Reading aloud to my students is probably my FAVORITE thing about being a teacher. Not only does reading to my kids teach them to enjoy books, but it also gives us time to relax together as a class. Although children need to spend plenty of time reading on their own, having an adult read to them is also an important part of learning to be readers. Being read to gives students a model of fluent reading, exposes them to new sentence structures and vocabulary, allows them to think about the story without the hard work of decoding the words, and teaches them that reading is FUN. For these many reasons, I try to make time every day to read to my class. We read many books during our whole group and small group lessons, but it is also important for kids to have time to simply listen to a story. That’s why I read chapter books to my class just for fun. Now, this doesn’t mean we don’t discuss the book at all; it just means the book is not part of a formal lesson. My kids absolutely love this time of day, and I highly recommend it for your classroom!
So, to help you launch or continue your for fun reading time, here is a list of 28 fabulous chapter books to read aloud to your class! I have read each one of these, and they are all fantastic. For each book, I share recommended grades, what the book is about, why it’s a great read aloud, and some considerations (such as violence or other sensitive topics). Hopefully, this information can help you find some awesome chapter books to read aloud to your kids. Good luck finding the perfect book, and happy reading!
A note about the considerations: I included these so that you are aware of some issues each book addresses. I do not believe they are reasons not to read these books, but simply things to be aware of before reading them to your students. Many of the considerations actually provide great opportunities for rich discussion about important topics.
Fabulous Chapter Books to Read Aloud
**The books marked with asterisks also have movie adaptations. Note: I have not checked the movie versions for ratings or appropriateness.
1. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
**
**Recommended for: 2nd grade and up
Reason to Read: Because of Winn-Dixie is a heart-warming story about love, loss, friendship, and growth. Kids will easily relate to the main character and the story will teach them how to stay strong through difficult times.
Synopsis: India Opal Buloni, a 10-year-old girl, has just moved to a new town with her dad, where she struggles to fit in and make friends. One day, she finds a stray dog outside of a Winn-Dixie store (which become the dog’s name) and decides to adopt him. Winn-Dixie is a friendly dog and helps India make many friends in her new town. With the help of Winn-Dixie, India builds relationships, learns more about herself, and makes peace with her life.
Considerations: Contains some sad content (main character’s mother abandoned her family, reference to little boy’s drowning); has characters who are alcoholics; a few instances of “hell”.
2. Frindle by Andrew Clements
Recommended for: 1st grade and up
Reason to Read: Frindle is an amusing story that teaches kids not to be afraid to be creative, try new things, and stand up for their beliefs. It also teaches about the value of language and how the dictionary can be useful.
Synopsis: Nick Allen is a fifth-grade class clown who does not like his no-nonsense English teacher, Mrs. Granger. To avoid homework for the night, he starts to question her about every word in the dictionary. Instead, he gets assigned an essay about it and learns how people come up with new words. When he finds a pen in the street, he decides to rename it “frindle” and tries to get everyone to use his new word. Mrs. Granger does not approve and punishes students who use “frindle”. But the word keeps spreading, and starts gaining momentum despite Mrs. Granger’s resistance and without Nick’s help.
Considerations: Main character is a bit of a troublemaker and disobeys his teacher at the beginning of the story, but ends up having a positive relationship with her. The content is very mild overall.
3. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
**
**Recommended for: 1st grade and up
Reason to Read: James and the Giant Peach is an entertaining, fantastical, fast-paced story full of intriguing characters, imaginative situations, and humorous poetry. It also shows how an underprivileged boy can rise up out of his situation to become a capable leader.
Synopsis: A young boy named James Henry Trotter is orphaned and must go to live with his abusive aunts, Sponge and Spiker. Then, he meets an old man who gives him magical crocodile tongues, claiming they will make wonderful things happen. However, James accidentally spills them onto an old peach tree, which then grows a humongous peach. One night, James escapes his aunts’ house and gets inside the peach, where he meets a group of life-sized invertebrates. They manage to free the peach from the tree, causing it to roll away. The group then embarks on a magical journey where they must overcome many obstacles, ultimately ending up in New York City where they are hailed as heroes.
Considerations: Main character is orphaned at the beginning of the story; his aunts treat James with extreme cruelty; some ribald references; mild violence, but told in a cartoonish way without details.
4. The BFG by Roald Dahl
**
**Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: The BFG is a funny, endearing story about how the power of friendship can help defeat bad guys. The plot is engrossing, and the main characters are both comical and charming.
