.
Themes: early European contact, siblings
Need to Know: [coming soon]
Related Resources:
This text is often recommended in literature-based history curricula.
Any book with a map has me hooked! This book features charming line drawings and it's a quick read. A great kid's adventure and a lesson in doing things of which one is afraid.
From the cover:
A girl. An Iguana. An Island. And e-mail.
Meet Nim -- a modern-day Robinson Crusoe!
She can chop down bananas with a machete, climb tall palm trees, and start a fire with a piece of glass.
So she's not afraid when her scientist dad sails off to study plankton for three days, leaving her alone on their island. Besides, it's not as if no one's looking after her -- she's got a sea lion to mother her and an iguana for comic relief. She also has an interesting new e-mail pal.
But when her father's cell phone calls stop coming and disaster seems near, Nim has to be stronger and braver than she's ever been before. And she'll need all her friends to help her.
Themes: survival, island, ocean, overcoming fear
Need to Know: The mother dies/goes missing before the story begins - it is referenced in the text.
Related Resources:
Don't forget to watch the movie!
From the cover:
Ever wonder where inventors get their ideas? As it turns out, the great inventor Benjamin Franklin got his best ideas from a mouse named Amos! Funny, interesting, and wise this classic tale has been a favorite for generations. Once you've met Amos and read his account, you'll never think of Ben Franklin -- or American History -- in quite the same way.
Themes: Ben Franklin, American History, inventions
Need to Know: [coming soon]
Related Resources:
Don't forget to watch the movie!
This text is often recommended in literature-based history curricula.
As a Midwest native, the title and cover of this book hooked me. When I realized a leprechaun makes an appearance at the end, I knew I would save it for a March read aloud. There is mystery, adventure, and fantasy - and full-page pencil illustrations every few chapters.
From the cover:
If anyone had asked Louisa Brody last week what she thought her life would be like today, she'd have never thought it would look like this:
Her dear pa, accused of thievery, is locked thirty miles away in jail.
She's living with the awful Smirches, her neighbors and the very family that went and accused her pa of the horrendous crime.
And there is one very cantankerous -- and magical -- secret in the hazel grove that just may be able to shed some light on the situation. With her life flipped upside down, it's now up to Louisa, her sassy friend Jessamine, and that cranky secret to save Pa from a guilty verdict before it is too late!
Themes: mythical creatures (brownies and a leprechaun), prairie life, adventure
Need to Know: The main character's father is imprisoned at the beginning of the book (her mother is dead), and she is not treated well living with neighbors while her father waits for his trial.
Related Resources:
Check out our book party ideas!
If you are looking for a writing curriculum, check out The Prairie Thief | Brave Writer.
From the cover:
Themes: lacrosse, Haudenosaunee, American History,
Need to Know: [coming soon]
Related Resources:
Check out the author's website!
Check out our book party ideas!
This text is often recommended in literature-based history curricula.
From the cover:
Life has been hard for Mrs. Frisby ever since her husband died. When her youngest son becomes dangerously ill and needs to be moved in order to avoid the farmer's plough, she doesn't know what to do. A wise owl advises her to ask the rats for help, but Mrs. Frisby is hesitant -- how could a rat help her?
Then she learns a surprising truth. Not only did the rats know her husband well, but they also shared a secret with him. they were all once laboratory captives, subject to injections and tests, which made them more cunning than ordinary animals. In fact, the rats have built an underground city, full of secrete passageways and great machines! They agree to help Mrs. Frisby -- but when the farmer calls for exterminators to take care of his rat problem, the rats may need more help than one little mouse can give in return.
Themes:
Need to Know:
Related Resources:
Another childhood favorite!
From the cover:
Here is your passport to a most extraordinary excursion into magical lands and enchanted happenings...
How Aslan, the noble lion, freed Narnia from the spell of the White Witch.
Themes: Christianity, siblings, adventure, fantasy, adventure, good vs. evil
Need to Know: This is undeniably a Christian based book. It is also a great fantasy adventure. Your call.
Related Resources:
Check out our book party ideas!
Consider checking out Companion to Narnia.
From the cover:
Far off the coast of California looms a harsh rock known as San Nicolas Island. dolphins flash in the blue water around it, sea otter play in the vast kelp beds, cormorants roost on its crags, and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches.
Here, in the early 1800s, according to history, an Indian girl lived alone for eighteen years, and this beautifully written novel is her story. it is a romantic adventure, filled with drama and heartache, for not only was mere subsistence on so desolate a spot a near miracle, but Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that had killed her younger brother, constantly guard against the Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply, even when it meant battling an octopus.
