Our Favorite Family Readalouds (+ Free Printable)

Brandon is a big brother who is having a hard time adjusting to the new baby in the house. He knows that his parents are completely consumed by caring for his little brother, and he’s not sure how to play alone. Soon, he realizes that his special plaid blanket makes the perfect companion when he needs to entertain himself. Award-winning author/illustrator Brian Pinkney combines energetic text and vibrant illustrations to create an outstanding read-aloud book for families.

This is a charming rhyming picture book about two sisters who turn everyday messes into imaginative adventures. From kitchen spills to living room clutter, two sisters use their creativity to transform everyday “messes” into imaginative adventures, including “a marching band” or  “a meal for two.” Preschoolers will love looking at the warm illustrations while listening to the rhythmic text as the sisters capture the joy of spontaneous play and everyday chaos.

Daniel and Grandpa meet up at the park. Grandpa asks Daniel, “What’s new?” and Daniel proceeds to check in with the plants and animals he sees to find out what’s new. He learns the red-winged blackbirds are back from migration, the polliwogs are growing legs and more. This stunning book is made entirely with collage and is a true celebration of spring!

This picture book is about colors, but more importantly it’s about self-love. Josephine is mixing colors when she accidentally discovers that by combining blue and orange she gets her favorite color of all, brown! Perfect for the preschool set this book is pure joy!

Full of puns and silliness but with some history of the culture of left-handedness, this hilarious picture book written by 2 picture book greats is a must-win for the whole family. Particularly for kids who are just starting school and starting to use their hands to write, this is an engaging and interactive read, with plenty of opportunities for using one’s hands to talk! This book is not just for southpaws; right-handers will have plenty to enjoy in it as well. 

This quaint, intricate picture book reminds me a little of the Richard Scarry books I used to love as a child. The hand-drawn details showcasing the myriad little details of Tokyo’s noodle sellers on bicycles will fascinate children and adults alike. Nonfiction picture books are a great conversation starter for families, as children ask intriguing questions about the real-life people and situations portrayed in these books. It provides an excellent jumping off point for a child and guardian pair to do a little digging and research to explore and find out more.

My kindergarten students love poring over busy books with lots of little details. Hospital Heroes shows all the ins and outs of the workers in a hospital, from kitchen staff and maintenance to EMTs, nurses, and doctors. All the characters are anthropomorphic animals whose conversations are in speech bubbles. Pictures are covered in labels galore and there is more to see every time you pick this one up!

Bear is a homebody and chooses not to join his animal friends when they ice skate. He is starting to run out of excuses for not heading outside with them when they realize he’s really just anxious. What if he skates too far away? What if he falls through the ice? Luckily his friends save the day (as good friends always do)!

This beautifully illustrated book is a charming adaptation of L.M. Montgomery’s classic Anne of Green Gables, tailored for younger readers. The first in a four-book series, young readers meet Anne Shirley, an imaginative and talkative orphan mistakenly sent to live with siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, who had intended to adopt a boy. Anne’s vivid imagination, knack for misadventures, and desperate wish to belong make her an unforgettable character. Parents will love revisiting this classic favorite, and young readers will adore the whimsical illustrations that bring Green Gables to life.

When Dragon catches a cold, his fierce determination to stay tough leads him to ignore his need for rest, even though his patient friend Phoenix tries to encourage him take care of himself. But it’s only when Dragon notices that Phoenix has caught his cold that he finally decides to listen and rest. Kindergarteners are sure to giggle at Dragon’s dramatic “Roar-Choos” while absorbing the important lessons about self-care and accepting help from friends.

Put this delightful story about a rat who finds and returns a lost item in the big city with the help of its animal friends on your radar for February 2025. I adored this one! It’s short with illustrations and perfect for fans of animal stories, with humor and a touch of suspense and adventure. Ages 5+

Touching, visual, funny, and emotional, Katherine Applegate’s novel in verse about a curious young sea otter who loves acrobatics is the perfect family read-aloud. For those who have loved The Wild Robot or The One and Only Ivan, this book will similarly capture your heart. The plucky wild sea otter, whose story begins dramatically when she meets a hungry shark, becomes taken in by the aquarium and finds hope with the humans hoping to save her.  Inspired by the real-life otter rescue program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, this story is energetic and poignant and will have children and adults alike seeking to visit these otters in California as soon as possible. Ages 6+

Joe Oak is a boy who lives with his mom and his grandmother – but really, that is just his origin story. Joe loves comic books – and as he says, the “booms” in comic books are when something happens that changes everything. His mom has “The Itch” as he calls it, the irresistible urge to takeoff and leave Joe and his grandmother behind without a word or warning. Yet with each mounting crisis, Joe’s effervescence and strength shine through. This is a powerful novel in verse about difficult circumstances and what it takes to persevere through all life’s storms, whether it is poverty, parental abandonment or even a tornado. Ages 7+

Astrid is all about speed, her nickname is “the little thunderbolt” after all. She spends her days sledding down the hills in Norway and hanging out with her godfather and best friend, Gunnvald who is in his seventies. When she finds out that Gunnvald has been keeping a secret from her, Astrid and Gunnvald’s relationship threatens to break for good. This is such a heartwarming intergenerational tale. My family absolutely adores Astrid! Ages 6+

