20 Family Read Aloud Chapter Books

Gina I. said:  13-year-old Brian's plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness, leaving him alone with only the clothes on his back and a hatchet. He struggles to make shelter, find food and survive. This and the rest of the books in the Brian's Saga series are stories your kid won't soon forget.

Alexandra F. said:  Harry Potter is a personal favorite (which I first read in college!), so we introduced it when our kids were pretty young, in early elementary school. I love that it can be enjoyed (and read and reread) at all ages, though, so that my kids loved it as much in middle school as they did in third grade, and as much as I do as an adult.

Four orphaned siblings make an abandoned boxcar their home in these classic mystery books, originally created in 1942. Everywhere this family goes, there's another mystery to solve. Young readers remain impressed at how well these amateur sleuths work to solve clues on their own, with little to no adult supervision.

Sarah C. said:  This is a fun chapter series for sure! I read them with my daughter, because I do find there to be topics that she has questions about and it is easier to talk about it right then.

C.S. Lewis has enchanted children (and adults) for generations with this classic chapter book about four siblings who, while hiding in a wardrobe in their new home, suddenly walk through the back of it and find themselves in a fantastical land of perpetual winter. Their adventures beyond the wardrobe, as well as the story preceding this discovery, are covered in the seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia.

Against all odds, 10-year-old Charlie Bucket finds a golden ticket that grants him entrance to Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory. His wacky adventures within have captured the imagination of children across generations.

Alexandra F. said:  One of my childhood favorites, and now my daughter's as well. Although Roald Dahl wrote so many chapter books that have become beloved children's classics, my family thinks this one is his absolute best.

An adventurous mouse discovers a toy motorcycle and learns to ride it, forming an unlikely friendship with a boy. Their friendship leads to exciting escapades and helps the mouse return a cherished toy to its owner.

Vanessa M. said:  The Mouse and the Motorcycle is the first book in the classic series by Beverly Cleary. Kids love reading about Ralph the mouse and all his fun adventures riding his toy motorcycle. The three book series is a great introduction to chapter books for 2nd graders.

Charlotte's Web is a heartwarming story about the unlikely friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a clever spider named Charlotte. It's a classic chapter book for kids because it beautifully explores themes of friendship, love, loss, and the meaning of life in a way that resonates with readers of all ages.

Generations have adored The Secret Garden, which follows 10-year-old Mary Lennox as she falls under the care of her uncle in England after losing both her parents to sickness. One of the best classic children's mysteries, Mary tries to find the source of strange sounds in the old mansion and finds a key to a secret garden that has been locked away for years.

Laura Ingalls Wilder has a way of bringing pioneer life alive through her vividly descriptive life stories in these classic children's chapter books. Laura, along with her sisters and parents, brave the harsh and oftentimes dangerous wilds of America in the 1870s.

A collection of humorous and quirky stories about the students and teachers in a bizarre, 30-story school where each chapter focuses on a different character and their unusual experiences.

Kelly R said:  My second grader has been reading the Wayside School series over FaceTime with her grandmother, and I hear the two of them in hysterics over the antics in these funny chapter books. Each chapter tells a story about a different teacher or student in Wayside School, a school that was accidentally built sideways and 30 stories high. It's written at just the right level for them to take turns reading to each other.

Matilda is a classic children's book about a brilliant young girl named Matilda who loves to read but is mistreated by her neglectful parents and tyrannical headmistress. 

Vanessa M. said:  I enjoyed reading this book aloud to my 7 & 5 yr olds, and they loved it as well. When we finished reading the book, we had a family movie night where we baked a huge chocolate cake (as a nod to Bruce Bogtrotter) and watched the movie together!

Mr. Popper, a house painter, unexpectedly receives a penguin as a gift, and soon acquires a whole flock. The Poppers' lives are turned upside down as they learn to care for the penguins and eventually create a traveling penguin show.

Shila said:  Richard Atwater's Mr. Popper's Penguins will delight kids and adults alike! This award-winning chapter book is funny and theatrical. What would you do if a penguin family showed up to live in your home?

The series follows the unlikely friendship between a Viking teenager and his dragon as they challenge traditional Viking views and strive to create a peaceful coexistence between humans and dragons.

Michael Farina said:  Our family started this 12-book collection by Cressida Cowell when our son was 5 and enamored with the movie series. The books and movies follow very different plots, but both remain the tale of a brainy misfit trying to find his way in the Hairy Hooligan tribe, turning adversaries into allies along the way. The early stories are relatively lighthearted, full of wonder and discovery, but as Hiccup grows up in the later books, the stakes rise, and lead to a beautiful and fitting conclusion, with some poignant lessons about growing up.

An added bonus: David Tenet narrates the audiobooks, doing a masterful job of bringing the characters to life. We listened to one of the books in a car ride that was 100% free of "are we there yet?" questions.

A brave a mouse who loves music and stories defies the expectations of his mouse community and embarks on a quest to rescue a princess.

Vanessa M. said:  A castle, a princess, a young maid, and a tiny mouse with a great big heart...It's The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo. I recently read this beautifully written book out loud with my kids, and we all loved it!

Interactive stories where the reader makes choices that determine the outcome of the narrative. These books offer multiple paths and endings, allowing readers to shape the story's direction and experience different adventures.

Shila said:  R. A. Montgomery's Choose Your Own Adventure books are not only amazing mystery books, they check the box for family fun time too. These are great chapter books to read aloud to your kids; they encourage discussion and interactive gameplay!