# What are you reading aloud to your kid(s)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 15, 2004, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315 "2004-02-15T06:04:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/1 "2004-02-15T06:04:09Z")
So, what is everyone currently reading aloud to their kids? Or what did you just finish? For the purposes of this thread, let’s stick with chapter books that take more than one session to read. Please state the age(s) of your child(ren), and what you think of your choice. I hope for plenty of neat ideas! We have a 3-yo girl (and a baby). We’re now reading [_Twig_](http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/detail/spacer.gif), by Elizabeth Orton Jones, which dates from about 1942 and was recommended in the Chinaberry catalog (does anyone else just go through that catalog and request all the titles at the library?). It features a little girl, an elf, and a fairy queen, and is written at a good level for a 3-to-5 yo. DangerGirl is loving it, but we’re starting to look forward to the end–it’s 150+ pages long and is starting to get to us, now that we’re on page 120. Before that we read Pippi, which was a bit over her head in places but fun. She got a Pippi doll for Christmas, so that sparked us. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/2 "2004-02-15T06:14:46Z")
Sorry to break the rules so early on, but we’re not on chapter books yet. My little girls are just 2 and 2 + 9 months, so we read Boynton mostly. It’s been “Pajama Time!” every night for months. We also read some Barney and a few other random 10-pagers. I can’t wait until we move on to longer stories–I picked up the 1st four Harry Potter books and the complete Hobbit + Lord of the Rings while I was in China (in Chinese, of course) and I’m hoping my vocabulary will be up to reading those when they’re old enough to be interested. ---
**Author:** ![samalama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@samalama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samalama)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/3 "2004-02-15T06:19:25Z")
We’re not on chapter books either. I have a 3 & 4 year old and they love for me to read them Thomas the Tank Engine books, that’s what they ask for most of the time. I personally like reading Robert Munch or Dr. Suess books to them. I like the “flow” of their books. I guess we’ll be on to chapter books soon enough though. ---
**Author:** ![Cerri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@Cerri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerri)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/4 "2004-02-15T11:34:57Z")
Hehe, my hubby reads his nine year old daughter and five year old son Terry Pratchett novels, believe it or not, complete with funny voices. They may not “get” all the sarcasm and jokes, but boy, do they love the voices. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/5 "2004-02-15T14:50:40Z")
Banjo is eight, and we just finished _A Wrinkle in Time_, which was a huge hit. “This story is _very exciting_,” he said. I followed it up with Jacques Futrelle’s short story “The Problem of Cell 13,” in hopes of getting him into mysteries. Pianola (now thirteen) never developed a taste for them, so I’m afraid of missing out on reading Sherlock Holmes aloud. Previous chapter book was _The Twenty-One Balloons_, which was popular but not as big a success as _Wrinkle_. For the record, Banjo’s now reading _Eragon_ all by himself. The bedtime reading-aloud is just a nice tradition…I still do it with Pianola once in a while. Three is pretty young for chapter books; I think we stuck mainly with picture books at that age. When they got up to five or six, I think I sprung _Charlotte’s Web_ on 'em , followed by _Half Magic_ and the other Edward Eager novels. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/6 "2004-02-15T17:08:10Z")
I don’t have a kid old enough to read chapter books to, yet, but I remember when I was in 4th grade (9 years old) my teacher read \*Where the Red Fern Grows \* to us. I love this book. There are some sad parts (think Ol’ Yeller), so it’s probably not appropriate for a 3 year old, but as your children get older, you should try this one. It might be especially good if they’re dealing with bullying or death issues. ---
**Author:** ![Greywolf73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@Greywolf73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greywolf73)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/7 "2004-02-15T17:14:48Z")
My daughter is nine. We are currently reading _King of the Wind_. We alternate between reading a chapter herself and me reading one aloud. She is reading it for her Accelerated Reading program (AR). We tackled _The Upstairs Room_ last 9 weeks, which I thought might be a little bit over her head but she assured me she wanted to read it. She read it and got a perfect score! _Where the Red Fern Grows_ is next on my list, **C3**. I remember very vividly reading that one myself in 6th grade. It had quite an impact on me. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/8 "2004-02-15T17:16:28Z")
My problem is my son’s instance on _finishing_ the book, that night. He normally gets 3-4 shorts books or stories, plus additional “stories in the dark”, which are after lights out and are typically just us telling the Shibblets about what it was like when we were growing up. I’ll more normally do the reading (good with strange voices and reading Seuss at mach speed) and Mama ShibbOleth, who grew up until 10 years old in Thailand, tells story in the dark about her childhood. We did have good success with Iron Giant and the Mouse and the Motorcycle lately, which are both long enough chapters and sufficient squeezed in them that we didn’t get complaints. I think I’ll try a few that you all list here. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/9 "2004-02-15T20:57:00Z")
Just started reading to my little girl (she’s 7 going on 8) the _Series of Unfortunate Events_ by **Lemony Snicket** , replet with various voices, She likes it so much she insisted on getting the calendar. Chris W ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/10 "2004-02-15T21:01:34Z")
I’ve been working my way through the Little House series with my kids. We’ve done Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prarie and Farmer Boy. We’re now about 2/3 of the way through On the Banks of Plum Creek. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/11 "2004-02-15T22:13:27Z")