Synopsis: Sophie, a young girl living in an orphanage, wakes up in the middle of the night to see a giant blowing something into people’s windows. The giant (the BFG, or Big Friendly Giant) snatches her up and brings her back to his home in a cave. He tells Sophie that he was blowing dreams into children’s heads as they slept. He also tells her that the other, much larger giants with whom he lives go all around the world eating children every night. The BFG only eats disgusting snozzcumbers. When Sophie finds out that the giants plan to go back to her hometown the next night, she insists that they must do something. Together, the BFG and Sophie come up with a plan to stop the other giants by enlisting the help of the Queen of England and using dreams that the BFG catches.
Considerations: Giants eating children (although not explicit at all) and some fart/burp jokes.
5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
**
**Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an engaging, laugh-inducing story that shows how people get what they deserve. This book is full of humor, creativity (e.g. hot ice cream for cold days), and teaches an important lesson.
Synopsis: Charlie Bucket and his family are so poor that he only gets to buy a candy bar once a year. But then, he unwraps his once-yearly chocolate bar to find one of five golden tickets! Charlie wins a lifetime supply of candy, as well as the chance to tour Willy Wonka’s top-secret candy factory. Charlie and four other kids attend the tour, but along the way, the other children are punished for their bad behavior (e.g. Augustus Gloop is so greedy that he tries to drink from a chocolate river, but he falls in and gets sucked up a pipe). At the end, only Charlie is left and receives a huge reward from Willy Wonka.
Considerations: Charlie’s family lives in poverty; reference to Oompa Loompas getting drunk; the punishments for some of the kids could be scary for younger kids, but they all are fine at the end of the story.
6. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
**
**Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: The Mouse and the Motorcycle is a sweet story about the unlikely friendship between a young boy and a mouse. This tale demonstrates the power of compassion, bravery, and loyalty.
Synopsis: Keith and his parents are staying at the shabby Mountain View Inn. During their stay, Keith befriends a mouse named Ralph, who enjoys riding Keith’s motorcycle around the inn. When Keith falls dangerously ill, Ralph must go on a treacherous journey to find medicine in order to save Keith’s life.
Considerations: None.
7. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is an entertaining story about family relations, especially between siblings. The anecdotes are amusing and relatable, and the ultimate message is that family members love one another despite their flaws.
Synopsis: This book tells about the life of the Hatcher family: Mr. Hatcher, Mrs. Hatcher, 10-year-old Peter, and 3-year-old Fudge. It is told from Peter’s point of view and chronicles the frustrating – albeit hilarious – antics of his younger brother. Peter often gets annoyed with Fudge, but comes to realize that he loves his brother.
Considerations: References to being “mugged” and “dope pushers” in Central Park; outdated gender roles with Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher; the parents sometimes lose their patience (verbal insults, brief spanking).
8. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Okay, so this one is not really a chapter book; it’s a book of poetry. However, I love reading this out loud as if it were a chapter book. For me, that means reading a few poems each day purely for my students’ listening pleasure.
Synopsis: Where the Sidewalk Ends is a collection of humorous, clever, whimsical poems. It is filled with creative scenarios, witty wordplay, and upbeat rhymes.
Considerations: Some of the material is somewhat morbid, but always told in a light, cartoonish way.
9. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
**
**Recommended for: 3rd grade and up
Reason to Read: The Hobbit is a classic tale of adventure. J.R.R. Tolkein is a master storyteller, and this book is entertaining and engaging from the start. The plot is fast-paced; the fantasy world is engrossing; and the main character displays courage, honesty, cleverness, and loyalty.
Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who lives a peaceful life. When Gandalf the wizard shows up at his door with 13 dwarves, Bilbo is conscripted as a thief to help the dwarves recover their stolen treasure from Smaug the dragon. To complete this mission, the group must travel long distances through perilous country. Along the way, they encounter trolls, goblins, huge spiders, and more. When they arrive, they must defeat the dragon – and overcome the dwarves own greed. Bilbo, though small and unused to adventure, displays bravery and honor throughout this exciting tale.
Considerations: Some scary scenes, including lots of danger for the main characters; some violence (although nothing described in detail); sad deaths, including a major character (also not described in detail); references to drinking and smoking.
10. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
**
**Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Charlotte’s Web is a timeless tale celebrating friendship and love. The story is told beautifully, and it addresses topics of life and death, what it means to be a friend, and how we should treat each other in a gentle, yet realistic, manner.
Synopsis: The story begins with Fern, a young girl, saving Wilbur the pig from slaughter. She then raises him herself until he is old enough to go live at her uncle’s farm down the road. Fern visits Wilbur frequently, but he is lonely in her absence and has trouble making friends with the other animals. Eventually, he meets Charlotte, a spider who lives in her web on the barn door. When Wilbur finds out that he is slated to be eaten for Christmas dinner, Charlottes helps save Wilbur using her wits and her web.
