Top 10 Read-A-Loud Children’s Books for Every Age Group

Reading to your children can be one of the most enjoyable times of your day together! The following is a list of the top 10 rated Read-A-Loud books for each age group of children.

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When my oldest was four days old, my mother came for a visit…

She sat in my rocking chair, held my baby, and grabbed a book off the shelf. We had converted my husbands office into a nursery and there was a wall of his study books. The random book she choose was a Bible commentary 2 Corinthians.

I though she was nuts. “What are you doing, I asked?”

Without a beat, she responded by saying that babies need to hear reading… even when they are young.

But…really mom? Is this necessary at four days old?

Maybe not… but she had made her point.

A Tradition of Reading

That day, we started a tradition of reading. We read to spend time together, wind down, learn numbers/colors, and relax before bed.

I didn’t really understand it at the time, but I was giving my son one of the greatest gifts a mommy can give her child: the love of reading.

What are the other benefits?

• Growth of attention span
• An early development of listing skills
• Aids in cognitive and logic reasoning skills
• Boosts creativity
• Teaches empathy
• Gives life lessons
• Provides an outlet for emotional development
• And more…

Ready for my list of favorite Read-A-Loud books for each age level? I have chosen 10 favorites to share with you!

Best Read-A-Loud Books for Infants

Anything with rhythm, rhyme, and colorful pictures is good. I especially love books with lyrical text or songs you can read!

• Baby Balooga
• The Wheels on the Bus
• I love You to the Moon and Back
• If Animals Kissed Goodnight
• Goodnight Moon
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar
• Corduroy
• The Going To Bed Book

Best Read-A-Loud Books for Toddlers

Toddler’s love to be captivated by bright pictures, numbers, games, and lots of objects! I really like reading sweet bonding stories to this age group. Captivate your little one’s mind with these favorite Read-A-Loud books!

• Things that Go
• Where the Wild Things Are
• Ten Apples Up On Top
• Where’s Spot?
• Love You Forever
• Go, Dog Go!
• Put Me In The Zoo
• The Diggers
• Llama Llama Red Pajama
• Dragons Love Tacos

Best Read-A-Loud Books for Emergent Learners (3-5 year olds)

When it comes to this age group, I love books that show sequencing, cause & effect, or even morals. I especially like stories that build on science inquiry! You’ll love the discussions that take place because your child is so into their Read-A-Loud!

• Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me
• Pancakes, Pancakes!
• If You Give a Moose a Muffin
• The Giving Tree
• The Rainbow Fish
• Are You My Mother?
• The Bernstein Bears and the Spooky Old Tree
• Make Way for Duckings
• Jack and the Jellybean Stalk
• Click, Quack, Moo Cows that Type

Best Read-A-Loud Books for Elementary Aged Kids

Kids in this age range are ready to listen to adventures! Dig into a chapter book and keep them on the edge of your seat with these fun Read-A-Loud books. I usually make sure to read at lesson one chapter a day to keep interest up and retention of the story line.

• Charlotte’s Web
• The Boxcar Children Series
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• The One and Only Ivan
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
• The Magic Treehouse Series
• Amelia Bedelia
• Holes
• Hatchet *You may have to skip a few lines depending on the audience.
• The Flat Stanley Series