The solitary activity of silent reading is a rather modern concept in human history.  Until the Middle Ages, reading was done aloud–either in groups, or individually, in a muffled voice.  Early Latin texts were written in a continuous stream of characters, without spaces, and it wasn’t until the 8th century that Irish monks began a practice known as “aerated text,” which separated words with spaces and thus enabled silent reading.1  Even then, folk tales continued to be an oral tradition, told around hearthside and campfire, passed down from generation to generation.

Nowadays, parents know that if they want their children to become lifelong readers, it starts with reading aloud to them when they are young.  But should we stop this activity once they are old enough to read on their own?  Or could we continue into adulthood, as was done all throughout ancient history?  Are there not stories that are best read aloud, so that listeners may enjoy the reader’s inflection and share delight in the humor, suspense, and beauty of good literature?  I would love to see a renaissance of reading aloud, something that families do as an alternative to watching TV or scrolling on social media (which is really a solitary activity, if you think about it).  Although I do not read aloud with my children as much as I like, now that they are older and busier, we try to make time for it, even if just at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Here are a few of my favorite books for reading aloud, covering all ages.

The Tin Forest by Helen Ward and Wayne Anderson

For ages 0-6

Themes of: imagination, creativity, optimism

This is the story of an old man who lives in the middle of a forest of scrap metal.  Every night, he dreams of a real forest, full of birds and flowers and trees.  But every morning he awakes to a cold, dreary place.  He soon learns the power of ideas, as he decides to change the only world he has ever known.  Full of beautiful illustrations and poetic phrasing, this book is one that kids will demand you read to them over and over again.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

For ages 0-10

Themes of unselfish love and friendship

The Giving Tree is the story of a friendship between a boy and an apple tree.  The tree loves the boy, so naturally she wants to give him everything she has.  But soon she has nothing left to give.  This book is deep and profound and you will never be the same after reading it.

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

For ages 7-11

Themes of imagination, tall tales, friendship

This book is a wonky, wacky, hilarious tale that starts out with the narrator’s father going to the store to get milk, and ends in pirates, piranhas, aliens, a dinosaur and time travel.  Fans of Roald Dahl will find this book delightful, and both parents and kids will enjoy the unexpected twists and turns.  My kids begged for this at bed time on a regular basis between the ages of 7 and 11.

The Borrowers by Mary Norton

For ages 8-12

Themes of family, survival, growing up

Homily, Pod and their fourteen-year-old daughter Arietty are tiny people who live under the floorboards of an old English manor.  All their belongings have been “borrowed” from the human “beans” that occupy the house.  One day Pod is discovered by the human boy who lives upstairs, and they must choose whether to leave the home they hold so dear, or stay and face their fears of discovery.  They may be small, but they are tough, and adults and children will love reading of their adventures together.

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

For ages 10-13

Themes of man vs. nature; kindness to animals; moral values and conviction; courage

Black Beauty was also known as “an autobiography of a horse.”  It is the story of a horse who begins well and happy, but his owner must sell him, and thus begins a long line of different owners, some cruel and some kind.  This is a look at animal cruelty through the eyes of an animal, written by a Quaker girl who advocated for kindness towards animals.  It is a well-written, poignant tale, perfect for reading aloud together.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

For Ages 12-14

Themes of friendship, the power of positive thought

After living in India all her life, Mary Lennox is sent to England to live with her uncle in Misselthwaite Manor.  Spoiled, stubborn and sickly, Mary must adjust to her new life in the English countryside.  She begins to spend most of her time outside.  Eventually she discovers a secret garden, hidden within stone walls and a locked gate.  She and her new friends discover the beauty of nature and the power of positive thinking as they learn and grow in the mysterious garden.  If possible, I recommend buying a copy of this book that has a few color illustrations, as that really adds to the joy of reading aloud.

The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

For ages 14-16

Themes of love, giving, unselfishness

Really a short story, The Gift of the Magi is the story of a young husband and wife with very little money who want to buy each other Christmas gifts.  The manner in which they go about it is endearing, with an unexpected plot twist that leaves most readers crying, “Ah!” as they realize what each one did for the other.  I read this aloud at a Christmas gathering many years ago, and even though my children were quite young, they hung on every word.  This is one of my favorite short stories ever written.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

For ages 15-18+

Themes of love, reputation, social class, integrity

Jane Austen is the queen of irony and wit.  I recently had the pleasure of attending a workshop with Orson Scott Card, the author of Ender’s Game, and when asked what his favorite books are, he named this one.  It really is one of the greatest works of English literature, and equally as fun to read aloud.  The witty insults and hilarious situations roll off the tongue with delight.  In a society where a woman’s reputation is paramount, and her only objective is apparently to marry, Elizabeth Bennet is a black sheep.  The story depicts a series of disasters, unlikely courtships, impossible decisions, and eventually conveys the power of love and happiness to overcome pride and prejudice.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

For ages 17-18+

Themes of community, motherhood, female strength, death giving way to life

This book takes place in South Carolina in 1964, right at the heart of the Civil Rights movement.  It is the story of Lily Owens, a girl who struggles to remember her mother’s death.  When her black “stand-in mother” insults racists in town, the two of them flee to Tiburon, where they are taken in by three black women who are also beekeepers.  Here, Lily learns about bees and honey, but also many lessons about life, integrity, and friendship.  This is literary fiction at its finest, with the narrative slow and sweet, and I’m sure it would be delightful to read aloud.

The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes

For ages 15-18

Themes of love, integrity, courage

The Highwayman is not a book, but a poem.  However, there is so much action, adventure, and drama packed into this lyrical story, it lacks nothing.  This is the story of a highway robber in love with Bess, the innkeeper’s back-eyed daughter, and the terrible tragedy that befalls them both.  This is one of my favorite pieces of writing to read aloud.

Happy reading!

ML,

D

OTHER RESOURCES:

Read Aloud Revival: https://readaloudrevival.com/category/teens/

School Library Journal: https://www.slj.com/story/a-curriculum-staple-reading-aloud-to-teens

Ready Readers: https://www.readyreaders.org/read-aloud-resources/

1Paul Saenger, Space Between Words: the Origins of Silent Reading

D.N. Moore is an author of Young Adult fiction. She particularly loves speculative fiction ranging from fantasy to paranormal, but she will read or write in any genre. Her latest novel is a modern science fiction/western titled The Boy Who Learned to Live, set for publication as a hard cover, paperback and ebook on November 25, 2024. Her previous works include Ballad of the Dead: A Modern Fairy Tale and The Blandford Fly and Other Tales, and they have received critical acclaim in many places online and from the Writers of the Future.

Her writing has been described as “lyrical,” “chilling,” and has been praised for its diverse themes, page-turner plots, and relatable characters. She has been compared to Neil Gaiman and Naomi Novik and her work is loved by teens and adults alike.

As a former teacher and a mother, she loves starting and nurturing the reading “bug” in children and young adults.  Her blog offers suggested reading to teens, teachers, and parents, with a focus on quality literature and age-appropriate themes.  She has personally read every single book she recommends.  Sign up for her newsletter here to be notified of new reading lists as they come out.

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