More than this, it is an adventure of the spirit that will haunt the reader long after the book has been put down. Karana's quiet courage, her self-reliance and acceptance of fate, transform what to many would have been an ordeal into an uplifting experience. From loneliness and terror come the strength and serenity that are the goal of modern mankind and that are symbolized by the island itself, rising alone and majestic from the wide waters of the Pacific.
Themes: survival, channel islands, southern California
Need to Know: While it is an award-winning text, there is controversy concerning the accuracy of the book and portrayal of the characters, and the fact that the author is not native. You can read more about it here. Perhaps consider the annotated edition. It is important to emphasize that this is a work of fiction inspired by a true story - and to also investigate what actually happened.
Related Resources:
This book is part of our Early Southern California History Unit.
Consider reading Dear Miss Karana by Eric Elliott.
Also, make sure to check out the Teacher Resources - Island of the Blue Dolphins (U.S. National Park Service), which include both history and science standards.
Reed Novel Studies offers a free sample for this book.
One of the only pre-history themed chapter books I have found that is appropriate for kids, and it has a map!
From the cover:
Maroo and her younger brother, Otak, are their family's only hope. Trapped on the Great Plain in blizzard conditions and with little food, the family has one chance of survival: for Maroo and Otak to reach the winter camp and get help. But the fastest trail to the camp is over the White Mountain, with its treacherous glaciers, steep climbs, and mountain spirits.
No matter what happens, one of them must complete the journey -- the rest of their family depends on it. So when Otak goes missing, Maroo is forced to make the most difficult of all decisions: to stay and search for her brother or to continue on to the camp in order to save the rest of her family.
Themes: survival, bravery, tough choices, prehistory
Need to Know: The father dies at the beginning of the book, and the younger brother goes missing. Maybe skip this one if you have sensitive kids.
Related Resources:
Check out our book party ideas!
This text is often recommended in literature-based history curricula.
From the cover: [coming soon]
Themes: brothers, kites, Korea
Need to Know: [coming soon]
Related Resources:
Check out our book party ideas!
From the cover:
Concerning the adventures of four nasty children and our hero, with Mr. Willy Wonka and his famous candy plant.
Five children -- and only five-- were going to be allowed into Mr. Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory...the factory where the world's most wonderful candy was made.
Themes: [coming soon]
Need to Know: [coming soon]
Related Resources:
Check out our book party ideas!
Don't forget to watch both movies and compare/contrast.
This book is part of our Chocolate Unit Study.
This book has illustrations! With clues! Sold!
From the cover:
A Masterpiece...Vanished!
When a book of unexplainable occurrences brings Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay together, strange things start to happen: Seemingly unrelated events connect, an eccentric old woman seeks their company, and an invaluable Vermeer painting disappears. Before they know it, the two find themselves at the center of an international art scandal, where no one -- neighbors, parents, teachers -- is spared from suspicion. As Petra and Calder are drawn into a mysterious labyrinth, they must rely on their intuition, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of Vermeer. Can they decipher a crime that has left even the FBI baffled?
Themes: friendship, mystery, art, Chicago, Vermeer
Need to Know: [coming soon]
Related Resources:
Check out our book party ideas!
Henry Cole's A Nest for Celeste features pencil illustrations on nearly every spread! Although published in 2010, it reads like an old fashioned classic - charming in both story and presentation. The chapters are easy to read and come to life with the illustrations, the characters are relatable and humorous. The Afterword provides more information about the life of John James Audubon and the significance of his work, and the controversial aspects of his subject collection.
A joy to read (except for a couple scenes - see Need to Know below).
From the cover:
Celeste is a mouse who is looking for a home.
Is it nestled in the toe of a warm boot?
In the shirt pocket of Celeste's new friend Joseph, who is Audubon's apprentice?
Or is home the place deep inside Celeste's heart, where friendships live?
Themes: James Audubon, birds, American history, friendship
Need to Know: A hunting scene is described and the main and secondary character experience sadness in witnessing the death of the birds, later Audubon collects the bodies in order to draw them. The work of Audubon is controversial due to his killing birds in order to create his work - at one point in the book, the main character coaches a live caged bird to hold still and pose in order to prevent his death.
Related Resources:
This book is part of our Birds Unit Study.
I hesitated to read this one because I was concerned about the depictions of animal abuse. However, I am glad that we read it - my kids were quick to identify the abuse and we had further discussion on the topic. It is also funny, and my youngest threatens his brothers with "me balls" - if you know, you know.
From the cover:
Ivan is an easygoing gorilla. Living in a shopping mall, he has grown accustomed to humans watching him through the glass walls of his domain. He rarely misses his life in the hunlge. In fact, he hardly ever thinks about it at all.
Instead, Ivan thinks about TV shows he's see, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting.
