7 Incredible Children’s Books to Help You Read Out Loud

A good book is a great way to start your journey toward learning to read out loud. Reading is a skill that takes time and practice to develop, but it is worth it. Here are seven children’s books to get started with that provide an incredible out loud reading experience.

Books to Read Out Loud

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” by Mo Willems. I think picture books that break the 4th wall are not usually easy to read out loud. But Mo Willems does it better than anyone else by keeping things simple. Very simple. In “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!” the illustrations never exceed two characters per page, all the emotion is in clear view, and there is limited text. Kids will enjoy saying “no” to Pigeon.

“Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson and Axel Schaffer. A kind witch and her cat offer space on their broom for every sort of helpful creature along their journey. They work together to escape a frightening situation when they find themselves in trouble. Julia Donaldson’s rhyme and rhythm are solid, so I think Julia deserves a place on every bookshelf. “Room on the Broom” is exceptionally witty and fun to read out loud.

“Chicks, Chicka, Boom, Boom” by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault, and Lois Ehlert. “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” is a classic story about lowercase letters racing to the top of a coconut tree. The upper case letters come to the rescue when the lowercase letters come crashing down. “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” is considered the benchmark for rhythm. It follows an intuitive and lively jazz beat that is fun to read and a little silly.

“Jump” by Scott M Fischer. “Jump” is a zany but straightforward, cumulative story in the spirit of “There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly.” I included this story because it is a lesser-known gem, with text in English and Spanish side-by-side. Predictable and entertaining page-turns allow listeners to join in on the narrative and interact positively.

“Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd. “Goodnight Moon” is the perfect read-aloud for bedtime. The text follows a somniferous cadence that seems to wind down slowly. The illustrations go to sleep throughout the story, leaving nothing but darkness. I have memorized Goodnight Moon as often as I have read it to children; oddly enough, I never grow tired of it.

Bonus

If your child is ready to move on to chapter books, I recommend “The Name of This Book is a Secret” by Pseudonymous Bosch. This book is hilarious and quirky, with enough twists and turns to keep readers engaged. It is also an excellent choice for reluctant readers. It may be a bit frightening for young readers.

If you are willing to give poetry a go, I recommend “Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices” by Paul Fleischmann. This book has won numerous awards and is a great way to introduce kids to the world of poetry. The poems are fun, short, and easy to read out loud.

• Before you start reading, check out our guide to expressive reading for parents.

Many other great children’s books help you read out loud. What are some of your favorites?

This post was proofread by Grammarly