Considerations: The main character – a pig – almost gets slaughtered at the beginning of the book and is again threatened with death later in the story (although he survives each time); another main character dies (lonely, but peacefully).
11. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Recommended for: 3rd grade and up
Reason to Read: Mockingbird tells the initially tragic, but ultimately triumphant, story of a girl with Asperger’s syndrome who is dealing with the death of her brother in a school shooting. The book teaches the importance of empathy, understanding, tolerance, and compassion when dealing with others, especially those who are not the same as us. It is told from the girl’s perspective, so it really helps the reader see how she thinks about the world (which is quite different from how most people see it).
Synopsis: Ten-year-old Caitlin is smart and talented, but her Asperger’s syndrome makes it difficult for her to understand and relate to the people around her. Her brother had been a huge help, until he was recently killed in a school shooting, and now her father is lost in grief over his son’s death. Throughout the book, Caitlin searches for “closure”, and, with the help of some kind people at school, she slowly learns how to deal with her own emotions, as well as develop empathy and compassion for others.
Considerations: Main character’s brother was killed in a school shooting, which is referenced throughout the book (the community, the main girl, and her father are all dealing with the aftermath); gets inside the mind of someone with Asperger’s syndrome.
12. Wayside School Is Falling Down by Louis Sachar
Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Wayside School is Falling Down is a collection of 30 hilarious stories about the completely wacky Wayside School. This book is bursting with humor, puns, crazy characters, and general goofiness that all kids will find delightful. Note: This is the second book in the Wayside series, but I think it is the best. However, if your kids like this one, they will probably like the others as well.
Synopsis: Each of these 30 stories tells about something happening at Wayside School, from the classrooms to the cafeteria.
Considerations: None.
13. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
**
**Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland has plenty of whimsical characters, fun rhymes, made-up words, and outrageous situations that provide entertainment and delight. Although the plot moves slowly, the real joy of this book is the fantasy world and all it contains, as well as the amusing wordplay.
Synopsis: Alice, a young girl, has fallen down a rabbit hole and ended up in a strange new place. As Alice explores this fantastical world, she discovers all kinds of crazy creatures and more!
Considerations: Few instances of drinking and smoking; mild references to violence; complex language and nonsensical dialogue can be confusing to younger kids.
14. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
**
**Recommended for: 3rd grade and up
Reason to Read: A Wrinkle in Time features a smart, kind, and brave young girl who saves the day by embracing her true identity. The plot is thrilling, the sci-fi aspects are intriguing, and the characters are great role models.
Synopsis: Meg Murray, a high school girl, her brother, and her friend go on a mission through time and space (using tesseracts, or wrinkles in time) to find her father, who has been captured. Using the help of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, the three children travel to the planet Camazotz, where Meg’s father is imprisoned. The planet has been taken over by the evil IT, a giant disembodied brain. The children must figure out how to rescue Mr. Murray and get him back home without being taken over by IT.
Considerations: Some complex material (traveling through time and space, etc.); some boy/girl attraction; scary scenes with some violence.
15. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
**
**Recommended for: 2nd grade and up
Reason to Read: My Side of the Mountain is a tale of wilderness survival and adventure. The main character provides a great role model – he is hard-working, clever, independent, non-materialistic, confident, and creative. Furthermore, the descriptions of how he learns to live in the wilderness are both fascinating and informative.
Synopsis: Sam, a teenage boy living in NYC, decides to escape the busy city life and live on his own in the wilderness. He teaches himself to live entirely off the land through keen observation, books from a local library, and good old trial-and-error. As Sam hones his survival skills, we read about the many adventures he has and the new home he creates for himself. Near the end, however, civilization threatens to break into his newfound world.
Considerations: Contains hunting, skinning, and cooking of animals (although no gruesome details).
16. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech
Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Love That Dog is written as a young boy’s free-verse journal. This short book packs an emotional punch. It effortlessly showcases the beauty and power of poetry. It is a wonderful book to encourage reluctant readers and writers, as well as inspire everyone to write their own poems.
Synopsis: Jack, a young boy, initially refuses to write poetry. Throughout the book, however, he comes to appreciate poetry and uses his poems to express his emotions about everything, especially the recent death of his beloved dog.
Considerations: The main character’s dog dies (which may be upsetting for some kids).
17. Who Is/Was…? Series
Recommended for: 2nd grade and up
Reason to Read: The Who Is/Who Was…? series includes biographies of a wide range of famous people (from Queen Victoria to Dr. Seuss to Jackie Robinson). They are well-written and engaging for elementary kids. This series is a great way to encourage students to appreciate and enjoy non-fiction books, as well as learn about important figures.
