I started reading chapter books to my oldest boys when they were 4 and 3 years old. We read some really fun books back in their preschool years – Winnie-the-Pooh, Charlotte’s Web, The Wizard of Oz, and almost everything by Roald Dahl. Reading to them while they laid in their beds became one of my favorite traditions.
Now my older two boys are 13 and 11 and we’re having trouble agreeing on books to read together at night. Sometimes they just want to read to themselves. Sometimes I want to read a “classic” or a Newbery Winner book that they have no interest in. And so I’ve started searching the Internet for lists of good books for this age.
I found lots of good suggestions, so I thought I’d put together a list of ones that we have enjoyed reading together over the past few years.
Boy & Going Solo by Roald Dahl – My boys had read every book by this author by about age 8, so reading his 2 biographies was a must. They were entertaining and kept my boys interested throughout. I thought Going Solo might be too “adult” for my kids, but they enjoyed it almost as much as Boy.
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls – My boys might not have picked this one up on their own, but they sure enjoyed listening to me read it to them. Have your tissues ready.
Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary – This book only took us 2 weeks to read together. My tweens were engaged and interested in Leigh’s life. I think Diary of A Wimpy Kid helped make this diary-written book cool.
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis – This wasn’t a book my boys would pick up on their own, but I know my 11 year old has reread this multiple times since we read it together. Great story, with good characters, and a very interesting/sometimes sadly scary story.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen – My boys absolutely loved this one. A great story for boys.
No Talking by Andrew Clements – My boys love this author and he writes about topics that make you think. My kids wanted to try to not talk for a day after listening to this. Recommended for early tweens (8+).
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor – I read this to my older boys a few years ago, and then once my 3rd son was old enough, I read it to him too. A great story about a boy who loves a dog.
Holes by Louis Sachar – This is such a great read. The characters are so likable and the plot is just great. Again, I read it to my older 2, then to my 3rd son a few years later. And then we watched the movie afterwards, which is just so well-done.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo – The main character is a girl in this one, but that didn’t stop my boys from really enjoying it. We’ve listened to this book twice in the car and the reader is excellent. It’s a little sad, but has a great ending.
A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck – Set in older times, but so enjoyable. This one is about some kids who go live with their grandma for the summer and get into mischief. Quite entertaining.