Read Aloud Books
The simplest things can bring the greatest joy. One of my favorite things to do was to read aloud to my girls. It was a cherished bonding time, where we could plunge into exciting adventures and explore fantastical realms within the pages of a book.
I always opted for the original unabridged versions of the stories because I believe in preserving the authenticity and richness of the author’s words. By reading the complete works, we were able to fully immerse ourselves in the magical dimensions and intricate plots woven by the world’s best writers.
Reading just above the comprehension level of a child challenges him and allows for growth in vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and listening skills.
While reading aloud, I encouraged my girls to engage in activities that enhanced their relaxation and focus, such as lounging on a pillow, playing with dolls or Legos, or drawing.
Know that reading aloud to your child of any age fosters an appreciation for cultivated language, a curiosity for all things around them and opens up their mind to new and different ideas and experiences.
Below is a selection of books that are appropriate for many ages.
50 Classic Books
Grimms Fairy Tales
Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales
The Complete Fairy Tales of Charles Perault
Aesop’s Fables
The Tale of Peter Rabbit – Beatrix Potter
Winnie The Pooh – A. A. Milne
The Story of Babar the Little Elephant – Jean de Brunhoff
The Happy Prince – Oscar Wilde
The Burgess Bird Book – Thornton Burgess
The Burgess Animal Book – Thornton Burgess
Just So Stories – Rudyard Kipling
The Jungle Book – Rudyard Kipling
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass – Lewis Carroll
Peter Pan – J. M. Barrie
The WonderfulWizard of Oz – L. Frank Baum
The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Graham
A Little Princess – Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Little Lord Fauntleroy – Frances Hodgson Burnett
A Child’s Garden of Verses – Robert Louis Stevenson
James Herriot’s Treasury for Children
Heidi – Johanna Spyri
Pinocchio – Carlo Collodi
Mary Poppins – P. L. Travers
The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The Pied Piper of Hamelin – Robert Browning
Around the World in 80 Days – Jules Verne
The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle – Hugh Lofting
Anne of Green Gables – L. M. Montgomery
Little Women – Louisa May Alcott
Little Men – Louis May Alcott
Madeleine – Ludwig Bemelmans
Narnia – C. S. Lewis
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children – E. Nesbit
The King of Ireland’s Son – Padraic Colum
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
Gulliver’s Travels – Jonathan Swift
Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson
Robinson Crusoe – Danie Defoe
The Well at The World’s End – William Morris
Nicobobinus – Terry Jones
The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen – Rudolf Erich Raspe
The Light Princess – George MacDonald
At The Back of the North Wind – George MacDonald
Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – Mark Twain
Moby Dick – Herman Melville
Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens