read alouds

Every Tuesday for the next 10 weeks, I will be praticipating in the “Ten Weeks of Top Ten Lists.” Each week a different top ten list will be posted. Today’s list is “Top 10 Must Have Items for Homeschooling.” Please visit iHomeschool Network for all of the participants’ top ten! I am sure you will be blessed by finding many new sites to enjoy. Also visit Angie of Many Little Blessings  to link up your own top ten list with her Top Ten Tuesday.


Today I am sharing my Top Ten Read Alouds. I am including some from all age groups. When I asked my kids what their favorites were, my daughter replied, “I liked all the read alouds we have ever read!” Wow. Ok. 🙂


We love read alouds around here and use them for history, science, Bible, and just plain fun. The little ones do actually sit and listen {they are in the room from very early on, so it’s all they know…} The older ones always love listening to younger books no matter how old they are!

Here are some favorites…




Little Piligrim’s Progress. This is our absolute, all time favorite read aloud. We read it everyday for awhile, and when it was finished we were all so sad. If you could read any read aloud with your kids, let it be this one. It’s just that good.


Bible with Jesus Calling for Kids. We read this everyday together and it always speaks to us. The verses are just perfect for each day, and this book has really helped give us a very consistent Bible time.

Mountain Born. This is one of my very favorite books. It is a beautiful story with so much symbolism for the shepherd and his sheep. We learned all about shepherds, sheep, and applied it to the Bible when reading this story. Simply beautiful.


Any of the Burgess Books with animals. We have read many of the Burgess books, and they are great living books for science. They tell stories from the animal’s point of view and you really come to “know” the animal through the story. For instance, in The Burgess Bird book, through getting to know the characters, you understand the traits of each birds. All of these books are similar that way. Great way to learn about animals, but not through a boring textbook or a list of facts.

Little House Books. These go without saying. I love Little House on the Prairie, and these books are timeless classics. Better yet, when studying the pioneers these books bring history alive. We learned so much about pioneer life through these books.

Lamplighter Books. Beautiful books that are written from long ago and reprinted. They focus on Biblical character traits and there are beauitful lessons to be learned through each exciting story. I met Mark Hamby at the ENOCH conference this past spring, and he is a pure gentleman. I love this company.


The Oak Inside the Acorn. A great picture book that I can’t get through without tears! A lovely story about growing up into what God created you to be.


Charlotte’s Web. One of the first read alouds we did many years ago, and we still all remember it. The kids remember Mommy crying when Charlotte dies, but still, a timeless classic!

Homer Price. Very funny tales that all enjoy, especially my boys. We have read this one twice!


Listen Buddy. I can’t count the amount of times I have read this picture book to my children. It is a very cute story about a bunny who never listens. We see the consequences of his not listening and the lessons learned. We have been reading this one since our very first year of homeschool. Great way to teach the importance of not just hearing, but listening.

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