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reading out loud

We've just started reading longer books out-loud with our boys (ages 4 and 7). It has been a fabulous winter activity, as we hang out by the fireplace to stay warm while we read. We started with Harry Potter - have read the first two books, and will work our way through the series. My younger son begged for me to read Inkheart, so we're starting that today. We also have The Hobbit on our reading list. Some of my childhood favorites that I plan to try with them are The Secret Garden and Mandy. I'd love any thoughts/ideas anyone else has about books.

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Permalink Reply by Kim S. on January 22, 2009 at 2:15pm: Hi Mary,
Thanks for your suggestions. JRR Tolkein is the author of The Hobbit.
Kim; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kim S. on January 22, 2009 at 2:28pm: By the way, Mary, don't hesitate to share "girl" stories. That's one of the biggest beauties of not having so much influence from peers - the kids can find interest and enchantment in anything. Besides, it may give ideas to someone else!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sandra Dodd on January 22, 2009 at 2:50pm: Matilda
Half Magic

Grimm's Fairy Tales; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Katherine on January 22, 2009 at 4:12pm: Horns and Wrinkles by Helgerson; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amanda on January 22, 2009 at 4:28pm: Akiko books

Frannie K Stein

Freddy the Detective

Moongobble and Me

Little House series

Pippi Longstocking

Mr Poppers Penquins

Flat Stanley; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Meredith on January 22, 2009 at 4:59pm: Ray has just reminded me that when he was 6 or 7 I read to him from several books by Barbara Hambly - he particularly remembers The Ladies of Mandrigyn and The Dark Hand of Magic. Neither of those books is really "intended" for children, they just happened to be what I was reading at the time. They're scary enough to be on the edge between fantasy and thriller, but Ray remembers them fondly and has just asked to read them for himself (he's 15).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paige on January 22, 2009 at 8:58pm: The Emil series, by Astrid Lindgren (she also wrote the Pippi Longstocking series) My girls LOVE Emil, just as my brother, sister and I did as children.

They're kinda hard to find at decent prices...but maybe your library would have them.

Their names...
Emil and His Clever Pig (AKA Emil and Piggy Beast)
Emil Gets into Mischief (I haven't read this one)
Emil in the Soup Tureen
Emil's Pranks; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alane on January 24, 2009 at 6:14am: The BFG

anything by Hilary McKay

Harriet the Spy

Dragon Rider; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Candy Cook on January 24, 2009 at 9:28am: My normally rambunctious wild child actually sat still for Call of the Wild and White Fang.. preferring just to curl up and listen to the story without any distractions.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denise on January 24, 2009 at 12:25pm: I have to disagree with the poster who said you should read Inkheart before seeing the film. After seeing the film last night and having read the books, I think you should ONLY do the former. See the film first or else you will not like the film because the book is so much better. It doesn't even resemble the book hardly...and they did not choose the 'right' actors for any of the villans :) There was no character development and well, it sucked big time for us as we loved the books so much and had high expectations for the film.

Other really good read aloud books that we've actually reread because they're SO good, are all in the Percy Jackson and The Olympian series. I'll bet your boys will like these...they're full of exciting adventures AND humor. Em loved them so much she bought her own copies. We're also starting another series by this same author (Rick Riordan) called The 39 Clues which we are enjoying.

All of the Elizabeth Enright books - The series about the Melendy children which includes The Saturdays, The Four Story Mistake, And Then There Were Five, and Spiderweb for Two...and

Gone Away Lake, and Return To Gone Away. (I absolutely <3 books, too, and I have to say that Elizabeth Enright has to be my number one favorite children's book author of all time...I am sad that she's no longer with us to continue writing)!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kim S-O on January 26, 2009 at 7:27pm: The My Father's Dragon, Elmor's Dragon and the Dragons of Blueland are fabulous and particularly wonderful for ages 4 thru 8. I think your boys might like these. If the boys enjoyed the first two Harry Potter books, they also might enjoy Eragon or the Narnia series.
Happy reading!
Kim S-O; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kim S. on February 2, 2009 at 8:32am: Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions! I'm going to print this list and take it with me when I head to the library.; ▶ Reply to This