Why You Should Read Chapter Books to Your Preschooler + a List of Great First Read-Alouds by: Tavia Smith@everyday.smith
Why You Should Read Chapter Books to Your Preschooler + a List of Great First Read-Alouds
by:Tavia Smith@everyday.smith
I taught fourth grade in a public school for four years. I loved it, but when I became a mom I felt the pull to be home with my children. I hung-up my teaching hat almost three years ago now. Eventually, it all led me to homeschooling and I haven't for one day regretted my decision. Being able to pour into my children in such a unique way is a gift I will never take for granted.
As much as I love being home, there is one thing I immediately missed about having a classroom full of 10-year-olds. Read aloud time. After recess each day twenty-five rosy-cheeked, sweaty preteens would come filing into the room, sit at their desks, and I would read from whatever book I had chosen as our class read aloud. My absolute favorite part was stopping on a cliff-hanger and slowly closing the book as they all protested and begged me to read another chapter! Sometimes I would be mean ol' Mrs. Smith, and say they had to wait until tomorrow to hear what happened next. But, some days I would surprise them with just one more chapter.
It truly was a simple joy in my life. In those small minutes each afternoon I saw struggling readers enjoy books, and kids fall in love with stories. I watched students deeply care about characters, make intuitive predictions, and feel intense emotions about fictional tales. Most of all, I saw kids fall in love with being read to! Stories are powerful, and read-alouds bring people together. It is truly a beautiful thing.
When my oldest daughter took a unique liking to books, my book-loving heart began to soar! My excitement grew even more as she got to the age where I could tell she was ready for chapter book read-alouds!
A few months before my oldest turned four, I knew she was ready for more in our read-aloud time. I believe picture books never lose their magic (I still get giddy over a good picture book), but at a certain point kids need more. They need a longer time with loveable characters, a true story climax, a more detailed plot, to witness a deep character arc, and to experience a frustratingly amazing cliff-hanger! Chapter books offer these things, and kids are often ready for it sooner than you think. For us it was time.
I knew my gal wasn't quite ready for a long in-depth book, she was still going to need some pictures here and there to keep her interest and support her understanding. So, I went searching for a great list of preschool chapter books to read aloud. Unfortunately, my search fell pretty flat. I of course had the most luck with the incredible Sarah Mackenzie at Read -Aloud Revival. There I learned about the Princess in Black series. I found the first book at our library and it all began!
My daughter became obsessed with our special chapter book read-aloud time. In just a few weeks we had finished all the Princess in Black books our library had, and we were on the hunt to find more read-alouds! It really was difficult to find a good list of the right type of book for her young age. So many books were either too long, too advanced, too few pictures, or content that seemed a little too mature for her. We got stuck for a bit, until I decided to really dig online and at the library.
I am happy to report that now, almost two years after our first chapter book read-aloud, we have a great list of books and series that are just perfect for reading aloud to preschool age children! I want to share this list with you and I really hope you and your children will find some amazing stories to fall in love with! Happy reading!
The Princess in Black Series by Shannon and Dean Hale - Who says princesses don't wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black!
Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo - Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson. Mercy is not just a pig — she's a porcine wonder.
Dory Fantasmagory Series by Abby Hanlon - Dory is a little rascal with a BIG personality--and an imagination to match! As the youngest in her family, Dory really wants attention, and more than anything she wants someone to play with.
Zoey and Sassafrass Series by Asia Citro - Follow the adventures of Zoey and her cat Sassafras as they encounter magical animals, science, mystery, and adventure.
Sophie Mouse Series by Poppy Green - A charming series about a little mouse and her forest friends in Silverlake Forest.
Tumtum & Nutmeg Series by Emily Bearn - Deep inside the broom cupboard of Rose Cottage, two mice live in great style. Tumtum and Nutmeg lead cozy and quiet lives, secretly looking after Arthur and Lucy, the disheveled human children of the cottage, never dreaming that so many exciting adventures will soon find them.
Pippy Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren - The beloved story of a spunky young girl and her hilarious escapades.
Lady Lollipop by Dick King-Smith - Lollipop is no ordinary pig. According to her young trainer, Johnny Skinner, she's the smartest pig in the entire kingdom.
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett - When Elmer Elevator tells a stray cat about his dream of being able to fly, he learns of a captive dragon on Wild Island that needs rescue. Elmer matches wits with hungry tigers, an irate gorilla, cranky crocodiles, and other moody creatures.