Eleven year old James isn’t very happy (or loved) living with his mother and stepfather in their fancy apartment in New York City. Marvin, the beetle who lives behind the kitchen sink has taken careful note of James and feels badly for him. So Marvin decides to create an ink drawing using his legs and present it to James for his birthday. And that’s how the insect and boy begin a beautiful friendship. This story also has a mystery at its heart when a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art ensnares James and Marvin. This book is fabulously written and illustrated and appeals to many ages. It has been a hit with my family and also my students! Ages 6+

Harriet’s mother is having a difficult pregnancy, and when she is ordered bed rest for the summer, Harriet is shipped off to stay with her grandmother who runs a bed and breakfast on a small island. Harriet hates change and is sure the summer is going to be miserable without her parents. But when Harriet discovers a mysterious key in her grandmother’s home, her adventures uncover family secrets and help her navigate her emotions, making it a delightful and relatable story about self-discovery and change. Young readers will find Harriet refreshing— she’s a deeply flawed but extremely loveable character. Ages 5+

This timeless classic by Astrid Lindgren, best known for Pippi Longstocking, tells the story of Ronia, the fiercely independent daughter of a notorious robber chieftain. Ronia is a tough, relatable heroine—curious, resilient, and determined to forge her own path, even if it means befriending the son of her father’s arch-enemy. Lindgren’s storytelling is so captivating—when I read it to my daughter a few years ago, my son kept finding reasons to stick around and listen too! Ages 6+

After 11-year-old Hurricane’s older sister is sent off to a treatment facility for tuberculosis in the 1930s (the same disease that took her mother’s life), she must move in with her aunt Claire in the city, leaving her beloved dog behind in their coastal Maine town. This book is incredibly atmospheric, with the palpable setting of the Great Depression, the history of electrification, and the introduction of electronics like Hoovers and Fridgaires setting the tone for that time. It reads aloud beautifully with so many touching musings about life, grief, family, and being oneself no matter what the world around them pushes them to be. Just a delightful classic-feeling story that I can see winning plenty of fans! Ages 8+

In this compulsively readable book, Mavis and her siblings return from a dream vacation to a nightmare as FBI agents seize their assets and her mother absconds, leaving their dad to fend for them. Stuck in Somewhere, Illinois, Mavis starts a babysitting business and is torn between loving and hating her mom, especially as postcards from exotic destinations start to arrive from her mother. Miller presents the socioeconomic divide and the impact of race and class in an accessible way for young audiences. Mavis’s struggles with starting a business, friendship betrayals, and sibling relationships will be relatable to young readers. Ages 9+

I was skeptical (as I am of all superhero stories) of this book, especially because I thought it was more supernatural than sci-fi. But I’m happy to report that I was hooked from the very first chapter of its audiobook. Coal is a foster kid taken in by the boisterous McKay family when his foster parent has a mental breakdown. Not long after, he realizes that his skin has camouflaging abilities, essentially making him invisible. This is more than a superhero origin story with plenty of family humor (for fans of The Vanderbeekers), lots of male friendship banter, musings on the foster care system, and a heartwarming ode to Black history and culture. I can’t wait for book two, and I expect young, hesitant readers to love this if they crack open the first couple of pages. Ages 8+

Princess Marigold hadn’t yet been born when her sister, the extraordinary Princess Rosalind, was kidnapped by a dark wizard. Now 11 years old, Marigold’s world is turned upside down when Rosalind suddenly reappears. As the kingdom of Imbervale rejoices at her return, Marigold begins to suspect that if Rosalind is purely good, then perhaps she—Marigold—is purely wicked. Determined to prove her wickedness, Marigold begs the evil wizard to take her as his apprentice. Packed with humor, magic, and delightfully quirky characters, this reimagined fairy tale is utterly charming. My 10-year-old and I just finished reading this together, and we were hooked from the very first page. Ages 8+

Morrigan Crow is a cursed girl–born on Eventide, she’s blamed for all misfortunes in her town and destined to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday. Instead, Morrigan is rescued from her doomed fate and is whisked away to the magical city of Nevermoor. This series opener offers a world as richly imagined as Hogwarts or Narnia, filled with vibrant characters, clever humor, and a suspenseful storyline. My son and I read this series together and are thrilled that the fourth book is finally being released later this year! I highly recommend it for kids who love Harry Potter and are looking to immerse themselves in another fantasy world. Ages 8+

Saint Ivy is the story of an 8th-grade girl who finds joy in being kind to others but is uncomfortable being as compassionate to herself. Ivy constantly pushes away her feelings about significant changes in her life– including how she really feels about her mom’s surrogacy, her parents’ divorce, and her changing relationship with her best friend. Ivy is a likeable character, and Morrison’s dialogue is pitch-perfect  Such a warm, realistic, and relatable middle grade novel to read with a tween. Ages 10+

This is a perfect read-aloud for adventure-loving tweens! Two brothers, John and Stewart, are stranded home alone when their father, who has left for a work trip, can’t get back because of a multi-state blackout. Luckily, John and Stewart have a survivalist-loving father who has taught them a lot about desert living. Reminiscent of Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet, this book will leave you tearing through the pages to find out how it ends! Ages 9+

