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Do you scour the internet in search of great books to read aloud to your kids? I’ve spent lots of time over the years collecting titles and trying out books. This list of ten classic chapter books for kindergarten read aloud has been tested with my own kids. To narrow down the list, the books had to be enjoyable to read aloud and engaging for my kids.
1. Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
Mr. Fox is clever. When three mean, greedy farmers try to stop him from raiding their farms Mr. Fox uses his cleverness . The farmers don’t give up, but neither does Mr. Fox. When his family is starving, because they can’t get out of their underground refuge, Mr. Fox comes up with a plan to outwit the farmers once and for all.
Note: There is some violence in the story (Mr. Fox’s tail is shot off) and some alcohol drinking (the animals find Farmer Bean’s cider).
My son loved this book. It was one of my favorite kindergarten read alouds.
2. The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
While on a camping trip with his dad, 11-year-old Sam Beaver meets Louis, a mute swan. If you’re a swan, you need a voice in order to communicate and attract a mate and survive. So Louis learns to read and write by going to school with Sam.
When Louis falls in love with Serena, his father breaks through a music store window to get Louis a trumpet to use as a substitute voice. Louis picks up some jobs, like playing his trumpet at a summer camp, and at gigs in Boston and Philadephia, to pay for his trumpet and the damaged window. In the end, he earns enough money and can settle down to raise a family with Serena.
3. A Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
Another classic chapter book for kindergarten read aloud is A Cricket in Times Square. Chester, a cricket from Connecticut, ends up in Times Square after taking a train to New York. He’s found by a boy named Mario who helps run the family newsstand. Mario’s given permission to keep the cricket as a pet, even though his mother is hesitant.
Chester meets a cat named Harry and a mouse named Tucker, and the three become friends. One day when they’re having a party, Tucker accidentally knocks over a box of matches, and the newsstand catches on fire. Mama blames Chester for the disaster, but when he starts playing a song she loves, she decides to give him a second chance.
I didn’t realize how much my son enjoyed this book, until months later he asked if we could read it again.
4. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is the book to read when you need something lighthearted and highly relatable for kids. One-by-one the kids in the neighborhood flock to Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s house on a daily basis. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is no ordinary woman. She lives in an upside-down house with her pets and was once married to a pirate.
The children learn to enjoy chores, like washing dishes and making beds, when they’re with Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. She has a way of making even mundane tasks seem fun. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a natural with kids, and parents start seeking her advice. For example, when Patsy refuses to take a bath, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle suggests the “radish cure.” Her advice on how to handle unwanted behaviors in children is far from conventional, but her cures work every time.
5. Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater
Mr. Popper is a painter who loves to dream about being an explorer. One day he finds a penguin on his doorstep sent by Mr. Admiral Drake, the leader of the South Pole expedition. Mr. Popper names the penguin Captain Cook, after the famous explorer. Keeping a penguin at home takes ingenuity and money. Mr. Popper has air holes drilled into the refrigerator and a handle installed inside, so Captain Cook can have a comfortable place to sleep.
When Greta, a female penguin is added to the family, and baby penguins are born, the Poppers don’t have enough money to take care of their food and housing needs. Mr. Popper decides to train the penguins, and soon Mr. Popper’s Performing Penguins become a big hit. In the end, after some trouble with the police, Mr. Popper has a big decision to make.
6. Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
This classic chapter book for kindergarten is a set of short stories about the life of Homer Price, a young boy living in a small rural Ohio town. Homer likes to tinker and does odd jobs. He’s known for his problem solving, like using the help of his pet skunk to deal with some robbers.
My son’s favorite story is about the donuts. One day Homer helps his uncle by serving customers in his diner while he’s out. When Homer needs to make more batter, a rich lady helps him whip up a new recipe, but unknowingly loses her precious bracelet in the bowl. Something apparently goes wrong with their measurements and there’s too much batter. To make matters worse, the new automatic donut machine won’t shut off. Homer uses his head to help his uncle sell the overabundance of donuts, and find the lady’s bracelet in the process.
7. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Ralph is a young mouse who loves risk, adventure, and speed. He lives in a run-down inn in the Sierra Nevada. When a boy named Keith stays as a guest, Ralph can’t help but notice Keith’s shiny, red motorcycle. Temptation gets the best of Ralph when he finds the motorcycle on the bedside table. He tries to start the engine, but the ring of the phone startles him, and he accidentally falls into the trash can.
Keith and Ralph become friends, and Ralph is given permission to use the motorcycle at night. Ralph’s risky behavior gets him in predicaments, and he endangers his family’s safety. Keith starts to lose faith in Ralph, but when Ralph finds medicine for him during a crisis, Keith has a change of heart. He decides to let Ralph not only use the motorcycle, but to keep it forever.
8. The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dagliesh
Perfect for younger kids, this classic chapter book for kindergarten is a short in length and has several illustrations. Jonathan, who lives at the foot of Hemlock Mountain, is set on an errand to fetch a big iron pot for his mom. He has to trek up the “mountain” to where his aunt lives on the other side. Along the way he chants, “there are no bears on Hemlock Mountain, no bears at all” to keep up his courage.
When he arrives at his aunt’s house, he’s so hungry and tired that he forgets why he’s there and starts home without the pot. He’s already on his way home when he realizes his error and has to go back. By this time, it’s getting late. On his way home his quit wits and the big iron pot come in handy when he does encounter bears on Hemlock Mountain!
9. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The first book in the series, Little House in the Big Woods is the story of Laura’s days living in the house her father built in Wisconsin. Children can relate to Laura, but they’ll be surprised by her tough life. They worked to provide food and relied on themselves for safety.
When I read this book to my daughter, she was frightened by the wolves howling at night. But Laura’s ma protects her girls, and all is well.
10. Elmer and the Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
After rescuing the baby dragon from Wild Island, it’s time for Elmer Elevator to get home. He gets directions from a seagull and packs up enough tangerines to feed both himself and the dragon before setting off. A storm blows them off course, and they end up on Feather Island. Fortunately for the dragon, the island is filled with his favorite food–skunk cabbages.
Elmer and the dragon learn that the only inhabitants are escaped canaries. But the canaries are being plagued by sickness. They’re sick with curiosity about a secret buried treasure. Lucky for them, Elmer and the dragon have arrived at just the right time and can help.
This book is the second in a series, so I recommend reading My Father’s Dragon first, if you haven’t already. It’s not necessary, but you won’t want to miss it. It’s on my read aloud list for preschool.
This list of ten classic chapter books for kindergarten will make choosing books for read aloud easy. You’ll enjoy reading these books as much as your kids love listening to them!