Synopsis: Each biography tells about the life and accomplishments of a different well-known person. The subjects range from long-dead to still-living, from artists to presidents to pop stars.
Considerations: Varies by book, but they generally contain very little questionable material.
18. Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
**
**Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Flat Stanley is a fun and humorous story that will especially appeal to younger kids. It also teaches the importance of accepting people’s differences and the downsides of purely attention-seeking behavior.
Synopsis: Stanley Lambchop wakes up one morning to find that, while he slept, a billboard fell on him and flattened him to a half inch thick! Stanley proceeds to discover the advantages of being flat: he is flown like a kite, rolled up and mailed to his friends, slipped under doors, and even used as a painting to help catch burglars. All of this attention makes his brother, Arthur, begin to feel jealous. However, when kids at school begin to make fun of Stanley for being different, Arthur helps Stanley try to become round again.
Considerations: None.
19. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
**
**Recommended for: 3rd grade and up
Reason to Read: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is a magical, suspenseful, and thrilling tale about an underdog hero. Not only is the story fast-paced, but also oddly relatable (due to the context of school and a regular-seeming boy). This is the first in the series, and definitely the most appropriate for elementary kids. As the saga continues, the books get more frightening and intense.
Synopsis: After his magical parents were killed by the evil Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter is sent to live with his mean, muggle (non-magical) relatives. Ten years later, Hagrid, a good-natured half-giant, shows up to take Harry to Hogwarts, the school for witches and wizards. At the school, Harry is introduced to magic. He makes friends and goes on many adventures. Ultimately, Harry must figure out how to stop Voldemort from obtaining the sorcerer’s stone, which is said to grant immortality.
Considerations: Multiple scenes with violence (only slightly gory); some scary sections; reference to Hagrid being drunk; main character is orphaned and book discusses the death of his parents.
20. Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe
Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Bunnicula is a ridiculous, hilarious, and goofy book. It’s almost like reading a cartoon because of the silly scenarios, amusing dialogue, and exaggerated characters. This book is sure to delight students of all ages!
Synopsis: The Monroe family has just adopted a new pet – an adorable bunny named Bunnicula (the family found him at a showing of the movie Dracula). However, Chester the cat and Harold the dog don’t think he’s so cute. In fact, they believe the rabbit is a vampire (they keep finding white vegetables with fang holes)! In an attempt to rid the family of this threat, Chester (with Howard’s help) tries many strange solutions, which frequently end up with Chester getting in trouble. Eventually, Howard grows fond of Bunnicula and tries to stop his plans to banish Bunnicula from the family.
Considerations: Despite the premise being a vampire bunny, there is actually almost no horror aspect to this book.
21. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
**
**Recommended for: 2nd grade and up
Reason to Read: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is a classic tale of good versus evil. It teaches the importance of forgiveness, repentence, honesty, bravery, sacrifice, and love. At the same time, it is full of action and suspense, while also making the enchanting land of Narnia come to life for the reader.
Synopsis: While visiting a relative, four siblings (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy) discover an old wardrobe that takes them to the magical land of Narnia. Once in Narnia, Edmund runs into the evil White Witch, who convinces him to betray his siblings. Around the same time, Aslan the lion, who is the real lord of Narnia, returns and meets with the children. The Witch, afraid that the children will seize power, hunts after the children. The four siblings must try to defeat her, facing terrible battle and accepting the help of many creatures in Narnia, as well as Aslan.
Considerations: Some violent scenes (large battle where characters are injured and die); sad and somewhat scary death of a major character; strong Christian themes, although the book can definitely be enjoyed without referencing them.
22. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien
Recommended for: 2nd grade and up
Reason to Read: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a wonderful story about courage and compassion. The characters are compelling, the plot is entertaining, and the message is inspiring. In addition, elements of science fiction add an intriguing dimension to the story.
Synopsis: Mrs. Frisby, a widowed field mouse, needs help moving her sick son before Farmer Fitzgibbon plows the field in which her family lives. She seeks help from a colony of rats that live under a nearby rosebush. When she visits, she discovers the rats have built an advanced society, including electricity and the ability to read. The rats explain how they had escaped from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), where they had undergone experiments to increase their strength and intelligence. While the rats help Mrs. Frisby move her family, she helps the rats when the farmer attempts to exterminate the rodent infestation (and they don’t want their secret discovered).
Considerations: References animal testing (rats have escaped from a laboratory); mild violence; some of the rats die (not graphic).