Then he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from her family, and she makes Ivan see their home -- and his own art -- through new eyes. When Ruby arrives, change comes with her, and it's up to Ivan to make it a change for the better.
Themes: friendship, animal rights, humor
Need to Know: Physical and psychological animal abuse is present, but the story ends well.
Related Resources:
Check out our book party ideas!
Don't forget to watch the movie (Disney+ removed it from their collection, but you can find the full film on YouTube).
This book is part of our Primates Unit Study.
The Very, Very Far North is an easy read with plenty of humor - even my active kid stuck around to hear what would happen next. There are charming illustrations, and the characters have great personalities.
From the cover:
If someday you wander north -- truly north, to the northern part of north -- and you come across the Cold, Cold Ocean, follow its shoreline to a beach that's just right for napping. There you'll find Duane the polar bear and his friends.
Duane might offer you an icicle treat before introducing you to C.C. the owl, Handsome the musk ox, Twitch the artic hare, Boo the caribou, and Major Puff the puffin. He might ask your opinion on mid-late-morning naps and late-mid-afternoon naps. Don't worry about the fact that Duane is a polar bear - he has only kindness in his heart, which is why his friends love him so.
But if you are not able to visit Duane and his friends anytime soon, then the story tucked gently between the pages of this book should tide you over until you are ready for your own great adventure to the Very, Very Far North.
Themes: friendship, arctic, animals
Need to Know: Nothing stands out as problematic.
Related Resources:
Check out our book party ideas!
This book is part of our Arctic Unit Study.
I am in love with this book! It speaks to the power of place and connectivity with our world.
The chapters are short (the entire book is 95 pages) and the language is lovely: "He liked to watch his mother cruise down into the deep...She was a beautiful swimmer, relaxed and strong. Everything he knew on land or under the sea he learned from her." It is a powerful story of the love between mother and son, between boy and friend, between family and place.
From the cover:
From the day he is born, Abel Jackson lives for and from the sea. Throughout his childhood, Abel and his mother depend upon the quiet and bountiful waters along the coast of Western Australia for their livelihood.
Early on, while diving for abalone, Abel befriends an immense fish who lives in his cove. Throughout his life, Abel relies on the sage advice of the groper he names Blueback. Blueback helps Abel to understand that his life's calling is to uncover the secrets of the sea. And it is Blueback who give Abel the strength and inspiration to return as an adult and save his homestead.
Warm and wise, simple and poignant, Blueback is an enchanting and illuminating tale of friendship, commitment, love of nature, and a quest for knowledge. Truly a fable for all ages.
Themes: friendship, fable, Australia, ocean, place, home, environmental protection
Need to Know: The main character's father dies before the start of the story (killed by a shark) and is referenced often; his mother dies as an old woman at the end of the story. An abolone harvester dies of heart attack in the bay when diving alone. There is disrespect for and abuse of the environment, but that is what sets up the story.
Related Resources:
I stumbled upon the movie inspired by this book during a bout of insomnia - it is different but still a powerful watch.
This book is part of our Oceans Unit Study.
From the cover:
Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.
Now, he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.
After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.
Chances are, though, he won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.
But Mark isn't ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills—and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit—he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?
Themes: humor, Mars, engineering, botany, science, space
Need to Know: Lots of strong language (as one would expect from a guy stranded on Mars) - make sure you order the classroom edition, which has been edited with age-appropriate replacement language. As far as I know, there is NOT an audio version of the classroom edition. (I explained to my kids that they can only use those words if they are in fact stranded on Mars.)
Related Resources:
Make sure to watch the movie - the TV version if you want the language and nudity edited out.
The Secret World of Og
The Secret World of Og
Well, this was a DNF for us. The kids were bored with the characters, even though the world building was fun.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond [Coming Soon...]
The Witch of Blackbird Pond [Coming Soon...]
A Tale Dark and Grimm [Coming Soon...]
A Tale Dark and Grimm [Coming Soon...]
Solimar: The Sword of Monarchs [Coming Soon...]
Solimar: The Sword of Monarchs [Coming Soon...]
The Twenty-One Balloons [Coming Soon...]
The Twenty-One Balloons [Coming Soon...]
[Books I want us to read....so many books, so little time...]
[Books I want us to read....so many books, so little time...]
Odder by Katherin Applegate
*Greenglass House by Kate Milford
*The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
Heartwood Hotel (series) by Kallie George
*Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
The Captain's Dog: My Journey with the Lewis and Clark Tribe by Roland Smith
Stowaway by Karen Hesse
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Big Tree by Brian Selznick
Lion: A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley
*I have read and enjoyed this book individually, but not as a read-aloud.
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