Reading out loud to your children, whether you are a teacher or a parent, is one of the best ways to encourage and share the love of reading to your children. However, some books are better than others for this as I discovered last year when I went to share a great book I had found with my class. 

I had just finished reading The Mysterious Benedict Society and was so excited to share it with the students. As I was nearing the end of the book I was reading with my class, I thought it would be the perfect next book to read aloud. It had action, adventure, interesting young characters and humour. Or so I thought.

Once I started reading the book out loud, I realized that the book was far too long with way too much descriptive text. The students quickly tuned out during the long expository moments and got lost in the fine intricacies of the plot as they had failed to pay attention to the other parts. It wan’t a failure. Some students loved. But it was definitely a harder book for them to get into.

So what makes for an exciting and captivating read aloud book?

1. It tells a rich story in simple language: This was my problem with the “Mysterious Benedict Society. It was a very rich story but the richness of it made it difficult for the students to get into it as a read aloud. A read aloud should move the story forward easily without getting bogged down in too much descriptive language. While descriptive language is important in developing intense, vibrant and complex ideas and literature, it is hard to get that across as a read aloud. Much better to leave that to the children to read on their own. It’s easier to digest that amount of detail when you are reading with your own eyes.
2. Is enjoyable for the reader too: I have found this to be very true with books my child loves. It is hard to maintain the enjoyment of a book when it has been read over and over again. While repetition is good for young readers, it is hard to get across any excitement when you are not enjoying it. However, if you allow your child to choose a book, then choose one of your own during your reading time (or even hide the book in questions as we have done) you can at least show your child that there are other books to enjoy. If you are a teacher, this job is a little easier. There are lots of good lists out there to help you choose a read-aloud that others have found to be good. A librarian can also be great in helping you choose a good read-aloud. Part of this also comes from experience and trial and error. My experience with the Mysterious Benedict Society showed me that that was not the ideal book. The kids will be gracious though and I just finished anyway and chalked it up to experience. Some of the ones the kids did love though were the Shiloh series and the The Series of Unfortunate Events though I only read the first three. And here is the difference which is important in picking a book you will enjoy reading. The books I have enjoyed reading the most have been the books where I can get into the characters and act them out. There are exceptions to this but this has been the one rule that has helped me. With both the books mentioned above, I have been able to develop the character in front of the kids and act the voice parts of it out in front of them. There are other books that don’t fit this but are still good read alouds but I have noticed that the students really get into the stories if I can bring out the characters in interesting ways. For example, the novel, “Shiloh” takes place in the Southern States so I like to use my form of a southern accent for the characters. It usually surprises the students and brings attention to the characters and setting. But above all it makes it fun for me which the students can see.
3. Sometimes deals with mature subjects or issues: Read-alouds can be great books to have quick discussions about in the moment. Just yesterday, I had a conversation with my Grade 3’s about compound interest as the read-aloud I was reading involved the young character deciding whether or not to put his money in the bank. There are lots of examples of places that read-alouds can speak to students on difficult subjects. With the teacher or parent reading the books, they can help students to understand the complex issues or plot. One of the books I have read to the students, Holes, is a great contemporary novel. However, it all hinges on a series of plot devices including flash backs. If the students in Grade 3 read the story themselves, they would most likely miss these elements. However, I can certainly help them understand what is going on and they always love the story and the quirks in the plot. Reading books that are more mature than their actual reading level brings in and exposes them to higher level ideas and vocabulary with the help they need to assimilate them into their own world of reading and writing. I also enjoy reading these books to the students as it allows me to help students grapple with interesting and thought provoking ideas and concepts.
4. Or is very, very, very funny: Some books, no matter what age level they are, are just fun to read to the students. If you have a great book, it doesn’t matter what age level it is actually for, students and children of all ages will love it.

Now, I know what you are thinking, dear readers. What books do I use in my class? Here are some of the books I use in my class though it does sometimes change.

1. Little House on the Prairie/ Farmer Boy: These are timeless classics and they are great to remind students of how much things have changed. While the language can be a little archaic (indians, etc), they can also be great conversation builders especially if you are doing a pioneer unit. They have some great stories in them and students always enjoy them. I usually start my year with either one of those books.

2. Loser: This is a fairly recent book but the short chapters and the 

details in it that students will recognize in their own lives make it a lot of fun to read.There are some very humourous moments in it as the book describes the life of a boy growing up. There are also some deeper issues in it about how people view others, what makes people different and how we treat others who don’t always fit in. It’s also a great book to talk about perspective. This is one of my all time favorites!

3. Series of Unfortunate Events: This book has great characters I 

enjoy acting out and lots of interesting vocabulary. This isn’t a book for everyone thoughand some may not like the topics in it but the students have always enjoyed them. I only read the first couple though.

4. Shiloh: I love to use my Southern Accent on this book (bad as it is!)
and the students completely side with the main character as he fights to save the life of an animal. Some good discussions on whether it is 

good to lie and steal if it is intended for good. Some great action in this book.

5. Holes: A great book to read with great action and plot details. If you take time to explain what is going on throughout the book with the plot
pieces all weaving together the students will enjoy it even more. A good one especially for the higher kids in your class.

6. Because of Winn-Dixie: An easy read but fun. Another book where I get to use my southern accent badly!

7. Stone Fox: A short chapter book, this story will have your students mesmerized. Warning! Very sad ending. I often find myself on the verge of tears reading this book and you are guaranteed to have tears from some of your students. 

8. Danny the Champion of the World: This is a sentimental favorite of mine which allows me to add it to this list. My father read this to me and I enjoy it so much as a tale of a father and his son exploring the world together.

Let us know in your comments below!

What books do you enjoy reading to your children? What would you add to the list? Are there other ways you use to separate good books from books that make great read-alouds?

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