I heard a quote once when I was in college by Emilie Buchwald that said “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents”. It has stuck with me through the years, and when my oldest daughter was born I promised myself we would read together every day. We have continued this tradition over the years, and all of my children are terrific readers.  I think reading aloud with your kids is one of the most valuable things you can do as a family.  Our reading routine is as follows:  8:00 p.m. – Everyone in the living room for a read aloud (my husband and I take turns reading a chapter or a portion of a book).  8:30 p.m. – Children in their own beds for half an hour of personal reading time.

Here is a list of books we have enjoyed in our home:

• Charlotte’s Web by EB White
• The Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
• The Complete Adventures of the Borrowers by Mary Norton
• All-of-a-Kind Family by Sidney Taylor
• Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
• The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A.Milne
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
• Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
• Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• The Complete Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

I could go on and on with good books, but these are so far our favorites! If you haven’t started this tradition yet I encourage you to try. You won’t regret it!

For more inspiration, please check out:

List of Ways to Read and Write with your Family over the Summer

List of Books for Preschool Children

List of Books for Children in Early Elementary

List of Books for Children in Upper Elementary