[off topic] I am way to young to even think about kids but I still must ask: Does it actually hurt kids if you read books to them that are on a college level while they are still not young enough to understand or would there be any benefits of it? [/off topic} ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/12 "2004-02-15T22:36:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Does it actually hurt kids if you read books to them that are on a college level while they are still not young enough to understand or would there be any benefits of it? Well, my mom used to read Dr. Spock’s baby book to me when I was little and I turned out okay! (I think 🙂 ) Seriously, it had a picture of a baby on the cover, so I always thought it was a story about a baby. I requested it every night and was always a little disappointed when my mom would read to me about the developmental stages of babies. What a bore! I don’t think that there’s any harm in reading stuff that’s too advanced. I just think that most kids would get bored with it and maybe get turned off from the thrill of reading a really good story. On the other hand, when they’re really little, it could actually be beneficial. My baby book recommends reading aloud to very small babies (0-12 months) from whatever book or magazine you happen to be reading. They have no clue what your talking about, but they are witnessing someone enjoy books and that’s a positive thing. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/13 "2004-02-15T23:18:20Z")
We try to take our son to the bookstore once a week, and let him buy whatever he wants. My wife gets a little antsy over letting him buy so many books, but I’d rather give him _carte blanche_ at the bookstore than the toy store. 🙂 He’s currently on a big truck/trains/construction kick, with some interest in pirates, so the latest books have included _The Big Book of Things That Go_ and _I Spy Pirate Adventure._ If anyone has recommendations for pirate-related books for a four-year-old, bounce 'em this way. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2004, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/14 "2004-02-15T23:28:44Z")
Try David McPhall’s picture book [Edward and the Pirates](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316563447/qid=1076887557/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-5316009-1803125?v=glance&s=books). Wonderful story enlivened with great artwork. ---
**Author:** ![x27](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/7993a0/32.png) [@x27](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x27)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/15 "2004-02-16T01:17:57Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > So, what is everyone currently reading aloud to their kids? Or what did you just finish? For the purposes of this thread, let’s stick with chapter books that take more than one session to read. Please state the age(s) of your child(ren), and what you think of your choice. I hope for plenty of neat ideas! > We have a 3-yo girl (and a baby). We’re now reading [_Twig_](http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/detail/spacer.gif), by Elizabeth Orton Jones, which dates from about 1942 and was recommended in the Chinaberry catalog (does anyone else just go through that catalog and request all the titles at the library?). It features a little girl, an elf, and a fairy queen, and is written at a good level for a 3-to-5 yo. DangerGirl is loving it, but we’re starting to look forward to the end–it’s 150+ pages long and is starting to get to us, now that we’re on page 120. > > Before that we read Pippi, which was a bit over her head in places but fun. She got a Pippi doll for Christmas, so that sparked us. I loved _Twig_ when I was a child. This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone mention it. I just finished reading my 3 year old _The Little House in the Big Woods_. My sister was telling me of her friend’s theory about that series: The first book is definately for little children (about Laura’s age) and they get progressively “older”. She suggested that by the time you get to _The Long Winter_ it’s almost like a psychological thriller! ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/16 "2004-02-16T02:49:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Does it actually hurt kids if you read books to them that are on a college level while they are still not young enough to understand or would there be any benefits of it? Overall, I’d say no, but I do think it’s better to read them something that they can understand at least 80% of. (With the exception of babies. Read them anything.) A part of enjoying reading aloud is really getting into the story, and seeing it in your head, which is hard to do if you’re tuning out a lot. A child might thoroughly enjoy just hearing the language, especially of poetry–but OTOH might think for years that, say, _Little Women_ is boring and hard to understand. It probably depends on the kid. And anyway, once they’re 5 or so, there’s so much out there that they can understand, even though they can’t read the actual books yet. I can’t wait. I suppose 3 is a little young for chapter books, but DangerGirl has really enjoyed it so far, and looks forward to the next installment. She understood _Charlotte’s web_ pretty well. _Twig_ has been a huge hit, as have the _Elmer and the dragon_ stories. We read a lot of picture books too, don’t worry! ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/17 "2004-02-16T04:04:16Z")
Ok, I’m ashamed to say I’m not reading anything aloud to my 10 yo daughter…but she’s a pretty good reader on her own and I just suggest books I think she’d enjoy and she reads them…then we discuss them. Having said that, I’m a 5th grade teacher and I do read aloud to my students. I just finished the last book in the Joey Pigza series. I love these books…Joey is a kid with ADHD and he lives in a completely dysfunctional family. I guess the message is a kid can be more “together” than his parents. The author is Jack Gantos, BTW. I am going to read the new Newbery winner _Despareaux_ by Kate Dicamillo. to my students next. My daughter read it and really enjoyed it. It’s fairy tale about a little mouse. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/18 "2004-02-16T06:52:48Z")
Ah, my four year old has just discovered _The Lorax_ and we’re reading it a lot. I’m really enjoying it myself as well. I’d forgotten how subversive that book is! 😉 He also has me reading him an encyclopaedia of dinosaurs…_sigh_… ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/19 "2004-02-16T07:21:32Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > Try David McPhall’s picture book [Edward and the Pirates](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316563447/qid=1076887557/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-5316009-1803125?v=glance&s=books). Wonderful story enlivened with great artwork. Thanks. I’m still trying to nudge my mind around the notion of turning looting/raping/pillaging pirates into tot-friendly fare. Which, IIRC, was the same objection Walt Disney had for the proposed “Pirates of the Carribean” ride… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2004, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315/20 "2004-02-16T08:49:51Z")
I’m not sure what my kids’ are reading right now (being, unfortunately, 10000 km from them for a few weeks), but I am half-way through reading _The Hobbit_ to them. They are quite anxious to get to the part about Smaug. 🙂 One of them (they are nine-year-old twins) started to read _Lord of the Rings_, but he got distracted by the appendices after a dozen or so pages. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-reading-aloud-to-your-kid-s/229315.md?page=2)