23. The Borrowers by Mary Norton
**
**Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: The Borrowers is a charming story about little people that live in the walls of a home and borrow items from the big people. The imaginative and detailed descriptions of how the borrowers use everyday items are fascinating, the story is told in a realistic and relatable fashion, and the author’s subtle humor is appealing.
Synopsis: This book tells the story of the Clock family, who are borrowers. They live under the floorboards of a big house and “borrow” things from the big humans who live there. One day, Arrietty befriends a boy who lives in the house and, for a while, he helps out the Clocks. However, when his great-aunt finds out about the borrowers, she attempts to exterminate them. With the help of the boy, the Clock family must try to escape in time.
Considerations: Some antiquated language may be difficult for younger kids; some of the borrowers expeditions can be scary.
24. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
**
**Recommended for: 4th grade and up
Reason to Read: Tuck Everlasting is a beautifully written, thought-provoking story that encourages the reader to contemplate whether eternal life would be a blessing or a curse. The lyrical prose contains gorgeous descriptions of the natural world, while the plot is suspenseful and engaging.
Synopsis: When 10-year-old Winnie Foster witnesses a boy named Jesse drinking from a spring on her family’s property, she insists on having some, too. As a consequence, his family, the Tucks, kidnaps Winnie and takes her to their house. There, she finds out that the spring is enchanted and grants anyone who drinks from it eternal life, which the Tucks had unknowingly done. They have tried to keep it secret, but have been followed by a man in a yellow suit, who wants to sell the spring water to the public. Winnie and the Tucks must try to prevent the man from getting the spring water, which proves challenging. At the end, Winnie must make a decision about whether she wants eternal life or not.
Considerations: Some boy/girl attraction; man dies by being hit with the butt of a shotgun; main character gets kidnapped; discussion of the gallows and hanging; main character participates in a jailbreak.
25. Pippi Longstockingby Astrid Lindgren
**
**Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Pippi Longstocking is a silly story featuring an odd, but lovable, girl who has the freedom to do whatever she wants. Kids will enjoy reading about her crazy antics and rule-defying lifestyle.
Synopsis: Pippi Longstocking, a young girl whose parents are both gone, lives alone in a house on the outskirts of town with her pet monkey. She becomes friends with the two children next door, and they have some wild adventures together. Pippi avoids school, prevents herself from being moved to a children’s home, repels burgers, and saves people’s lives using her strength and smarts.
Considerations: Main character’s mom and dad have both died; main character frequently flaunts adult authority.
26. The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: While many elementary schoolers can read these books on their own, this series also makes for great read alouds (and allows struggling readers to participate in the series). Each book covers a different time in history or a different culture. They are entertaining and educational, with predictable but engaging story lines.
Synopsis: Jack, 8, and Annie, 7, have discovered that the treehouse in their backyard is actually a magical time machine that can transport them to different times and places! In every book, the siblings are sent somewhere in order to complete a mission from the books in the treehouse. They face adventure and adversity, while learning firsthand about each new place, but always return safely to their treehouse in the end.
Considerations: None.
27. Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
Recommended for: All grades
Reason to Read: Freckle Juice is a funny, relatable tale that shows the importance of loving who you are. The plot is interesting and full of humor, and the characters are realistic, making this a quite enjoyable book.
Synopsis: Andrew desperately wants freckles! Sharon, a girl in his class, hears him complaining about his freckle-less face and convinces him to buy her recipe for freckle juice – a disgusting concoction made with all sorts of stuff. Instead of giving him freckles, it just makes him sick. Next, he tries drawing freckles on his face with a blue magic marker, but realizes too late that it looks horrible. When he shows up at school, his teacher helps him solve his problem and come to terms with his natural look.
Considerations: None.
28. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
**
**Recommended for: 1st grade and up
Reason to Read: Fantastic Mr. Fox is a short and delightful story about a clever fox outwitting the mean farmers who are after him. Humorous, lively, and quick to read, this book is sure to entertain.
Synopsis: Mr. Fox has been stealing chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys from the three farmers around him to feed his family. But the farmers are finally fed up with his thievery and are determined to put an end to it! They attempt to kill Mr. Fox in increasingly intense ways, as he continues to thwart their efforts. In the end, Mr. Fox must come up with a creative plan to help his family escape from the wicked farmers.
Considerations: Farmers attempt to kill the main character; use of guns resulting in the fox losing his tail; main character steals from the farmers.
If you enjoyed this list of chapter books to read aloud or find it useful, please leave a comment below! Have a question? Shoot me an email!
Looking for other read alouds to use in your classroom? Check out these Read-Alouds to Teach Kindness in the Classroom or these Read-Alouds for Calling Out!
