Friday Five: The Best Read-Aloud Chapter Books

Reading before bedtime has been a regular occurrence at our house since day 1. Incorporating reading into a bedtime routine was a parenting priority for me. I want my kids to become avid readers.

Up until this point, our bedtime reading books have been more pictures than words. However, now that my kiddos are a little bit older, I think it’s time we venture into the world of read-aloud chapter books.

(I shared a few of our past favorite bedtime stories here and here.)

I recently asked one of my best friends, who also happens to be a former kindergarten teacher/current homeschool teacher, about chapter book recommendations for my 6 and 4-year-old. I wanted to be sure to pick something that would hold both of their interests, but especially my 6-year-old.

She gave me an awesome list of read-aloud chapter books that her kid’s love/loved. I thought, why not share this list as a Friday Five? So, here we go!

Read-Aloud Chapter Books

The Magic Treehouse Series

Mary Pope Osborne, the author, writes of a brother and sister who find themselves on many adventures by way of their magic treehouse.

Start with the first book in the series, Dinosaurs Before Dark.

Narwhal and Jelly Series

Author Ben Clanton created a series about a happy-go-lucky narwhal and a serious jellyfish who discover the ocean together.

Check out the first book in the series, Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea.

The Nocturnals Series

Written by Tracey Hecht. The Nocturnals is a book about three animal friends who solve mysteries together.

Start with the first book, The Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions.

Dog Man Series

Written by Dav Pilkey, the same author of Captain Underpants. Dog Man is a series about a police officer who is part man, part dog.

Check out the first book, Dog Man.

Roald Dahl

Any book by Roald Dahl is a great option. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and BFG are a few good ones to start.