Violet is having the most difficult week imaginable. She’s starting middle school and moving into an old Victorian fixer-upper with her mom, stepfather, and siblings. To make matters worse, Violet feels like her best friends from elementary school are drifting away, and her bedroom is up in the creepy attic! Soon, Violet starts to have nightmares about the wallpaper in her bedroom coming to life. This story deals with big changes in both families and friendships, as well as anxiety. If your tween enjoys spooky stories, then grab this one because Anne Ursu does spooky so well! Ages 9+

If your tween has already read The War that Saved My Life and is looking for more historical fiction, definitely try this one. It’s 1940, and Jody’s family has moved to Honolulu with her marine father. She is used to moving frequently, and she thinks Honolulu, with its beauty, will be fun, especially with her aging dog, Happy, by her side. Soon, her mother’s nervousness about the war is affecting Jody, and when they move to San Francisco after the Pearl Harbor bombing, leaving her father behind, Jody has to take on a big role. This story is told from the alternating viewpoints of both Jody and Happy. This is a riveting and heartwarming read about duty and family! Ages 8+

The perfect book to read aloud with tweens on a hot-button issue – screen time! Korman, of course, makes this topic engaging. Set in a sleepaway camp called Oasis, protagonist Jett Baranov is the son of a tech billionaire who can’t believe his father is forcing him to go to a camp where he has no access to any technology. Although Jett can’t stand all the kids around him, he gets used to the tech-free lifestyle of the camp, until he notices something very strange going on with the adults. With an adventurous plot and intriguing premise, tween readers will want to keep going to the next chapter – and adults will want to follow along with them. Ages 9+

4th and 5th graders absolutely love Brubaker Bradley’s earlier, award-winning books, The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won. Bradley writes another action-packed, character-driven historical fiction in her latest book, The Night War. Miriam, a Jewish girl in Paris, finds herself fleeing her home in order to escape the roundup of French Jews in occupied France. She ends up escaping to the countryside, where she is taken in as an orphan in a convent in a French village. Miriam must now decide if she should continue trying to find her family or become Catholic Marie and give up her Jewish heritage. With the help of a mysterious, mystical visitor, Miriam struggles to make this momentous decision. Ages 9+

This book is especially good for younger teens or tweens who have an older vibe, as it has such an authentic ring to it. For those who have never heard of alopecia, this is a fascinating book that treats this difficult disorder (particularly for teens who are just starting to feel the need to belong and their physical appearance and body image become particularly sensitive) with care, grace, humor and plenty of sassiness. Sparkle and her sister Nova are Youtube influencers, led by their mother, who was a former almost-child star, and their father, who was an award-winning television actor. All the characters feel realistic and detailed, depictions of a warm and loving family with middle schoolers who follow social media trends and parents who worry about their children and their jobs. The portrayal of Sparkle’s disease and how it will affect her dreams of becoming a star are carefully and gracefully accomplished, teaching readers something new and drawing them into Sparkle’s world of the competitive Arts Academy and her own friendships. Ages 10+

Candace Fleming writes a fascinating nonfiction narrative about this true story of ten teenagers who helped with cryptography during World War 2. Fleming, with her trademark action and suspense, writes about a secretive and desperate time in history and teen readers will be amazed and inspired by these teenagers from another time and place, battling to do good in the world, just like so many teenagers today continue to aspire to do. 

This historical fiction novel has a dual timeline. Alice and her parents head to Paris when Alice inherits an apartment from her grandmother. Alice befriends a boy in Paris who helps her investigate a journal left behind by her great-aunt. Meanwhile, Alice struggles with her mother’s deep depression. The historical timeline is told by Alice’s great aunt Adalyn who was a pivotal part of the Nazi resistance. The story was a gripping read!

In a world where DNA determines your future, being born a “Natural” means being relegated to the dangerous Outskirts—a life with minimal opportunity.  Lee Urban, born a Natural but adopted into a wealthy Enhanced family, must hide her true identity, especially when she’s accepted into the elite Peking University. Enhanced dives headfirst into a not-so-distant future world where gene editing creates a super-human class—if you can afford it. While my 13-year-old and I each read this book (and its sequel, Hybrid) separately, it would make a fantastic, thought-provoking read-aloud for a young teen. 

This dystopian YA book is at once chilling, thought-provoking, and compulsively readable. Set in a world where humans have conquered sickness, death, and all threats to life but now have appointed scythes to manage the population by gleaning humans periodically, this book follows two unwilling teens selected as apprentice scythes and their journey to attaining the position — or will they?

What if Nazi Germany won WWII? That’s the chilling question this time-travel thriller explores. Two sets of a friendship trio — one in 2023 and the other in 1944 — discover that they can communicate over a radio device present in both timelines. As the two groups figure out the differences in their timelines while trying to avoid making any changes to history, they discover that they’ve unwittingly made an enormously impactful change with shocking consequences. Westfallen is a chilling exploration of a terrifying alternate reality for fans of high-action time travel fiction.